This is a guest blog by freelance writer and SPAWNews editor, Sandra Murphy.
Bouchercon is one of the largest mystery conventions held each year. For 2011, its location was St. Louis. It was my first time to attend.
Four days, ninety-two panel discussions and interviews, after-hours activities that included bowling for charity, an auction, a silent auction, book signings, thousands of books and miles of walking, it was the best time I’ve had all year.
Bouchercon is designed for both writers and fans. Its goal is to introduce new writers and get people excited about books again. It worked.
I attended fourteen panel discussions, met writers, and added to my TBR (to be read) pile by hundreds of books. Most of all, I learned about writing.
Fans often think writers sit down, get an idea, are carried away by a story that almost writes itself and then it’s ready to be published. Not so. Val McDermid, author of the Dr. Tony Hill and Carol Jordon mysteries said, “I start with something small. It builds in my head until the story is there. It can take twenty years sometimes but the idea has to come first.”
That’s how some writers give the appearance of writing at warp speed. When the story is ready to be told, it’s already formed in the writer’s mind.
On every panel, writers emphasized the need to consider writing a job. It’s work to make the story come alive. “It’s my job to make the story irresistible to you as a reader,” said McDermid.
Robert Crais writes the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike books. He was asked how he starts a new book. He said, “Writing is an ugly, dirty, nasty job. It takes a year to write a book so it has to be something important to me. I always start with something I find heartbreaking. I want to heal it.”
Even when writing fiction, you can add a message—just be sure not to hit the reader over the head with it. Colin Cotterill writes mysteries set in Thailand with main character, Dr. Siri. He said, “I’ve made mistakes in writing my books. One big one is that there is nothing more depressing than child abuse. I let the message take over my desire to be a writer. You have to balance how much of an issue you put in your writing.”
Vampire writer Charlaine Harris was a speaker on two of the panels I attended. She said rewriting a scene until it’s right is vital. “I’ve reburied some people five or six times until I find the right body.” In a massive understatement, she added, “My books would never have gotten published if not for another vampire writer, Laurel K. Hamilton—but it’s worked out pretty well.”
Should you follow the trend and write a vampire novel? Trends are too hard to predict and by the time you’ve written, submitted, and are ready to be published, vampires could well be yesterday’s news. Each writer emphasized being true to your own ideas. McDermid said, “Learn from other people. You can learn more from other people’s mistakes; just promise not to do them yourself. I’ve learned my craft. Trust the idea and wait for the world to catch up.”
St. Louis writer Angie Fox agrees. “I’d written several traditional mysteries. They didn’t sell. So I thought “What would I like to read?” and then wrote that.” The Accidental Demon Slayer series was born and is a great success.
When do you call yourself a writer? Laurie R. King now writes the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series as well as standalones but her first sale made the difference for her. She said, “My agent called to tell me St, Martins bought my book. The very next day, I went to the school and changed the information cards—from housewife to writer.”
Be patient. “It took two years to sell the first Sookie Stackhouse book,” said Charlaine Harris. “To the editors who turned me down, I say nah nah nah nah!”
Do you have to be published to call yourself a writer? No, said the panelists. You just have to make yourself sit down and write. Sure, it’s a job but it’s about the most fun you can have and still call it work. After all, you get to make stuff up.