Category: Uncategorized

Friday morning at o’ dark-thirty, I’m going to the Malice Domestic conference in Washington, DC.

Cool things about this: I get to meet (in person) some of the great folks I’ve gotten to know online over the last year or so. And I’m looking forward to the panel I’ll be on Saturday afternoon–“Senior Sleuths versus Middle-Aged Meddlers and Crime-Cracking Kids: How Age Impacts the Story.”

Uncool things? Well, I’m packing and flying. I should write a book entitled The Paranoid Traveler—Tips for Neurotics.

I won’t check luggage because I’m convinced it’ll end up in Belarus.

“So,” my sister asked me, slowly, “you’re wearing an evening dress Saturday for the banquet. And …you’re putting it in your carry-on.”

I nodded.

“Okay. Maybe if you wrap it in tissue paper?” She stops, shaking her head. “I just don’t know how this is going to work out, Elizabeth. What about the rest of your clothes?”

“Well, I’m wearing Friday’s dress on the plane. And I guess I’ll wear that dress to the Berkley dinner that night. Maybe I’ll sleep in it too because I definitely won’t have room for pj’s. And then I’ll just pack a couple sundresses for Saturday and Sunday. If I roll them up they won’t look too bad. There’ll be an iron in the room. And the dress for the banquet I’ll just stick on top of the others. I was going to pack the blue dress, but it was too poofy. My red one looks wrinkled…but I think it’s supposed to. It always looks wrinkled. It’s perfect for carry-on.”

“And shoes?”

“Hmm?”

“What about your shoes?” she looked pointedly at my flip flops.

“Oh. Well, I’ll probably wear my flip flops there and then pack some dressy sandals for the banquet.”

She’s looking concerned now. I redirect.

“See, I have to have room for the potholders…”

“Potholders?!”

“The fifty potholders. They have “BBQ” on them and I’m going to tie a tag with my Memphis cover on them and give them away at my book signing after the panel.” I’d actually bought ALL of the potholders at the store. They were completely sold out. But they had “BBQ” on them…

So maybe I don’t have a handle on conference attire and packing.

But…

Things I Think I’ve Gotten Right:

I’ve got my business cards and bookmarks printed and ready to go.

I’ve reviewed the program and I have an idea when people will be where. I know the people I really want to meet.

I’ve programmed my agent’s number in my cell phone (she’ll be there) and I’ve programmed the numbers of author friends I’ll be seeing while I’m there.

I’m prepared to be more outgoing than usual. I’ve been more antisocial than usual lately so I could save up all my visiting for this weekend.

I’ve got a couple of short, snappy descriptions of my mysteries if I’m asked what my books are about.

I’ve got something to give out during my book signing. Potholders.

It’s also probably a good idea to carefully gather your clothes and promo material together during the days before the conference—do laundry, pack, study your checklist. Definitely don’t do anything like have your downstairs re-carpeted a couple of days before you leave. Because—ha! That would just be crazy…

Sigh.

As promised, I’m running a post with the past week’s interesting writing/reading related links that I found in my Google Reader and tweeted on Twitter.

Well,it’s almost a week’s worth. :) The page acted like it wanted to crash, so I’m backing off putting any more data up on it for right now.

Again, this isn’t meant to overwhelm anybody—I’m hoping that by posting these links in a searchable database (my blog), that maybe we can access these helpful links by topic—when we need them.

