What I Learned from Murder and Mayhem 2020

Many thanks to Lori Rader-Day, Dana Kaye, and their team for making the Murder and Mayhem conference virtual. It was a great way to spend a Saturday during the quarantine. Here’s what I learned from all the fabulous panelists.

Writing/Craft

• It can be hard to keep a series fresh and new. The story needs to make sense especially when you get 5-6 books into the series.

• The character needs to progress and evolve as the books move forward.

• The challenge is to keep long-time readers interested and to draw in new readers to your series.

• Weave in your backstory. It should come naturally as the story progresses.

• Get rid of gender biases in your writing. Don’t fall into tropes or stereotypes.

• Create a document (character bible) to help you keep up with the details about your characters and locations.

• Remember that every character has a secret.

• Characters need a purpose.

• Stop reading craft books and read lots of novels that you like. If you want to be a screen writer, watch lots of movies.

• Write from your gut.

• Sit down and write.

Book Promotion/Marketing

• Plan your marketing up front.

• You need to connect with bloggers, influencers, and podcasters.

• Understand your audience and how they get book recommendations.

• Start small and local.

• Find out what your publisher is doing, so that you can supplement and not duplicate.

• When you talk to people, make it conversational and not pitchy. You don’t want to be the guy or gal with the sandwich board and the megaphone.

• Look at the analytics for your social media posts and see what resonates with people.

• Street teams are often helpful with book promotion.

• See what people are reading, and see where those books are mentioned.

• Go where your audience is.

• If you do a newsletter, make sure the content is effective. Be consistent. Do what works.

• Personal and educational content often works best in newsletters.

• Build your email list organically.

• Quality over Quantity.

• Always be a good, literary citizen. Like, share, comment on others’ posts.

• It’s okay to connect with others via email. Just don’t do mass email blasts.

• Face-to-face events are still important.

Things You Need to Check Out

• Book Cellar in Chicago

• The Doe Network (International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons)

• International Dark Sky Places

• Quarantine Online Book Clubs

• Unlikeable Female Characters Podcast

• Writer Types Podcast

• Dana Kaye Speaks

The New Normal - Make Time for Writing

It’s been a trying few weeks with lots of change and flux. I hope you and yours are doing well and are happy, healthy, and safe. My day gig is in IT, so the team has put in a lot of time making sure the rest of the staff can access systems and services. I was exhausted from all the hours last week, and I’m not doing the heavy lifting like our network guys and systems people.

I started my teleworking adventure on 3/19. The dogs still can’t figure out why I’m home so much. We’re learning how to cope and to be creative when things don’t quite work like they do in the office.

This meme summed up a lot of conference calls. Here’s your bingo card for this week.

I’m still getting up at my normal o’dark-thirty, and I’m using my commute time to write and revise. It’s important to stick to as much of a schedule/routine as you can. Also figure out ways to connect via video chats, calls, or social media. My book promotion groups and my critique groups are switching to virtual chats. And I attended the best conference online on Saturday. Many thanks to the Murder and Mayhem team in Chicago. Over 930 people attended the panels virtually.

Don’t forget to eat right and exercise. (I ordered a bicycle device that fits under my desk. I’ll let you know how that goes.)

I grew up watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” and the wise Fred Rogers always told us, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” They’re there, and I’ve seen so many caring and generous folks this week.

We’re in this together, and we can do this.

I love that so many creative folks are doing all kinds on concerts, story times, and exercises. There are so many ways you can learn new things and to connect with others. If you have downtime, finish projects, clean up, and start your next writing effort.

Drop me a note or add a comment and let me know what you’ve done recently for your writing life. Be safe.

The Value of a Critique

I am in two monthly critique groups. One is in-person and the other is a video chat. In each, we read about 50 pages of the others’ works and provide feedback. I joined the in-person one about ten years ago, and it took some courage to submit my work the first time. I actually waited a couple of months before dipping my foot in the pool.

But I learned quickly that the feedback from these groups is invaluable. These are readers and mystery lovers who help with structure, plot holes, typos, and writing issues. All writers want to hear how wonderful their baby is, but sometimes, a detailed critique is worth it’s weight in gold as you try to make your manuscript the best it can be. Here are some of the things I’ve learned through the years.

1. Find a group that understands your genre. It helps that the feedback focuses on what you’re trying to write. Both of my groups are made up of mystery writers/readers. I read other genres, but I want my writing focus to be on mysteries.

2. None of the members knew each other when we started. I think this was helpful. When people are friends, there’s often a tendency not to be open and honest about the writing because you don’t want to hurt the other’s feelings. You can give a positive critique without being brutal or covering every page with red ink.

