Writing tips from a writers conference notes by Leanne Dyck

A generous publisher, a knowledgeable panel and an inspiring author were the magic ingredients that made this Crime Writers of Canada (B.C. branch) mini conference a 'must attend' event.

Ruth Linka

Associate Publisher

Rapid Reads

Orca Publishing

Ruth Linka spoke candidly about a diverse list of topics--what she expects from authors, the steps after your manuscript is accepted, and what type of work her publishing house (Rapid Reads imprint of Orca Publishing) is seeking.

Here is what I heard her say (which might be slightly different from what she actually said)...

-stressed that it's important for authors to connect with their (potential) readers through social networking

-when a publisher sends you a personalized rejection letter it's because they want to see more of your work and that they hope you will continue to submit your work

-after the manuscript is accepted the contract is signed, editing starts, book cover ideas are discussed as well as how to promote the book. This usually takes about a year. Although some publishers may reduce the time to six months.

-Rapid Reads is looking for short work (15 to 20k words) and are focusing on mysteries 

-Ideally the author would have the next book in the series ready so that when the first book of the series is published the first chapter of the second book can be included at the back (Louise Penny does this)

-Ruth likes to see good writing, an interesting plot and characters--and for the protagonist to have a side kick

-most Canadian publishers take a manuscript without an agent

-search title to make sure it isn't being used

-catch the publisher's interest in the cover letter

Conference organizer Phyllis Smallman introduces the panel

Left to right:  Lou Allin, Benni Chisholm, Kay Stewart (moniator) and Stanley Evans

When writing a mystery what should the author focus on?

Lou Allin:  Is the crime going to be solved? What other problems will be encountered?

Stanley:  Think in terms of 'must' and 'cannot'--as in, the protagonist must solve the crime because... but cannot solve it because...

How do you make a book suspenseful?

Benni Chisholm:  wrote one of her books in the first person that way the reader only knows what the protagonist knows. She wrote another book in the third person and she wrote it in such a way that the reader knew who the antagonist was. This made the reader worry.

Lou Allin advised against starting chapters with the character getting up or end with the character going to bed.

Lou Allin advised sharing the same thought on every page.

Writing tips?

Stanley:  no outline--writes a detailed synopsis, instead

-all crime books begin with a murder

 -more challenging to write a novel in the lst person so he recommended that beginners write in the 3rd person

Benni:  likes to end each chapter with a cliff hanger. 

Lou:  it's okay to have an unreliable narrator, it's okay to lie to your reader. Even though, the reader has been educated to trust the narrator.

Kay:  get me on the first chapter and flow forward

Phyllis Smallman

Phyllis Smallman began her talk about how to write a best-seller by saying, in order to be a great author you need to be a great reader--learn form the masters.

She recommend that we read best-sellers and study them to determine why they are best-sellers.

Start with a great opening paragraph

Vary the length of your sentences

Recommended writing craft books:

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass

Write Away by Elizabeth George

A Passion for Narrative by Jack Hodgins

Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose

For Writers Only by Sophy Burnham

An Exaltation of Larks by James Lipton

The Describer's Dictionary by David Grambs

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown & Dave King

The Art of Fiction:  Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner

Much thanks to the organizers and presenters. (Oh, yes, and to my friend Amber and her husband for making room in their van for me.) I for one, and I know I'm not alone, was brimming over with information and inspiration. And I can't wait until next year...

Sharing my author journey...

I've been giving a lot of thought to what I want to accomplish this summer. 

Crime Writers of Canada mini writing conference report by Leanne Dyck

The morning of Saturday, May 25^th I woke before my alarm. By 6:30 a.m., I was in the truck headed for the ferry. I was excited—but not nervous. This surprised me. I’m used to talking to one or two people at a time, in a few hours I would be talking to a room full. But the day wasn’t all about me—there were other panels, other panellists.

Here’s what I heard…

Panel 1:  Moving from Idea to Draft

E.R. Brown, Benni Chisholm, Ken Merkley, Kay Stewart(moderator)

-When conducting research, experts (such as police officers) are helpful—especially if you send them an introductory letter stating what information you want to collect.

An attendee asked:  If your story is based on a true event, how do you avoid being legible?

Answer:  Mask the facts and consult with a lawyer.

There was discussion about plotter or panster. Most present did some type of outlining before writing.

Advice:  -Write the first draft then fix it.

There was discussion about how to make the outlining process easier.

-mind mapping

-mind mapping using Post-it notes

-mind mapping using a whiteboard

-mind mapping using the computer program Scribner

Editors have said that…

-readers want to be in a place

-readers want to learn something

While researching, the Internet provides only a broad overview; therefore, consider purchasing books and consulting experts.