If books were made from chocolate: http://dld.bz/aEvq
Writing fiction with the 1-3-1 method: http://dld.bz/aGjx
Canadian authors embrace Ebooks: http://dld.bz/aCBK
Scrawled in the margins, signs of Twain as a critic: http://dld.bz/aEsq
Finding a literary agent– http://bit.ly/b0YQqlProfanity in YA: http://bit.ly/d7WWPX
Dialogue is not necessarily how we talk: http://bit.ly/dwSI49
Potential first chapter problems: http://bit.ly/9RMVrE
Chapter endings and the “Hunger Games”: http://dld.bz/aEsZ
Creating conflict in your novel: http://dld.bz/aErt @MermaidHel
One writer with a new way of looking at balancing the writing life: http://dld.bz/aEtw
London Book Fair conference hears that publishers must become “fleet of foot”: http://dld.bz/aEtQ
Propelling the plot: http://dld.bz/aEuR
3 ways writers can make the most of contests: http://dld.bz/aEK2
The baby steps method to writing a novel: http://dld.bz/aENh
Self-doubt–sometimes it can’t be shelved: http://dld.bz/aEsR
An agent on “is writing fun?”: http://dld.bz/aEv6
An agent with 10 tips on writing: http://dld.bz/aEvN
Uncommon complaints about the ipad (New Yorker): http://dld.bz/aEvW
Do aspiring writers need websites? http://dld.bz/aEwz
Patterson signs up to work with British writer: http://dld.bz/aEws
What’s the greatest reward of writing? http://dld.bz/aEwF
Productivity in 5 words or fewer: http://dld.bz/aExj
The dark side of Dickens (Atlantic) : http://dld.bz/aExp
Author’s Angst (how people we know can rain on our parade): http://dld.bz/aEK5
Common writing errors: http://dld.bz/aGhX @cpatrickschulze
An editor answers a question on write-for-hire scouts: http://dld.bz/aGkA
To outline or not to outline? Inky Girl’s survey results: http://dld.bz/aGkG @inkyelbows
What to do and *not* do when you get “the call”: http://dld.bz/aEMk
Book opening vs. movie openings: http://dld.bz/aEM5
Getting your novel critiqued: http://dld.bz/aEMR
Do you suffer from Shiny New Idea syndrome? http://dld.bz/aEWz
Writing related grad degree links: http://dld.bz/aEW7
Payment models–the need for a good content model for a sub-$5 book purchase: http://dld.bz/aEVu @jwikert
Creative people shouldn’t shut off their brain: http://dld.bz/aEWq
The character likability factor: http://dld.bz/aEWJ
How important is accuracy in your novel? http://dld.bz/aEWR
Anatomy of a story: http://dld.bz/aGjh @bluemaven
A writer’s guide to going green: http://dld.bz/aGjv
An agent says publishing always has changes–writers should roll with them: http://dld.bz/aGjK
How to interview experts (more on primary source research): http://dld.bz/aGkT
Why don’t publishers promote and market the books they publish? (Writer’s Digest): http://dld.bz/aGkW
6 ways to become productive on Facebook: http://dld.bz/aGkX
Unlikable characters: http://dld.bz/aGkZ
Query letter–the beginning: http://dld.bz/aGmc @jasouders
On motivation in writing: http://dld.bz/aGmn
On the importance of our writing–make no excuses, take no prisoners: http://dld.bz/aGm4
How writers build courage: http://dld.bz/aGnf
Fiction is so subjective, it’s the agent equivalent of “it’s not you, it’s me.” http://dld.bz/aGns
An agent on falling in love: http://dld.bz/aGpC
Writing exercise–put the epigram before the horse: http://dld.bz/aGpH
Write and get published–the old way, or DIY? http://dld.bz/aJbJ
The ipad–7 things it CAN do for authors, 5 things it CAN’T, 3 things it’s changing for them: http://dld.bz/aJcc
Proposals and Synopses (@stephanellaw) http://bit.ly/9VW8e4
7 caffeine-free ways to increase awareness: http://dld.bz/aJcn
Irony, juxtaposition, coincidence: http://dld.bz/aJcC
Book marketing tips from around the Net: http://dld.bz/aJcH
Writers–making a living off of Kindle? (GalleyCat): http://dld.bz/aJcX
An editor on 1st chapter mistakes: http://dld.bz/aMpu
Tips for writing a fight scene: http://dld.bz/aMp9
Were the ‘mad’ heroines of literature actually sane? (BBC) http://dld.bz/aMpN
Stuck at the London Book Fair–Erupting Eyjafjallajökull is Unexpected Boon to Some Authors: http://dld.bz/aMtt
Why companions are important for our characters: http://dld.bz/aMpT
A post on the importance of NOT writing: http://dld.bz/aMpX
Can Sci-fi be fused with anything and still be considered SF? http://dld.bz/aMqj
Publishing 3.0: A World Without Inventory (recommendations for publishers): http://dld.bz/aMrc
Some help for writers using courtrooms as settings: http://dld.bz/aMrX
An agent on book marketing: http://dld.bz/aMrB
Improve your writing with word limits: http://dld.bz/aNbU
Fantasy fiction–the battle for meaning continues (Guardian): http://dld.bz/aNcw
A fantasy reader’s comments on the Guardian’s look at “battle for meaning” in fantasy: http://dld.bz/aNdc
The role that luck and timing play in getting published: http://dld.bz/aMsk
An agent says that publishing is not like other businesses: http://dld.bz/aMs8
Blog promotion–are you a fan or not? http://dld.bz/aMtH
Writing historical fiction: http://dld.bz/aNbV @SylviaDSmith
21 tips to land a guest post every time: http://dld.bz/aNdu
An agent on starting your career (and promoting it): http://dld.bz/aPpF
Keeping complex novels organized: http://dld.bz/aPpW
Defining and working with theme: http://dld.bz/aNe7 @AlexSokoloff
A necessary torment for our characters: http://dld.bz/aNf6
On hooking a good query: http://dld.bz/aPq3
Writing secondary characters in novels: http://dld.bz/aPqK
10 questions to ask an agent before you sign: http://dld.bz/aPrb
The middle way–the independent publisher: http://dld.bz/aPrm
9 writers prove age is just a number: http://dld.bz/aRdp
An agent is looking for writers with high internet presence (GalleyCat): http://dld.bz/aRdu
Kindle, iPhone, iPad: Exploring the Impact for Writers and Authorship (Writer’s Digest): http://dld.bz/aRfU
How one writer has become successful on Kindle–with no platform or name recognition: http://dld.bz/aRgn
Goal setting and what to write: http://bit.ly/aJPNkW
The battle of (fantasy) evermore? http://bit.ly/b6bPfJ
The 20-to-1 rule of social media promo: http://bit.ly/9w3rvs
7 ways to be a green writer: http://bit.ly/aRUSPc
Don’t bog the reader down with too much back story. Work it in: http://bit.ly/aSq8y6 @authorterryo
Social media glossary: http://bit.ly/ckBh1f