3. We also set the rules up front, and there is a moderator in the larger group to keep us on task and watch the clock.

4. The writers in my groups are at different stages of their writing journeys. That brings a variety of perspectives. They also come from different backgrounds and experiences, and the wealth of knowledge is amazing.

5. Everyone in the group has committed to read and provide comments on the submissions. I read theirs; they read mine. They help me talk through plot holes or weak areas. I believe in sweat equity. Everyone is contributing.

6. I learn as much from the discussion of others’ issues as I do with the one centered on my work.

7. There are a few folks in one of my groups who don’t write frequently or just want to be readers. But they read a lot of mysteries. Their comments often help me judge reactions to tension points and characters.

8. Read the feedback and decide what you’re going to change. If multiple people had the same reaction, you probably should take a look at it.

9. The monthly deadline helps me stay on track with my writing. I am more productive when I know I need to get my pages ready for my groups.

The goal is to get your work published, and you need to make your WIP the best version possible. For me, the writing/revising part of the process is key to improving the work. This takes the most time and energy. I’ve been alone with my manuscript for months, and the critique groups provide me a way to introduce it to readers and get an honest reaction. Invest in your writing and find a group to help you.

When You Think You're Done Writing...

There is no other feeling like typing, “The End.” You have worked and worked on your manuscript, and now you’re done. Take a break and celebrate.

Now the work for the next phase begins. You need to polish and revise this to make it the best that it can be. If you’re going to query it to agents and publishers, you only get one shot.

• Go through your manuscript and remove all unnecessary or overused words. Use the find/replace feature. (Mine are “that,” “just,” and “a few minutes.”)

• Reread your manuscript and make sure the plot flows and the events move your story forward.

• Make sure that your main character is likeable and human. They shouldn’t be perfect. If they are, then, there’s not that much conflict. (Make sure that your reader knows who the story is about. You don’t want confusion.)

• Create a document that summarizes what happens in each chapter. This will help you see plot holes. (You’ll also need it later as an outline for a synopsis.)

• Make sure that you didn’t leave any minor story lines hanging. Readers will want to know what happened to something earlier in the story.

• Find a critique group, beta readers, or a writing partner to read your whole manuscript and provide you with feedback. (Parents, friends, and spouses are great for feedback, but you need someone who is going to tell you about the good, the bad, and the ugly.)

• Look over your feedback and make revisions. Sometimes, this means rewrites.

• Print a copy and check for typos, misspellings, and any other inconsistency. (I probably do this three or four times before the book is ready to send to an editor or agent.)

• I hire an editor to go through what I think is my final version. Then I go back and make the changes and proofread the book again.

Then take a few minutes to celebrate all the effort that it took to get your book ready. Now, it’s time to think about marketing and promotion.

What I Learned from Literary Agent Paige Wheeler

Literary agent, Paige Wheeler of Creative Media Agency, spoke to my Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia chapter recently about mysteries. Here’s what I learned from her presentation:

• Publishing is a business

• Publishing is all about the sales numbers

• Print is still alive and well

• Write your passion

• Know your readers

• Your book needs to be excellent

• Your writing needs to be fresh and unique

• Your work needs to stand out

• You need a unique marketing hook for your book

• Discoverability is important

• Authors need to be nimble and adjust to the tastes of the time

• Your query letter needs to spark interest

• Don’t be too wordy in your query letter

• Your sample pages are important

• Show how your character is transformed

• Focus on the whole story in your query

• Your query letter content is not back cover text

Why Can't I Finish My Book?

It took me about five years to write, edit, revise, query, and get my first novel published. I thought I was a slow writer, and there was too much going on in my life at the time to focus. I work full-time in IT, and everyone has commitments and responsibilities. Two years ago, I tried an experiment. I wanted to see how productive I could be if I put some focus on my writing time. (That year, I finished two 73,000 word novels, one 15,000 word novella, two 4,000 word short stories, and one 3,000 nonfiction article.) Here’s what I learned…

1. I always put important things on my calendar, but my writing time wasn’t there. I would always tell myself that I’d fit it in. I scheduled some “office” time for writing. And I stuck to my schedule.

2. I realized I was watching too much (bad) TV and movies. We still watch our favorite shows, but we DVR most everything now. I watch it when I have time (and I don’t have to sit through the commercials).

3. Look at where you spend your time for a week. Are there things that are big time wasters that you really don’t need to do?

4. I can’t sit at my desk for hours. I get restless, and it’s not good for you to sit so long. Schedule little breaks, and do other tasks (e.g. load/empty the dishwasher, put laundry in the washer or dryer, fold laundry, sort the mail). After a little break, I’m recharged and ready to get back to work.