An attendee asked:  Should an author be able to play with the facts?

Answer:  The author should ask herself, “Could this happen?”

If the answer is yes—go for it.

-In writing scenes, instead of trying to account for every minute only write the important scenes.

-You should start the scene with one set of feelings and end it with a different set.

-Beware of sagging middles.

-Each scene should move the story forward.

Food for thought:  An eight-year-old said, “I like this book. I just think the author told too much of it.”

Panel 2:  Handling Common Problems in Plot, Character, and Style

Chris Bullock (moderator), Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, Debra Purdy Kong, Lou Allin

-Beware of using local places as the setting for negative events.

-If you’re becoming bored with the story bring in a bad boy or girl.

-Read (lots of) books like an author. When you encounter characters ask yourself why you like/dislike them.

-Feel free to build a character that is a composite of real people.

When building a character start by asking yourself:

What do they look like?

How do they act?

Where do they work?

Then go deeper…

What are their hopes, dreams, fears…

-Once you understand your character outside and in you can bring them to life on the page.

-When you’re working on a series develop a character bible for each character—main and minor.

When building a character

-avoid making them too quirky—you want believable characters

-avoid making them too stereotypical

-be careful how you age your character

-ensure that there is continuity

-secondary characters shouldn't overshadow—if they begin to reign them in.

-don’t have too many characters. Ensure that each has a purpose.

-find your own style

-your words should flow naturally

-use your own voice

-aim for rhythm in your writing

-as the writer matures so does her writing

-don’t let your setting take over

(much thanks to Kay Stewart for taking this photo)

Panel 3:  Marketing Your Work

Leanne Dyck, Robin Spano, Phyllis Smallman (moderator)

I sat down feeling confident. I looked out at the attendees and immediately felt nervous. All those old stories about how I couldn’t read began attacking me. I was tired so I tripped and fell over some words. This made me feel embarrassed. Still, I knew I wanted to be there; I wanted to be a panellist. This is an important part of building my author career. It’s just hard for me—that’s all. But it’s been my experience that the more I challenge myself the easier things become.

I plan to share my speech with you—in a future post, so watch for that.

Robin Spano spoke eloquently about Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. She said that Twitter allows participants to interact with one another and, for this reason, Twitter serves as an excellent tool for networking. 

She explained that Goodreads has a blog and is an excellent way to promote the books that you've enjoyed reading.

Since Robin spoke I’ve had an opportunity to become more involved with Facebook. I like it because through it I feel like a member of a community.

Twitter and Facebook are more immediate—brief messages sent quickly—than blogging. But what works best for me is having an opportunity to think before I write. I also like having a home base where I draw readers while engaging with them online. Blogging also helps escape the "time-suck" that other forms of social networking create. Basically, I used my panel time to promote the virtues of blogging.

One of the marketing ideas Phyllis Smallman recommended, which I hope to eventually use, is Skype. Imagine being able to do an interactive presentation to a global audience.

Award winning author, Phyllis Smallman, lives on Salt Spring Island, B.C. but spends the winter months in Florida where her books are set. Her fifth book, Highball Exit, comes out in the fall of 2012.
"Smallman...is at the top of her game in this fast-paced tale."  Globe and Mail

Phyllis Smallman writes...

Marketing Creativity

It doesn’t matter if you paint, knit or write books like I do; you need to be able to sell your product the same as Kraft needs to sell their cheese. How do we go about that? Here are some quick tips that may help you.

    1.You need to be able to speak about your work so go to Toastmasters and learn to be a great public speaker.  You’ll have fun and it’s the quickest way to put yourself at ease in front of an audience. More than that, they will become part of your marketing platform.

      2. Have a good talk with yourself and decide what type of marketing you are most comfortable doing.  For me that means not hand selling books at fairs, festivals or signings, but I’m happy to hand out bookmarks.

    3. Build a platform with a community of like minded people.  Join guilds, art groups and associations to increase your fan base and provide new ideas and marketing opportunities. I belong to Crime Writers of Canada, Mystery Writers of America and Florida Writers Assoc.

     4. Give stuff away.  In my case, I put up free short stories where e-books are sold.  When you download a short story of mine there is a few chapters of one of my books attached at the end. Bitty And The Naked Ladies has been downloaded about 30,000 times. Write articles about the work you do and offer them to on-line magazines. This is a way to get your name out there and gain authenticity.  If you give people information, you create fans and followers. My articles have appeared in Omni magazine and in Spinetingler.

     I send out a newsletter once a year, when I have a new book out, to update readers on what’s happening and to remind them that I’m still writing. I include any new publishing events, awards or books. For instance, I won a bronze medal from Independent Publishers this spring.  That will go in my fall newsletter to announce my new book, Long Gone Man, coming out in Sept from Touch Wood. To receive newsletters, which you can use as a template, go to www.phyllissmallman.com and I’ll add you to the list.

