Mystery: October 02, 2024 Issue [#12768]
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 This week: Mystery Dates
  Edited by: Carol St.Ann Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Technology had altered the face of everything we do. And we, writers, had better make sure our characters keep up. But we must never forget the way things used to be.


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Letter from the editor

The question was put on the newsfeed and called to my attention by a respondent:

"Has 'crime-proofing technology' affected your writing? If so, in what way(s)?

For instance, has the classic image of someone standing in the shadows and picking the lock on someone's back door been made a less believable element now that there are cell-phone connected door-cams, elaborate lighting and alarm systems, and such literally *everywhere
*."

My answer can only be: You bet it does! How could it not?

That would be a yes.
My current story takes place in 1998, so I need to pay attention to what technology was NOT in mainstream use by then. That takes some pondering, too. Just the other day, in conversation with a friend, I reminisced about an event when we were stranded for a few hours, and for a second wondered why we hadn't simply used our cellphones to call for assistance. Had we both left home without them? Seems hard to believe... maybe we were out of range? Well, then it hit us; duh! There weren't any cell phones to be had yet. (Goodness! How did we manage our day-to-day?

In current writing there’s no way to avoid the surveillance options both inside and outside of commercial establishments, offices, homes, even parks and recreation, not to mention drones and satellites.
Then there is the reality that our TVs and phones monitor our every word and move. Why, even our cars are driving themselves these days. And we really must make sure the stranger we meet on the street isn't a hologram.

It might be fun to create a mastermind who can easily fool these devices, or better yet, a hero who flat out avoids technology, but has a superior comprehension of it or, because he has such keen knowledge and comprehension.

Think Snowden. (This is not, I repeat NOT political; it's just an idea for a character.) Here's a guy who knows that mucky-mucks at APPLE and MICROSOFT disable parts of their computers and cell phones (especially cameras).
Regular folk like me wouldn't know how to do that. Further, I couldn't be bothered to, uh, bother. Why? Well, because I have nothing to hide, right?

The possibilities in this arena are legion. And with technology blasting its way through space and time, our characters have no choice but to do the same. And those characters (like me) who don't are fodder for some really great stories!

Happy writing until we meet again!
====•=======•
One Last Thing!
Remember to nominate great mysteries!
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Quill Nomination Form 2024 Open in new Window. (E)
Nominate someone for a Quill!
#2145930 by Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author IconMail Icon



Thank yous to: Humble Poet PNG and Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏


Editor's Picks

If you’ve got a mystery in your head:

Flesh out your mystery story here:
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October Novel Prep Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
A month-long novel-planning challenge with prizes galore.
#1474311 by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon

or here:
 
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Crosstimbers Author Consortium Open in new Window. (E)
About the Consortium
#2309058 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon


Sone great reads involving technology:
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My "No AI" Promise Open in new Window. (E)
With a brief sample of what could be seen as AI authored...
#2324157 by Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏 Author IconMail Icon

 My Cell Phone is Out to Get Me Open in new Window. (ASR)
My clash with cellular technology.
#688215 by Robert Camp Author IconMail Icon

 The Legend of John Henry Open in new Window. (ASR)
The last showdown of Man vs Machine - a first-person narrative.
#963620 by Hotspur Author IconMail Icon

 Why I Am Not a Naturalist Open in new Window. (ASR)
How could you live without technology?
#643472 by Love is a Mommy (no foolin) Author IconMail Icon

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The Name’s Daisy Open in new Window. (13+)
A defense attorney’s adventure
#2302394 by Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏 Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

What's your technology story? Yea or Nay?

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