One book leads to another...

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

IWSG Sept 2022 Doing it Again

 


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the September newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are: Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

Did anyone (besides me) not know that revising your work after publication is acceptable in some cases?! You can cover your astonishment by resting your chin in your hand. It worked for me.

Yet, I digress.

According to Mental Floss.com at least five of the most iconic authors  have revised and republished their work, including Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), George Elliot (Middlemarch), and Joan Lindsay (Picnic at Hanging Rock) to name a few.

I know what you’re thinking: “She’s doing it again. That name-dropping thing.”  Why, yes. It’s what I do ;-)

As to this month’s Optional Question:  “What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?”

I could never write in the medical thriller genre. I would never even try. Why? Much as I enjoy a good medical mystery, they also scare me half to death. Besides, can you imagine the amount of research it would take to sound like you know what you’re talking about? I mean, what if an actual doctor or nurse decided to read your book? Fiction (as opposed to reality) has to make sense, right?

Truth is, most medical thriller authors do have a degree in the medical field, and almost no one ever plans to write a book about the profession. Writing is usually an afterthought and typically an aside.

For instance, Tess Gerritsen, a general physician, began writing her first book while on maternity leave. An avid reader, her first novels were romantic thrillers. Her breakout medical thriller “Harvest” was inspired by a conversation with a retired detective and was followed by three more New York Times bestselling novels before her first crime thriller “The Surgeon” led to a television series called Rizzoli and Isles. 

At least a couple thrillers by Robin Cook depict fictional accounts of his experiences as a medical intern.

Patricia Cornwell may not have a medical degree (she does have a B.A. in English), but she was a technical writer for the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia for six years in addition to volunteering with the Richmond Police Department – and this was before her “Scarpetta” series was ever published. Cornwell is also known as a capable cartoonist and a talented athlete on the tennis court. Whew!

Do you know who else doesn’t have a medical degree? Me. And I’m okay with that ;-)

What genre would be the worst for you to write in? What genre would be the easiest for you to write in?

Be happy. Write well.

 

“Make the most of yourself. For that is all there is of you.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson




25 comments:

  1. You know, it sounds like you're pretty good with doing your research. Lol. I don't think I'd tackle anything non fiction. My mind will wander.

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    1. Why, thank you Elizabeth ;-) I'll write about most anything that piques my interest.

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  2. Good point - you'd really have to know details to write in that genre.

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    1. Hi there, Captain!
      Yeah, I'd best stick to reading (only) in this case ;-)

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  3. You're right that medical thrillers would be hard to write if you don't have a background in the medical field or something similar. Or you'd have to want to write in that genre enough to do heavy-duty research.

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    1. Hi Natalie!
      Or perhaps firsthand experience of a certain injury or malady. I think I'd still leave it to the experts ;-)

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  4. Writers can research, but what a timesaver if you're already an expert in field and you can use it in your writing.
    ~Teresa
    From T. Powell Coltrin Writes @ https://journalingwoman.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Teresa!
      And just think of all the stories waiting to be told...:-)

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  5. The old adage "write what you know" would come in handy for many novelists. ☺ I wasn't aware that "Rizzoli and Isles" is based on a novel by Tess Gerritsen. Good show!

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  6. I doubt I could write a medical thriller either. It seems that would take some skills I don't possess; however, like you, I love to read a good one!

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    1. Hi Lee!
      Good to see you; given those worrisome wildfires...be safe out there.
      The only downside in reading a good medical thriller is trying to convince myself that I don't have and won't get whatever is going on in the story ;-)

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    2. The fires seem to be scattered and either to north or south of me this year. Lucky so far. And I agree about understanding those medical thrillers. I just plow through until the author points out the villain. The rest is a blur!

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  7. >>... Fiction (as opposed to reality) has to make sense, right?

    Guffaw-Out-Loud!
    That's a funny line, dIEDRE.

    In truth, I've discovered that, despite appearances much of the time, everything really does make sense, in some way. But sometimes it takes so much research & thought to figure out what the helck is going on and why, that I choose to crack open a beer and watch the Martin & Lewis movie 'Hollywood Or Bust' rather than do any thinking.

    With each passing year, I prefer to think less and less.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. Howdy, Stephen T.!
      Now, how did I know you'd zoom in on that line? It seems in sardonic skepticism we concur ;-) With regard to truth in appearances, I think the why is scarier than the what or how since therein lies the motivation.
      You probably know that was the last movie Martin & Lewis did together, but do you know why?

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    2. Hi there, G!
      No, I had no idea a rift existed until a comment enticed me to scope out the last movie they did together. Naive as I am - er, was, it would never have occured to me that they might be human too ;-)

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  8. I couldn't write a medical thriller, Diedre. I've certainly enjoyed the Robin Cook novels I've read. One of my favorite medical thriller writers is Kathy Reichs. Actually she's a forensic anthropologist who writes stories set in Quebec and North Carolina. The Bones tv series was based on her. Have a healthy and happy September!

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    1. Hi Fundy!
      I haven't read Kathy Reichs but I will now ;-)
      Love the Bones series. Hope Autumn is pleasant and peaceful for you.

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  9. I love watching and reading medical thrillers. It leaves me with a sense of intelligence and also gives me a dose of adventure. I'm not too sure about writing it, never thought about it. Hmm...

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    1. Same here - long as there's a happy (cured) ending ;-)
      Have a terrific September!

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  10. Hi Diedre - I'd be daunted if someone asked me to write a medical thriller, or a prison, or police thriller ... I guess a cozy might be ok. Who knows ... I'd rather not write a book! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hello Hilary!
      Good to see you ;-) I agree on all three - I enjoy the books and TV shows but that is as far as I go.
      Have a pleasant September!

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  11. You named off some authors who I like and own books by. However, like you I wouldn't want to delve into writing medical stories that required a lot of knowledge and research. Nice stuff to read, but I wouldn't want to mess with it.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Hi Lee!
      I agree, this is definitely one genre I'll always read - but never write ;-) Especially since others do it so well.

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!