Nancy J. Cohen's Blog: Nancy's Notes from Florida, page 118

Sleuthfest: Dennis Lehane

Bestselling Author Dennis Lehane gave some great writing advice during his luncheon speech on Saturday at Sleuthfest as the rapt audience hung on his words.

Disclaimer: Any misinterpretations are mine alone. This is what I heard to the best of my ability. The words were flying so fast, it was sometimes hard to catch them.

Bestselling Author Dennis Lehane

So here is the essence of the speech which was full of wonderfully practical advice:

A story or a novel must have action, i.e. a character doing something in pursuit of a goal.

Motive does matter when it comes to writing.

If you're a writer to make money, you're insane. Why do you write?

We want to seduce, enlighten, engage readers and make them wonder What Happens Next.

Story is about engaging the reader and illuminating the human condition.

Don't become a comedian if no one has told you you're funny. Similarly, don't become a writer if no one has said you're a good storyteller.

You have to have a reason to tell the story and the reader must have a reason to read it.

Ten Tips on Writing:

1. Does the story begin on page one?

2. Does the main character act soon enough? Stasis in a novel is death. Someone must be doing something in chapter one.

3. Does the main character have a recognizable want? Want leads to action which leads to the inner life of the character. Want is plot.

4. Does the main character have a recognizable need? The writer may not know what this need is at the outset. Need is theme.

5. Does the main character's action come across as authentic?

6. Does the main character go on a journey that results in an epiphany? The story is a journey. A plot shouldn't call attention to itself. Anyone can write Act 1. Act 2 is where you discover who you are as a writer.

7. Do events in the story have dramatic inevitability? By the end, the reader should feel a universal truth.

8. Is something at stake in the story? Preferably what's at stake is a piece of the main character's soul. Otherwise, the story is just an amusement ride.

9. Write the book you want to read (and not the Great American Novel or you'll write a pretentious piece of crap).

10. When in doubt, just tell the damn story. Try to transcend the genre in which you write. Never stop learning.

Sue Peek, Sharon Hartley, Cynthia Thomason (standing)

Sandra Madden, Carol Stephenson, Nancy Cohen

Auctioneer Cynthia Thomason

Britin Haller & Neil Plakcy

Sleuthfest: Part 2

Here is my continuing report on Sleuthfest.

Reinventing Yourself

Speakers: PJ Parrish, Carol Cope, Lisa Unger, Jonathan King, Moderated by Elaine Viets

· Keep writing; don't give up.

· Think about what you love to write and see if you can give it a new spin.

· It's humanity that pushes stories no matter what you write.

· Come out there in different forms.

· Don't count on this career to pay the mortgage.

· Pigs get fed; hogs get slaughtered (referring to modest versus big advances).

· Paperback originals are dead.

· Write every day. Write from the heart. Write from the best of your ability.

· Try to be a better writer than you were the day before.

· By the time you figure out the market, it's over. Write the book that's in you.

Nancy Cohen & Christine Kling

Pearl Wolf, Shelley Freydont, Sue Peek

 

Dr. Christine Jackson & Sharon Potts

Sue from Murder on the Beach & Randy Rawls

 

Sharon Hartley and Nancy Cohen

 

 

Alternatives to Publishing

Panelists were Paul Levine, Jonathan King, Mike Jastrzebski, Moderated by Neil Plakcy

There are three ways to get published in ebook form:

1. Legacy Publishers, who put out traditional print books and who will also make your book available in ebook formats

2. Dedicated e-publishers (sometimes called "digital first" publishers)

3. Self-publishing

For self-pubbed authors:

Unlike the other two choices, you're responsible for cover design, editing, formatting, pricing, and uploading to all the different online sites.

You've got to work at the book. You can't just put it up online. It must be your best work.

Consider the free preview. The first page and the first chapter must grab the reader.

Re Promotion:

Promotion and marketing are very distracting and time consuming and they do take away from writing time.

Think about adding the first chapter of another one of your books at the end of your self-pubbed work as a teaser.

Promote on blogs, Kindle Nation Daily, Goodreads, Library Thing, yahoo groups for readers. Add to discussions on the Kindle & Nook boards and on FB.

Post on your friends' FB pages and ask them to post to their friends.

Offer to give away a copy of your book to a reader who agrees to post a favorable review on Amazon and B&N if they like the story.

Aim for the top 100 in your chosen genre. If you get a high rating, use the snipping tool and show the pix to your fans or in your next newsletter.

If you choose to go with POD at Createspace, remember to put a spine on your book. You'll have to buy the proof and then you'll need to review and approve it. Their premium service gives you better pricing options.

Disclaimer: Any misinterpretations are mine alone. This is what I heard to the best of my ability.