     This is the most important point.  You want people to like you. Don’t annoy them. Don’t over-send things to them, don’t over-invite them to events, don’t over social media them and most importantly, don’t always make it about you. Be nice.

Mystery Mini Chats followed the panel discussions. It was an opportunity for readers and authors to engage in dialogue about books. 

Why Mysteries? by Phyllis Smallman

One of the questions I’m always asked is, “Why do you write mysteries?”

First of all, I love to read mysteries. Mysteries are epic adventures, life and death struggles to right wrongs, to see justice done and to discover truth.  Often reluctant and unprepared, the hero or heroine goes on a quest, taking us with them.

Stories of crime explore the darker side of human nature, greed, anger; jealousy and love…all of these emotions are at the heart of a good mystery. We all fear being the victim of crime. Each of us feels as vulnerable to crime as we do to disease.  Money won’t protect you …nor does education…nor culture…and while we already know how dangerous the world is without mysteries to tell us, our fear holds us enthralled. 

As I grow older a phrase comes back to me…. “things are going to hell in a handcart.”  From the bible to Starwars, the fight against evil goes on.  In fact the first crime stories appear in the bible…Cain murdering Able...Joseph being sold into slavery…the bible is full of tales of theft and murder, tales of the killing of babies.  And you think identity theft is new?   Think of Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright.  These stories tell us things are not getting worse, they were always like this and for me this is a comforting thought. We may not be winning but we’re not losing either. It is a struggle that goes on day after day and generation after generation.

Crime is so central to life we name it like the Eskimos name snow. Petty crime, blue collar crime, or major crime, I write about it because I write about the drama of life.

Phyllis Smallman

www.wphyllismallman.com

This article was first published on OmniMystery News on February 5th, 2013. It's re-printed here by permission of the author.

Phyllis Smallman is the award winning author of 5 books in the Sherri Travis mystery series, chosen by Good Morning America as one of the 6 best mystery series for summer reading in 2010.  Her next book, Long Gone Man out in the fall of 2013, and is the first in a new series.

Guest Post: Author Phyllis Smallman

Award winning author, Phyllis Smallman, lives on Salt Spring Island, B.C. but spends the winter months in Florida where her books are set. Phyllis published her last book in 2017--Last Call. 

www.phyllissmallman.com

How/why did you start to write?

I was a potter, working in my studio and listening to the CBC, when I heard an interview with an editor from Harlequin say they need new romance writers.  I didn't read romances but arrogantly thought it couldn't be too hard.  Turned out I don't have a romantic bone in my body and in the end I found it easier to kill people off than to seduce them. Hooked on writing, I turned to my true interest, mysteries.

How did you become an author?

I was short-listed for the Debut Dagger in the UK and then short listed for the Malice Domestic in the US and won the Unhanged Arthur from the Crime Writers of Canada. Winning the Ellis got me a publishing contract with a Canadian Publisher. This first book, Margarita Nights, was published in 2008 and was again nominated for an Ellis for best first novel.  Three more books followed.

What inspires you?

Ideas come from everywhere but for me spending six months of the year in Florida always gives me oodles of ideas.  Florida seems to be a giant bug light for crazy people.  They all hurry down there with their dreams and schemes and start causing mayhem.  The papers are full of people acting badly, grannies selling drugs out of baby buggies, development scams gone wrong and  parents caught in drug raids with toddlers in tow.  Add to that the wildlife and weather, alligators in swimming pools, pythons taking over the Everglades, and hurricanes...well, there's more than enough to write about and it all ends up in my books. My protagonist, bartender Sherri Travis, mixes the drinks and watches the show, trying not to get involved in the madness around her. That never seems to work out for Sherri. Her good intentions always fail. For instance, after the murder of her husband Jimmy she swears off romance, saying, "Cinderella is dead and the prince is gay." She may say she doesn't believe in romance anymore but it doesn't last more than a chapter or two.

Please share one of your successful marketing techniques

Marketing is an ongoing struggle.  Reviewers have been kind to me and this is the best marketing tool of all. 

I belong to Mystery Writers of America and Crime Writers of Canada and attend their conferences and this helps me learn about the industry.

Parting words

I long ago decided that I'd go on writing even if I was never published.  Writing seems to fulfill a need in me. I hate to think how crazy that makes me. One of the great things about writing is getting to meet other writers, other people who share my obsession.  I have no idea what I'd do with my days if I didn't write or what I'd do with the ideas that begin..."What if...?" or "One night in a bar..."

Phyllis Smallman's obituary