Thursday 7 July 2011

Crime novel by 26 authors... whadderyereckon...?

I know this has been done before, but in NO REST FOR THE DEAD, according to Guardian Online, each writer wrote a chapter not knowing what the previous one had written. Don't know about you, but I can't see how this could possibly work.

Quite a few 'names' have taken part, including: Peter James, Kathy Reichs, Faye Kellerman, Tess Gerritsen and Jeffery Deaver.  Lots of sarcasm and cynicism in the comments section of the article too. Have a nosey here, then kindly pop back and let me know what you think.

Cheers, Col

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The comments over there were rather cutting but I can't see how it would work either Col. Editing it would be a nightmare!
Jack

Unknown said...

Thanks for starting the debate, Jack. There was mention that it's just about publicity (I mean, we're already talking about it now, and I heard it first on a writers' forum). However, surely it has to be pretty good, as those writers wouldn't want to be involved in a dud would they?

Luca Veste said...

I just cannot see how this would work. Are they given a broad outline of what to include in the particular chapter they are writing?

I just can't imagine it having any flow, the pace will be all over the show.

Unknown said...

That's how I see it too, Luca. I find it hard to believe they wrote their respective chapters 'blind'. They must have had some form of guidelines on characters and plot, otherwise it would be as you say.

Then there's the question of the redrafts. It takes many drafts to write a decent novel, but there's no mention of this. Hmm...

Jodi MacArthur said...

hmmm....

Luca Veste said...

It must of had guidelines and an editor re-writing stuff. Otherwise it'd make no sense.

In that case though, the editor will have guided most of the story.

Unknown said...

I know, Luca. Just wish they were a bit more transparent about how it was done. Obviously, they wanted to create an air of mystique and intrigue, marketing-wise. Seems to have worked.

Luca Veste said...

Well, I'll be reading it Col! More out of curiosity than anything. Which I guess was what they were hoping for.

Unknown said...

Me too. Clever buggers! :-)