The Mystery Starts Here

When I tell people I’m a writer, they are almost always impressed. I can’t imagine why. Anyone can write. It’s a skill, like playing the piano or painting. Anyone can learn. But when I mention that I’m a novelist and write mysteries, almost everyone says the same thing! "Oh, I could never write a novel. How you do that?" I have to admit you write a mystery or any novel the same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Or to quote E.L. Doctorow, "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can never see further than the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."

When people still protest that they could never write a novel, I ask them if they can write one page a day, 250 words. Almost everyone says, that yes, they can do that. Well, 250 words a day for a year is a novel. Of course the novel won’t be publishable, you’ll still have to do rewrites, probably several. But the main thing is to get those words on paper. You get an idea, maybe noodle around with a character study, maybe do a rough outline, but you don’t have to. You can sit right down at the computer or take pen and paper in hand and just write. There is no right or wrong way. How long does it take to write 250 words? Probably 10 minutes maybe 20. Who doesn’t have 20 minutes to spare everyday? And I’ll bet you a chocolate-covered donut that soon you’ll be writing more than a page a day. My goal is 500 words a day, two pages. Sometimes I only write a few paragraphs, but often I will write four or five or six pages. Once I start writing, I enjoy it so much I keep going. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss your goal. The main thing is to have one.

If you’d like some tips and ideas on writing a mystery novel, go to www.silveradopublishing.com and sign up for my free writing course. That’s right, FREE as in no money! All I ask is that you come back here when you’re finished and leave me a comment if you enjoyed the course or how I might improve it.

Happy writing

Why you have to go to conferences

You see them advertised all the time, writing conferences in your particular area of interest, mystery, romance or Sci-Fi. Some are small and regional with room for 40 or 50 people. Some like RWA National for romance or the Bouchercon and Left Coast Crime for mystery lovers are large national conventions that draw hundreds or even thousands of attendees. The programs consist of authors who have published in your genre and speak on their writing experiences, workshops for writing techniques but the real appeal of a conference is the editors and agents who attend. Conferences are the best way to meet editors and agents and get your work in front of them.

Conferences usually charge extra for you to have an agent/editor appointment and the money is well worth it. If you send your manuscript over the transom to an agent, it may never get read by the agent. Most agents have first readers who will look at your manuscript and say yea or nay. But if you can get an appointment with an agent or editor, you have the opportunity to pitch your book, face to face. This will also give you the opportunity – if you’re a fast talker – to let the person know you are not only an author, but a public speaker and have ideas to promote the books once it’s published and oh, by the way, this work is just the first in a series. With the state the publishing business is in today, agents and editors are not looking for a person to write one book. They want writers who can deliver several books, either stand-alone or series. As with any interview, do your best to look and act professionally.

This is your Career

This is your writing career we’re talking about. Dress as if you were going on a job interview, because you are. When you’ve finished speaking with an agent, thank them for their time. Most agents will ask you to send the first 50 pages of your manuscript with a synopsis. The minute you get home, send the agent what she’s asked for and remind her gently where you met. On the outside of your manila envelope, write “Requested Materials” so you actually get to the agents desk.Now all you have to do is sit back, with fingers crossed and wait.

While you’re at the convention be sure to take full advantage of not only the classes available, but the social mixers too. That’s a good place to meet agents and editors in a casual atmosphere where you can just smooze with them. I attended a small conference recently and had an agent appointment, but I also managed to talk to and get the business cards of two other agents and an editor. Be sure to use good sense and use good manners because the publishing world is a small one and you do not want to get a bad reputation. Editors move from house to house and they all know one another, so be on your best behavior but have fun. You never know, this might be the start of your writing career.