First of all, I want to thank Writer’s Digest for the honor of choosing Mystery Writing is Murder as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers (Genres/Niches). Their list has just been published in the May/June 2010 issue, just hitting the stands now. Thanks so much!

But it’s all due to my friends who are so active on my blog—supporting me with their comments and making me think. Y’all are incredibly supportive and I really, really appreciate it.

I spoke Thursday evening at the Women’s National Book Association of Charlotte meeting with Susan Dosier and Carrie Ryan about social media promoting for writers.

One thing I found interesting was that many of the attending industry professionals were on Facebook and Twitter but didn’t blog.

I think it’s easy for the blogging world to get a little insular. I’m starting to think that everybody blogs and that’s just not true.

So here’s a quick post on setting up your writing related blog.

The first thing I would do is set a goal. What are you trying to accomplish with your blog? And I’d caution that even if a blog is supposed to be a promotional vehicle, that’s probably not going to fly for very long in the social networking world. Social media is really all about supplying content—and providing a service to your readers. A soft sell approach is best in the social media sphere.

After you know what you want, decide how much time you have to spend on the blog. If you’re honest with yourself and realize you don’t have a lot of free time, then limit your posting right out of the gate. It really doesn’t matter that you’re only posting once a week…but you need to let your readers in on your plan. Even if readers are using Google Reader to tune in to new content, it’s still nice to know that “if it’s Wednesday, there must be something fresh on Julie’s blog.”

Then I would write a whole slew of posts before the blog goes live. Write as many high-content posts as you can handle. That way you’ll have a buffer between you (and your busy life) and your blog.

Decide who you’d like to host your blog. WordPress gets the best press and is probably less-buggy…but I’ve gotten used to Blogger, quirks and all.