5. Determine when you are most productive and schedule your writing time then. I’m a (very) early morning person. I’ve never been productive in the late evening hours. Learn what works for you.

6. Figure out tasks you can do at other times. I use my lunch time at work to write, proofread, or revise. That gave me 5 hours additional writing hours a week.

7. I also print copies of work that needs to be revised. I take these with me when I’m waiting at the dentist, hair dresser’s, doctor’s , or DMV.

8. If you find yourself spending too much time on your social media sites, find ways to schedule your posts. It’s a more efficient use of your time.

9. When we do sit down to watch TV (We are football and college basketball fans), I use my tablet to scan through my social media feeds. I get to do two things I like, and I’m not spending hours on each.

10. I try to write something every day. It does make a difference. When I’m working on a novel or novella, I keep a PostIt note on my desk. At the end of each session, I write down the date and the word count, so I can see my progress. Some people are very formal, and set up spreadsheets with daily word counts. Do what works for you. If you miss days, it will take you time to catch up, and that time could be better spent on other tasks.

11. With my first couple of books, I got stuck in revision paralysis. I would revise and revise, and then I’d put it down for a while. Then I’d pick it back up and start over. I would also start revising before I finished the manuscript. Now, I write the first, sloppy draft. I don’t do major rereads or revisions until the first draft done.

12. Find a good critique group, beta readers, and writing partners. These people will help keep you on track. If you have a monthly commitment to provide pages for the group to read, you’ll do better at staying on task.

13. Learn how to say “no” nicely. You are constantly bombarded with requests for your time. Figure out what’s important, and say “no” or “not now” to some that you really can’t commit to.

Writing - Individual or Team Sport?

I never played team sports as a kid. I wished that I had. There are some life lessons that are gained from working (winning and losing) as a group. Writing is mostly a solitary endeavor. I research, write, and revise by myself. But I believe that authors need others, and here’s why…

• Relationships are key in life. You need those special people who will share your celebrations and help build you up after a bad day.

• You need a sounding board to ask questions or bounce ideas off.

• Others are in different stages of their writing careers. They can give advice or ideas.

• They can help motivate you and keep you on track.

• Authors who help promote you are invaluable. Treasure these people.

• You need some trusted early readers to give you honest feedback about your work.

• Find a writing group. The relationships you build are important. You will have access to information, people, and opportunities. The contacts are invaluable. I got my first mystery writing credit from my group’s anthology. And I can’t tell you how many contacts have led to book signings or special projects.

• It reminds you that you are not alone.

The best decision I made in my writing journey was to join a writing group.

Detours and Roadblocks in Your Writing Life

I drive the back roads through southside Richmond to my day gig in the mornings instead of taking the toll roads. This week, unexpectedly, I hit a roadblock when a downed light pole blocked the main road. I’m familiar with the way that I always get to work, but I was on my own in the dark yesterday in a neighborhood that I wasn’t familiar with (at 6:30 AM). (And if you’ve ever been to RVA, you’ll know that the streets often do not run parallel. They tend to meander.) With the help of GPS, I was able to navigate neighborhood streets and get back on my path.

Our writing life is often like that. We hit roadblocks and detours. It’s inevitable, but I believe you will be more successful along your journey if you can react and navigate around them.

A lot of it is attitude. If you hit a disappointment or a pitfall, allow yourself some time to react. Scream, cry, mope, or eat chocolate for a little while. But then figure out how you are going to get around the obstacle. Sulking doesn’t fix the problem. Bad reviews, cancelled contracts, and rejection letters hurt. You can give up, or you can make a new plan.

Always have a plan B. It’s helpful to have a strategy for what you’re going to do if you hit an obstacle. It’s often easier to deal with if you know you have a backup plan.

Get organized. Keep your files straight (and backed up). Know where you put things. If you cut down on the clutter and the junk, and you can work efficiently, you’ll minimize  some of your self-made roadblocks.

If you mess up, own it, apologize, and do your best to fix it.

Other people are going to disappoint you. They’re going to back out of commitments, forget to do things they promised, or say mean things. You need to decide what and who you’re going to spend your time on or with. Figure out what is important to you, and let go of what brings you down.

Make sure you take care of you. Eat right and exercise. You need to have a balanced life. Make sure you have some fun. And hang around people who make you laugh. My day gig is in IT, and it’s often serious. I love that the new PMO manager moved in the office next to me. She is fun, and she laughs a lot. (The crew nicknamed her Giggles.) I love that I can hear the laughter through the walls. It always makes me smile.

It’s almost a new year. And that’s always a great time to make resolutions or plans. I challenge you to make a plan for your writing life in 2020. It’s a new year and a new decade.