More Photos may be accessed here: http://bit.ly/gj5Up3

Votes Needed!

I am excited to announce that  Silver Serenade has been nominated by The Romance Reviews for Best in Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic/PNR for 2010!                         

Voting ends on March 31.  Please help me out by voting for my book at http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php

Scroll down until you see the category for Best Romantic Science Fiction/Fantasy. You'll have my infinite gratitude. Thank you!  Tell your friends!

Sleuthfest: Part 1

Sleuthfest, the annual mystery writers conference sponsored by the Florida chapter of MWA, was in full swing when I arrived on Saturday.

I attended several sessions which I'll describe in three pieces so come back tomorrow for more.

This is from my panel on Keeping It Real.

The Editors Panel

A panel with five editors spearheaded the morning on Saturday. Following is a paraphrasing of what I heard.

The more platforms we have, and the more e-books, the more books we'll sell.
Formats may shrink when the dust settles on the e-book revolution.
Bookstores are just one of the places today where you can buy books.
The real problem is the American economy. When workers are laid off, it creates an instability in the entire industry.
Small press haven't had to reduce staff like the big companies. They offer a miniscule advance and have a small print run, but then they consider 3,000-4,000 books sold to be a good number and 5,000 or more even better. Most often the print runs are set on expected sales.
Library sales have been decreasing due to the economy.
It's easier to get reviews for a debut author than for an author on their fourth or fifth book. It's also easier to sell someone without a track record.
Small press may be okay with steady sales as opposed to soaring growth, although they do like to see some growth. They might try different sales incentives to raise an author's profile.
If you want to sell outside the U.S., you have to write what the foreign market understands. Certain sports games, for example, will need to be explained. Dark thrillers do better in foreign markets than cozies.
Series are easier to sell than stand-alones because readers fall in love with the characters. When a series starts to falter, a stand-alone novel can reinvigorate a career.

Disclaimer: Any misinterpretations are mine alone. This is what I heard to the best of my ability.

Mary Lou Wymer & Victoria Landis

Julie Compton & Suzanne Adair

Oline Cogdill & Linda Hengerer

Lynette Hallberg & Barbara Bent

More Photos may be accessed here: http://bit.ly/gj5Up3

Flower Power

We visited Epcot at Disney World this past weekend and I didn't realize their Flower festival was underway until I noticed displays of topiary art and patterned flower beds in abundance. The landscaping at Disney always amazes me. It's perfect in every aspect: well-shaped, no bugs, freshly mulched, bright blooms and glossy leaves. I suspect an army of gardeners come out at night to perform maintenance.

  

  

We saw some truly awesome displays as we strolled to World Showcase and around to lunch at Les Chefs de France. Here, in a white clothed elegant restaurant, we ordered the chicken and mushroom crepe. Let me warn you that these huge portions are big enough to share. Our daughter got the prix fixe menu and started with French onion soup, macaroni baked with special cheeses, and a puff pastry with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Well stuffed, we strode around the other end of World Showcase, stopping at one of my favorites attractions, the Maelstrom ride. This ride inspired my paranormal romance series, but more on that another time. We stopped into the Land pavilion further along for another favorite, the Living with the Land ride. I am always astounded by the bountiful fruits and vegetables that they grow in their hydroponic gardens. Why can't all of our high rise buildings have greenhouses like this on top growing produce, and the patios have plants growing without soil? Giant pumpkins, lemons, pummelos, and papaya amaze the eyes. The tilapia tanks inspired Body Wave, one of my Bad Hair Day mysteries. In this story, my sleuth and hairstylist Marla Shore interviews a suspect who is a tilapia farmer. So this ride has special meaning for me, although I liked it when they played the "Listen to the Land" song that's been eliminated from the current narration.

Naturally we had to ride Spaceship Earth. Disney tip: Bypass this ride when you enter the park and hit it when you leave. There will be no lines later in the afternoon. We preferred the original version of this attraction, too, but it still has appeal and makes you appreciate how far we've come in terms of worldwide communication. Historical dioramas take you from the cavemen days to today's global Internet network and beyond to the future.

Tired but satisfied, we left for the day. The weather is perfect this time of year and it makes you appreciate the beautiful flowers and landscaping all the more. It's second to Epcot's Food and Wine Festival for our favorite times to visit. So here's to flower power (the real blossom type) and to a glorious Spring season ahead.

The Romance Reviews Gala Opening

The Romance Reviews  

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION AND CONTEST

From March 1 – 31, 2011

at http://www.theromancereviews.com

It's The Romance Reviews' Grand Opening!

Play the games. Explore new books.

