I have on occasion written books in as little as three days; I've written a couple that took only seven or eight days that are probably as good as anything I've done. I can't argue that I made a mistake writing those books as rapidly as I did. nor am I at all inclined to attempt to do that sort of thing now.—Lawrence Block, in Writing the Novel: From Plot to Print (Writer's Digest Books, 1979)
(Seventh in a series. Photo by Laurie Roberts.)
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I'm amazed by guys like Block and Leonard who can throw stuff off in one draft that's just genius and perfection. I think their brains work differently.
I think "Answers to Soldier" deserves to be recognized as one of the best short stories ever written. It's not just a great genre story; Block owns the form.
Oh yeah -- that's an amazing story. Have you ever read Block's ultra-short, ultra-hardboiled thriller SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS? I want to hand a copy to every author who turns in an 800-page doorstop.
Glad this is back, Duane.
I'm re-reading 8 million ways to die right now. Block is the very definition of hard-boiled. Great stuff.
Are you working against a deadline again and looking for inspiration from the giants of pulp? If so, keep working, and keep posting these great tidbits.
Block is so awesome.
Block is indeed awesome, but it has been years since he wrote a "Matthew Scudder" novel. The author hasn't died, has he?
Duane,
If you think Jamie screamed loudly at the end of Severance Package, you should've heard me scream in frustration!!! How in the devil did "you know who" get to his place so fast and in her physical condition? No, don't tell me she used a parachute and jumped off of the top of the building. There was only one parachute and that was for David, and it was found by the authorities. Wait a minute! No, there wasn't two of them because she already knew what she was going to do to David at the meeting, so she could've simply used his. Dog gone it, you have me confused! Still, Severance Package was a great thrill ride of pure entertainment. I now have to think of women a little differently when Molly comes to mind. That's scarey! She's the "Annie Wilkes" of thrillers.
Bite your tongue, Wayne! Mr. Block is alive and well. It's been a while since the last Scudder, but you should check out his Keler series (HIT MAN, HIT LIST, HIT PARADE) or the collection ONE NIGHT STANDS AND LOST WEEKENDS, a great compilation of Block's earliest stories.
As for the ending of SEVERANCE... yeah, this really seems to divide a lot of readers. Some love it. Some think it ruins the book.
Lawrence Block is indeed the master. I haven't read SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS, where is it printed?
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