tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post5102027848796835762..comments2024-03-26T17:48:56.627+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Cambridge and the Golden AgeMartin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-25957597782583293392022-12-08T00:49:26.355+00:002022-12-08T00:49:26.355+00:00That's a very good question, Martyn. I never w...That's a very good question, Martyn. I never went on a course but I did devour a huge number of books about 'how to write crime'. However, if I'm honest, although some were good and I did pick up some tips, they didn't make a huge difference to me or my writing. I think the merit of courses is that for some prospective writers, they can make a real difference - especially in the case of someone who hasn't read widely in the genre and learned from so doing. I'd soaked myself in crime fiction from the age of eight, so I had a pretty good understanding of what it took to get published, even at a fairly early stage. I also went to a writers' group for a few years, but although that was enjoyable, I can't say that it taught me much. I suppose the key point is that what works for one aspiring writer doesn't necessarily work for another. It's partly with this in mind that 'Crafting Crime' contains tips from many other writers as well as my detailed thoughts.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-7006674025392357632022-12-07T17:22:04.206+00:002022-12-07T17:22:04.206+00:00Sophie's course seems very good. But there are...Sophie's course seems very good. But there are a lot of creative writing courses around, including your own 'Crafting Crime'. So I am curious. On the lazy assumption that you didn't go on a course like that yourself, what difference do you think it would have made to your writing career if you had done so? Eg, would you have been published sooner, would your earlier books have been (even!) better, would you have found certain aspects of writing easier, etc? MartynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com