Chat with authors. Vote for Best Books of 2010.

Rack up your points!

CAN YOU UNLOCK THE PUZZLE?

Visit everyday to increase your chances to win awesome prizes!

134 participating authors!

Over 200 prizes waiting for you!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes

$10 Gift Cards – 32 winners!

(8 winners each week)

Over 150 Book Giveaways in total

(paperback, hardback, ebook)

Major Prizes

Grand Prize: $100 Gift Card

2nd Prize: $70 Gift Card

3rd Prize: $50 Gift Card

 For Authors

(based on results of book votes)

Grand Prize: $200 TRR Advertising Package

2nd Prize: $100 TRR Advertising Package

3rd Prize: $50 TRR Advertising Package

Main Sponsor

Dorchester Publishing

Participating authors

(in no particular order)      Nancy J. Cohen

Kat Martin                      Beth Kery                       Susan Lyons                    Madison Blake

Ashley March                  Karen Rose Smith           LK Rigel                         Gini Rifkin

Sandra Edwards             Grace Elliot                     Suzanne Barrett              Jessica Chambers

Maeve Greyson               Sable Hunter                   Josie Arlington                Tanya Stowe

Laura Tolomei                 Kristen Painter                Renee Rearden                Elaine Cantrell

Susanna Ives                   Amy Corwin                   Keta Diablo                     Suzette Stone

Suzanne Tyrpak              TL Schaefer                    Monique Martin              Kari Gregg

Susan Meier                    Laura Moore                   Susan Roebuck               Kathy Carmichael

Brita Addams                 KT Grant                         Winslow Eliot                 Ingela F. Hyatt

Jan Scarbrough                Victoria Blisse                 Sharon Buchbinder         PG Forte

Bronwyn Storm              Patricia Preston               Alice Gaines                    Cate Rowan

Ann Tracy Marr              Joan Beth Erickson         Tara Lain                         Terri Reid

L.J. McDonald                Lucinda Brant                 Eden Baylee                    Hayley B. James

Jason W. Chan                Pat Amsden                    Linda Morris                   DH Starr

Kaylea Cross                   Lee Benoit                      Kayelle Allen                  Beth Trissel Viviane Brentanos                                        Morgan Rice                   Ashley Ladd                   Jennifer Labelle

Rita Hestand                   Mahalia Levey                LK Below                       Gale Stanley

Sarah J. Bradley              Joanne Troppello             Rhonda L. Print              Pamela Jackson

Jenny Schwartz               Mary Manners                 Eve Silver                        Jennifer Crusie

T.C. Archer                     Jocelyn Modo                 Sloan Parker                    Kerri Williams Elaine Hopper Stacey Espino                             Linda Mooney                Victoria Howard

Heather Matthews          Marcia James                   Cherie De Sues               Savannah Chase

Simone Eden                   Lauren Fraser                  Annie Nicholas               JoAnne Kenrick

E.D. Walker                    Rachel Haimowitz          HP Mallory                     Suzanne Rock

Andrea Speed                 Elle Amery                      Nichelle Gregory             Eden Bradley

Shermaine Williams        Berengaria Brown           Tina Donahue                  Taryn Kincaid

Red Haircrow                 Virginia Cavanaugh        Hailey Edwards              Elle Druskin

Rachel Brimble               Frances Pauli                   Nancy J Cohen                Tarah Scott

Em Petrova                     Heather Wardell              Cara Marsi                       CJ Archer

Mary Eason                     Skhye Moncrief              Jana Richards                  Jill James

Alison Chambers             LoRee Peery                   Gail Pallotta                    Alison Henderson

Nicki Greenwood           Alianne Donnelly            Tiffany Ashley                Michael Davis

Gem Sivad                      Stacy Juba                       Tory Richards                 Darcia Helle

LaVerne Clark                Sibel Hodge                                                                       

 

Writing is a Mystery

When you think about it, writing is a mystery. We face a blank page and words mysteriously appear on it. Where do they come from? Is the Muse sitting on our shoulder, dictating into our minds? Or is the creative process more the result of hard labor and long hours at the computer?

I'm in writing intensive mode now, sticking to my schedule of five pages minimum per day at least five days per week. This leaves me creatively drained in terms of writing blogs and all the other myriad promotional activities we have to do. Fortunately, the story is coming together nicely. It's deviated from the synopsis in good ways as the characters and plot develop on their own. This didn't happen at once. It took about 100 pages for me to reach this stage. I had to get to know my characters and weave the web of suspects in my head first before my subconscious mind could take over.            

