What’s in a Name? Where’s your Corpse? What went on at Malice?

During a break from the rounds of panel discussions at Malice Domestic I ran into Elaine Will Sparber and Daryl Wood Gerber.
(Pictured here, left to right.)

Isn’t that an interesting set of names, juxtaposed like that? Remarkable! Like the women who sport them. Strong names get my attention...What strikes you as more impressive: Elaine Will Sparber or Elaine Sparber? Daryl Gerber, or Daryl Wood Gerber?...So why am I content to stick with the less memorable “Nan Higginson” moniker? Long, uninteresting story.)

That point aside, we talked about corpses appearing on page one in manuscripts. What else would three writers chat about?

Elaine comes with a wealth of experiences as an editor. She has been on the receiving end of manuscripts – stacks of them arriving daily. One after another she read queries full of hope while knowing the writer likely had tissues in hand, prepared for rejection.

At first Elaine found it difficult to toss a good manuscript aside, but she soon learned that her own survival was at stake. If she didn’t toughen up, the stacks of manuscripts would grow until they toppled and snuffed life right out of her. Good manuscripts could not be pondered. If the manuscript was not compelling from the start, it had to go.

BUT, Daryl countered, although many mystery writers talk about the necessity of having a dead body appear on page one, that isn’t necessarily the case. If you’re selling a suspense novel with brutal terror at hand, it’s important to put that right out there on page one. Namby-pamby doesn’t work. Then there’s the middle ground: a traditional mystery needs confrontation that triggers dyspepsia from the get-go – something that parallels the kind of disaster ahead – something that gives you a look at the inner workings of the protag when s/he is under raw-boned pressure. Cozy mysteries need to have something more like a community problem up front. The issue at hand reveals the sensibilities of the common folk and introduces a noble but flawed protagonist. It’s mystery, but mystery-light. In a cozy there’s likely to be a corpse showing up, but it won’t be on the dinner table, with the turkey carving knife up to its hilt in blood.*

And yet, even in the coziest of cozies, we gals agreed, readers can’t wait for some sort of pay-off. Today’s readers do not have the luxury of time. If the words on the page don’t create a fascination within the reader’s mind – a reason to chuckle, a puzzle to ponder, or a cause to gasp – it’s time to move on to another book. The author’s voice must captivate the reader and yet not interfere with the mystery plot. Twists and turns are essential. Trouble aplenty.

I often wonder how much easier it would be to come up with captivating stories if I’d spent time in a barracks with soldiers spinning tales, comparing females, reminiscing about the fish that got away. I envy Sam Clemens’ experiences sitting at the campfire, listening to the cowhands entertain each other. He credited such moments as giving him raw material for lots of stories.

To me a good book is like seeing life through a prism, with a guide whispering in my ear every now and then. This challenge of writing, then rewriting, then finding a like-minded agent or editor is daunting. Damned daunting. In lieu of having Twain’s buddies, it’s important to have co-conspirators like Daryl and Elaine (along with Laura, Clare, Terrie, Lois, Meredith and Catherine—us sisters in WomenOfMystery.net). We have each other to rely on. We keep trudging along, breaking new paths for ourselves, and aiming for the stars.

We are very fortunate to also have you visit our blog. When you leave us a note you enrich us all with your reactions, experiences, and questions. It’s great to chat like this. Hope you leave a note so we have more to ponder from your perspective.

Write On!
Nan

*This section is a combination of comments from Daryl, Elaine, and me. Some of my observations came after the chat, as I mulled things over. They might come as a surprise to Daryl and Elaine! Hope I didn't change their intended comments in my paraphrasing spree. And, in case it wasn't clear, Elaine is also a remarkable Woman of Mystery. Daryl is a great writer and a wise woman whose humor is infectious.