Comments on: Into the shadows http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/09/20/into-the-shadows/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:02:54 -0500 hourly 1 By: Creechman http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/09/20/into-the-shadows/comment-page-1/#comment-11336 Creechman Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:43:20 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=344#comment-11336 The best endings are twists that make sense: "Casablanca" "The Sixth Sense" Two that come to mind. The best endings are twists that make sense:

“Casablanca”
“The Sixth Sense”

Two that come to mind.

]]> By: Bruce http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/09/20/into-the-shadows/comment-page-1/#comment-11334 Bruce Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:12:25 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=344#comment-11334 Thanks so much for the link, Barbara, and for sharing your insights into endings, which, as you put so well, are the result of a series of choices made by the characters. Each choice leads to another choice ... and another...in a cause-and-effect chain that, ultimately, brings the ending into sight. Thanks so much for the link, Barbara, and for sharing your insights into endings, which, as you put so well, are the result of a series of choices made by the characters. Each choice leads to another choice … and another…in a cause-and-effect chain that, ultimately, brings the ending into sight.

]]> By: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/09/20/into-the-shadows/comment-page-1/#comment-11325 Eric Mayer Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:04:18 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=344#comment-11325 Mary and I generally know whodunit when we start writing, although we have changed our minds early on. It would be interesting to try and write from the detective's perspective, without knowing who the killer was until the very end. Maybe one could roll dice before the final chapter to decide! If the book was constructed properly you might get away with it since all the suspects should have been given motivation, opportunity and so on. You talk about people's "shadows" which is a neat concept. Maybe a better way to think about the depiction of suspects. Mary and I tend to make sure each character has some sort of weakness -- a hasty temper, large debts, too much pride, jealousy -- some trait or circumstance that might explain why the character would commit a murder. That's probably a bit clunky and obvious compared to that shadow idea. I'm going to keep that in mind. Mary and I generally know whodunit when we start writing, although we have changed our minds early on. It would be interesting to try and write from the detective’s perspective, without knowing who the killer was until the very end. Maybe one could roll dice before the final chapter to decide! If the book was constructed properly you might get away with it since all the suspects should have been given motivation, opportunity and so on.

You talk about people’s “shadows” which is a neat concept. Maybe a better way to think about the depiction of suspects. Mary and I tend to make sure each character has some sort of weakness — a hasty temper, large debts, too much pride, jealousy — some trait or circumstance that might explain why the character would commit a murder. That’s probably a bit clunky and obvious compared to that shadow idea. I’m going to keep that in mind.

]]> By: susan http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/09/20/into-the-shadows/comment-page-1/#comment-11322 susan Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:19:56 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=344#comment-11322 Very nicely put, Barbara. I envy you your intimacy with your characters and your willingness to let them be who they are. Very nicely put, Barbara. I envy you your intimacy with your characters and your willingness to let them be who they are.

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