tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post2850894005024726280..comments2023-12-14T10:28:43.397+00:00Comments on Declan Burke: On James Ellroy, Bad Dreams, Not Writing And DaughtersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-13109137508851958022009-11-14T21:49:01.763+00:002009-11-14T21:49:01.763+00:00Dec
I still prefer Cold Six Thousand. I think tha...Dec<br /><br />I still prefer Cold Six Thousand. I think that might the pinnacle of his art. <br /><br />I sort of <a href="http://wl.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26135494-5003900,00.html" rel="nofollow">explain why here</a> and it is a little to do with his female characters, but actually ts really just a matter of personal pref.adrian mckintyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349942973907386269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-12400161431748800532009-11-14T20:27:03.769+00:002009-11-14T20:27:03.769+00:00I read BLOOD'S A ROVER while working on a re-w...I read BLOOD'S A ROVER while working on a re-write of a book to send to an agent because I was asked toi review it. Now I'm reading Ken Bruen's LONDON BOULEVARD for another review. Both are quite different stylistically from my writing, though they have reminded me to tighten ruthlessly.<br /><br />I used to worry about the effects such different styles might have on my writing, but not so much anymore. What I get from Ellroy and Bruen now is not to be afraid. Don;t worry if this phrase isn't turned the way James Lee Burke or Chandler would have done it, or if this act of violence has the sentence structure of Spillane or Stark. Nothign's right and nothing's wrong. I'll write how I write, and it will be good enough or it won't. I can't control that.<br /><br />It's quite liberating and has removed almost all of my self-imposed pressure. In fairness, it must also be pointed out I have a full-time day job, so I'm not worried about selling something to make the next house payment. I can afford to be more of a purist in writing what I want. At least for now.Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-13373621996210717172009-11-14T20:09:20.120+00:002009-11-14T20:09:20.120+00:00Michael - first time I read LA Confidential, I had...Michael - first time I read LA Confidential, I had to put it down after the prologue, and didn't pick it up again for about six months. I really didn't know what to make of it - it was like hearing the Pixies for the first time, or reading Cormac McCarthy, real 'wtf' stuff. So maybe it'll be worth another try ... although, certainly, you're doing yourself no favours by coming in on the third part of a trilogy. <br /><br />Bateman's is hilarious, I had a smile on my face the whole way through. <br /><br />Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-60837473449931412142009-11-14T20:04:16.277+00:002009-11-14T20:04:16.277+00:00Ray - sage words, squire. But if I ever do get to ...Ray - sage words, squire. But if I ever do get to write a sixth book, and it's anywhere near as good as LA Confidential, no one will be more surprised than me. <br /><br />Mike - much obliged for the kind words, sir, and welcome aboard. <br /><br />John - the cheque is in the post, man. Ta muchly. <br /><br />Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-6336379901114662682009-11-14T18:46:09.742+00:002009-11-14T18:46:09.742+00:00Great post. You really are a terrific journalist.Great post. You really are a terrific journalist.John McFetridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09442198820998606682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-4373450770628681062009-11-14T16:36:44.610+00:002009-11-14T16:36:44.610+00:00Declan,
I never really followed your blog, until ...Declan,<br /><br />I never really followed your blog, until your post a few days ago, in regards to stepping back from the fiction game. You gave me a lot to think about with that post- it was excellent.<br /><br />This is yet another outstanding post. We all want to be successful writers, but how far are we willing to go? I guess that's a question, that only each individual can ask. And, we can only follow it up with "and how important is writing success to me, above everything else?" <br /><br />I hope you'll be sharing plenty more of your insights with us.Mike Wilkersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00771502395254223219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-89737021791545836202009-11-14T13:37:34.054+00:002009-11-14T13:37:34.054+00:00must be just me then. I tried to read Blood's ...must be just me then. I tried to read Blood's A Rover and his style irritated the feck out of me. Also too much happening, too many characters in the first few pages ...too much for my poor wee brain to follow. Having said that I'd just come in to the trilogy with this last book. Maybe I should go to the first one, eh?<br /><br />ps.LOVIN' Bateman's Day of the Jack Russell. Hilarious.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-57703645369880983322009-11-14T11:41:13.214+00:002009-11-14T11:41:13.214+00:00Dec, while you're talking about Ellroy, it mig...Dec, while you're talking about Ellroy, it might be pertinent to note that he wrote and published six books before he had any kind of success.<br /><br />So, you would've had a little way to go before you were expected to write THE BLACK DAHLIA or LA CONFIDENTIAL anyway ...Rayhttp://www.thesaturdayboy.comnoreply@blogger.com