Attending a Writing Conference Outside Your Genre by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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I recently had the pleasure of attending the New England Crime Bake, a conference for mystery writers. I went with a friend who writes cozy mysteries and was on the one of the workshop panels. I, however, do not write mysteries nor do I intend to. So what would I get from a workshop for mystery writers? Glad you asked.

As with most conferences, there were several workshop options running at the same times from which to choose. I was able to easily find workshops that had to do with writing in general rather than specific to the mystery genre alone. For example, I attended a workshop on creating conflict in a story. Sure, the presenter used examples from mysteries, but they easily applied to any story.

I write historical fiction, so naturally I was drawn to the panel discussion on historical mysteries. The authors on this panel spoke a lot about historical research which certainly applies to my writing. It was a fascinating discussion which got my own historical research wheels turning.

I also attended workshops on topics peripheral yet important to the writing life, such as creating a business plan for writers and mastering social media for publicity.

Of course there were a lot of workshops that pertained specifically to mystery writers. When a block of time was filled only with those, I went back to my hotel room and spent the time working on my current manuscript. Being in the midst of so many fellow writers was inspirational and my writing during those times finally began to flow. I've managed to maintain that writing mojo even though the conference is over and I'm back home.

Also, there was a key note talk given by investigative reporter and bestselling mystery author, Hank Phillippi Ryan that was amazing. Meals with fellow writers provided a great opportunity to talk shop, make new friends, and engage in networking. Did I mention there were agents and publicists in attendance? It was great to have dinner at the same table with them, pick their brains, and hear their suggestions.

One of the high points for me was attending the "Ask the Experts" panel. This included an author who is a former police detective and now writes crime novels, an editor from Guideposts, a publicist, and my friend, Jane Willan, author of cozy mysteries and a pastor. What I found most interesting was the questions asked of Bruce Robert Coffin, the former detective and now author of the award-winning Detective Byron Mysteries. He is a wealth of information about how detectives operate. He is also adept at explaining how such information should be utilized in a story. I may not use any of it in my writing, but I was fascinated listening to him.

Attending writing conferences are extremely valuable for learning your craft and networking. Conferences that focus on your genre are best. However, if the situation presents itself, attending a conference outside your genre is far from a waste of time and money. It is amazing what you will get from any gathering of writers.

March Is For Murder

March Is For Mysteries

 

Though today is St. Patrick’s Day and I have a smidgeon of Irish in my blood, I would rather talk about writing mysteries and suspense. Murder and Mint Tea was my first ebook and still remains one purchased. 1998 is a long life for a book. I did have to do some updating when I reissued the book. House phones and station wagons area thing of the past. So I had to give my heroine a cell phone, something she reluctantly uses and give her friends new rides. I’ve lost track of how many copies of the book were sold over the years but the number is many.

I’ve written only one romantic suspense. Code Blue began as Code Blue but the first publisher changed the name to Obsessions. When Book We Love took over the story we went back to the original title. That pleased me. This is another book that has been around for a long time and has also had some updating. Not enough according to one reader but that’s all right. The interesting thing I discovered is the rough draft of another medical suspense put away after my long ago critique group and some doctor friends were upset with the subject. I’m going to rework this story because I really enjoyed reading what I wrote and so some day you can read Committee of Angels.”

How To Get Away With Murder In Your Sleep by Stuart R. West

I murder a lot of people in my sleep.

Click on through to the other side for murderrrrrr...

Wait, wait, wait... Before you call the police, let me explain. No, I don't sleepwalk and stab snoozily away, nothing like that. Rather, I have a recurring nightmare where I've killed someone (that and the horrifying nightmare where I walk into the world's grossest public restroom barefoot, but that's a dream better left untold).

The odd thing is I never dream the actual killing, nor do I have any idea who my victims are. You'd kinda think those two issues might be important, but no my Id chooses to cut to the Dostoevsky-like chase: waiting for the noose to tighten around my throat as Johnny Law moves in.

What does this say about me as a person? According to the intronets, I have a guilt-ridden mind. Of what? No idea.

I searched my back history for various explanations... Maybe that kid in Kindergarten who I helped to harass because everyone else was? Maybe how I rudely ghosted a woman I dated in college? How about when I used to smoke, I'd toss the butts out on the highway? Or perhaps Karma's getting back at me for cutting in line for a roller-coaster at Worlds of Fun. I don't know...

But these dreams are long, stressful and convoluted. The other night I had my victim all ready to go, trundled up in a plastic trash bag (I assume they were extra, EXTRA strength), and ready to put out on the curb for trash pick-up day. Once the body was picked up and put in the back of the trash truck, I'd be in the clear. However...dogs kept sniffing around the bag. I had to continue shooing them away. Then neighborhood kids kept circling on their bikes, moving in closer, wanting to know what was in the bag ("You kids get outta my yard!"). Then, cop cars started slowly crawling by my house...looking...

How'd it all turn out? Beats me. I ended up at some ridiculous bus station with a miles-long line of people waiting to board the bus, on the lam with my mug plastered on newscasts throughout the terminal.

Much scarier than any horror flick or current political administration.

Apparently, my "guilt-ridden mind" doesn't stop at nightmares, either. Whenever I see a cop, I break out into a cold sweat, start humming some nonsensical tune, hoping the cop will ignore me, view me as an inconsequential, law-abiding citizen. It doesn't matter that I am a law-abiding citizen. It's just one of those things. "Capiophobia" is what my research assistant, Ms. Google, calls this bewildering fear of cops.

Clicky for...um...murder most massagey.

So. I figured that's why I gravitate toward murder mysteries, both writing and reading them. Unlike my nightmares, I can control the destiny and fate of my characters (mwah, hah, hahhhh!), ensuring that justice is served, and that the good guy and/or gal (generally falsely accused) are cleared of any bogus murder raps. It helps to set my day world right, even if there's nothing to be done about my nightmarish night-life.

And like my nightmares, the murders are never gruesomely delineated. It's the aftermath that's important.

Huh. As a kid, I always thought episodes of "Columbo" were boring. Why? Because they always showed from the on-set who the killer was. It became ninety long minutes of watching the killer sweat it out while Columbo ("Just one more thing...") circled the drain. 

I suppose I might like Columbo better now as I can definitely relate with the killers' increasing paranoia.

Sorta like my character, Zach, in the Zach and Zora comical mystery series. Only he's innocent. You see, Zach (a vapid, but big-hearted male entertainment dancer--don't call him a "stripper!"), has an uncanny knack for stumbling across dead bodies, generally becoming blamed as the killer. It's up to his sister sleuth, Zora, to investigate and clear his name, usually with her entourage of four kids in tow. Together they traverse a warped path to the truth, complete with characters straight outta my nightmares: The hippy parents! The singing and dancing detective! Menacing nannies! The paranoid computer geek! Corrupt politicians! Frenzied furries! Rival strippers! Murderous televangelists! The list goes on...

So, take that, guilt-ridden mind! (Freud would be proud.)

Click it like it's hot!