Keep your blog somewhat focused, at least at first. Otherwise, readers might get a little confused about where you’re going with it. Sometimes I’ll visit blogs and one day they’ll focus on politics, another day on humor…that’s fine if you already have your audience. If you’re building an audience, that can make things tricky. If you want to regularly show photography or focus on your hobby, etc, it might be good to assign it to a particular day of the week..and even post those days in the sidebar so that we all know that Wednesdays are “Wordless Wednesdays” with photography featured.

Give your readers a way to follow you and become part of the community. Feature an RSS feed button, a “Followers” button, etc, prominently on your blog page.

Develop your readership (and learn how blogging is done) by visiting blogs that are similar to your own. When you hang out at blogs that are frequently updated and with regular commenters, then comment there—adding content to the post with your comment, if possible. Link back to your blog.

Visit other blogs in this active blog’s blogroll. If those are active and healthy, comment on those blogs….adding content and a link back to your blog.

Make sure, if you’re an author, to have a buy button on your site, “contact me” info, and that you’ve made it clear that you’re a writer. Profile pictures are nice, too, and help readers to relate to you a little better, I think.

Blogging has been an incredibly experience for me and I’ve gained so much from it. Is it time-consuming? Yes. Is it worth it? Definitely.

Usually my son gives me a play-by-play of what he’s working on at school.

But the past couple of weeks, his Language Arts class has been concentrating entirely on writing to prep for a standardized exam. And somehow he neglected to tell me until a couple of days ago. :)

I guess he thinks I’ll be entirely too interested. He’s right. Writing, I think, is hard to teach, and I’m curious how people approach it.

In preparation for this exam, the school had each of the six 7th grade English teachers specialize in a particular area and then teach it to the rotating student body.

His favorite class of the series was on mood. To pull the children in, the teacher had shown them a YouTube clip on the SmartBoard that was a parody of the Mary Poppins movie.

First she showed the regular scenes with Mary Poppins drifting gently down from the sky with her umbrella, surprising the children by swooping up the banister, and magically cleaning the nursery.

Then she showed the other version, where the creator of the clip had given it all a menacing tone with spooky music when Mary came from the sky and with horrified expressions of the children when the nursery went crazy—topped off with Mary Poppins’ head spinning around in a very non-Disney, Exorcist-type fashion.

The mood in the two pieces was totally different.

It’s probably easier to create mood on film. You’ve got the benefit of using music (sometimes it’s overused, but it’s always an option.)

But we can accomplish the same type thing in our writing. We just don’t want to make the reader feel like they’re being manipulated. And we’d want to make it as seamless as possible.

Setting is one big way of creating mood. How the author treats the setting is also important (the author’s tone.) The author can turn the spooky old house into a lovely historic home just by his word choice.

What kind of imagery are we using? If we write all the senses, we can create an ominous or a happy mood even with aromas—is there a strange smell coming from the woods? Is the sweet smell of gingerbread making the kitchen a cozy place?

What sort of sounds are in the scene? Eerie whistling as the character is walking alone at night? Birds chirping in the backyard? Children laughing?

Characters’ thoughts and actions can definitely work toward mood creation—how are they reacting to the situation they’re in? Are they relaxed? Nervous? Frightened?

What kind of a climate are we creating in our WIPs? How do you create it?

What happens if you have two things—or two facets of a character’s personality—that are equally important to the protagonist but conflict with each other?

We could use the tug between a character’s work and his family—and a character who loves both things equally. Suddenly we increase his work demands and his family needs simultaneously. How will he respond? What kinds of choices will he make and how will it change the plot? Maybe he misses his shot at promotion when he spends more time at home? What does that do to him?

We could invent an obsessively neat character who is always perfectly polite. Then we could dump a freeloading, messy, down-on-his-luck relative on him.

One of my neuroses is my punctuality. I have to be on time. My daughter just got the role of the White Rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland” and I burst out laughing—the White Rabbit should be my avatar in life. I also want to do a Good Job with everything I take on. So where does the need to be punctual and turn a project in conflict with my desire to have it be as perfect as possible?

How do our characters handle this stress? How does it affect their decision-making?

So we can personalize the torture we’re putting our characters through. What are these characters like? What do they need? Do they need two things—and what if these needs conflict with each other?

What matters most to our characters and how can we threaten it?