Now I'm about 120 pages from the finish line and I'm still wondering what's going to happen next. Will I have enough material to stretch things out to the end? This anxiety afflicts every writer. I worry about it for each book, but every time I attain my goal. It's especially difficult for the first book in a series because the characters are fresh and the setting is untried. By the second book, you can hop into the head of your main character, already knowing where she lives and who she hangs out with and what her personal concerns are.

But now I'm only in book one, groping in the dark, plowing my way through a minefield of doubts. When I reach the end, it'll be a great relief. It's always easier to fix words on the page than to write them in the first place. In the last third of the book, secrets have to be revealed. Suspects have to be narrowed, until only one remains. Give away too much too soon, and the story is over. Will I need to add a new and unexpected revelation that will surprise me as well as readers? It can only come about if the Muse directs me there. My fingers type what pops into my head and I never quite know each day where that will lead me. It's a mystery, isn't it?                   

Hollywood Beach

We spent a day last weekend at Hollywood Beach in Florida. I thought I'd share my notes with you in case you visit the area and didn't know about this corner of our world.

It was a perfect day in February, sunny and in the low 70s. We drove east on Sheridan Street past West Lake Park and turned right on Ocean Drive. A few blocks down from Hollywood North Beach Park, we turned left on Lee Street. Next time, we would probably look for a spot in the parking lot at the beach park, because it's easy parking and they have a café and rest rooms. This time, we were lucky to find a parking spot along the curb on Lee Street. We paid via the automatic meter, two dollars an hour, then we put the receipt on our dashboard.

We proceeded to the brick-paved boardwalk and headed south past people eating breakfast at Florio's Italian restaurant. On the next block, Ocean's Eleven restaurant was crowded with patrons. They have their own parking lot for customers. A steel-band musician started playing there around ten o'clock. You could sit on a bench on the boardwalk and listen. Plenty of other restaurants offer a variety of ethnic foods.

We strode at a brisk pace to our destination, the organic produce market. Here we bought bananas and English peas. White tents protected stalls displaying leafy greens, fresh herbs, several varieties of mushrooms and tomatoes, garlic and ginger, citrus fruits, avocados, and packets of nuts and seeds.

After eating bananas, we walked back toward the car. The return trip was breezier but it was a cooling breeze from the north with low humidity. The sun heated my exposed neck and arms. The water had a distinct demarcation line, aqua near the shore and navy blue where it turned deeper. Sunlight sparkled like millions of fireflies glittering on the water. Motor vessels plowed the waves while we saw silhouettes of numerous boats on the horizon. A row of gray and white birds watched from the shoreline.

Sounds we heard included seagulls cawing, doves "who-hoo'ing", the jangle of bicycle bells, the engine of a beach tractor raking the sand, people chatter, snatches of conversations, a helicopter droning overhead.

People watching is a good sport on the beach. I saw a classy lady with layered blonde hair, a pink top, white capri pants, and a pink beaded choker. Her male companion had on a yellow polo shirt and navy shorts. Another guy looked like a pirate with his white beard, a bandanna on his head, a squint on his face, khaki pants that looked as though they came from a travel catalogue, and a backpack. One woman had the ugliest teeth I'd ever seen, with a noticeable overbite and rotten looking teeth. She looked okay otherwise and would be much more attractive if she consulted an orthodontist. Another woman wore a bikini top and a dark pencil skirt. She had a trim figure and straight blonde hair, but when you looked at her face, it had more wrinkles than a prune. This aged her beyond what she appeared from the neck down. We saw mothers pushing strollers, joggers wearing earbuds, bicyclists, roller skaters, young couples, middle-aged couples with matching paunches, and families riding pedaled contraptions.

Clothing ran the gamut with men wearing T-shirts, polo shirts, muscle shirts, or no shirts. For the most part, they wore shorts with sandals or sneakers. Women liked tank tops, short-sleeved tops, shorts, athletic wear, sundresses, and bikini tops. Some had ponytails swinging while others had coiffed, styled hair. Women favored big hoop earrings and necklaces. They wore flip flops or sneakers.

I heard snatches of dialogue:

Man: "She's a good woman. She is."

Kid: "Mommy, my feet!"

Man to group of friends: "You guys are bitching at me."

Friend: "Actually, dude, you did the right thing."

Woman on phone: "I gotta pick up the laundry and then I can sit by the pool."

When people ask writers where they get their inspiration, I reply that ideas are all over. Consider the above. Some of those character descriptions might end up in one of my books. Or part of a conversation could be the impetus for a story. Ideas surround us. We only need to notice them and take notes.

A Sad Day for Borders

Today is a sad day for Borders and for everyone in the publishing industry. It's the first day of their going out of business sale after declaring bankruptcy. I went to the store and saw a long checkout line snaking all the way from the front to the back, people's arms filled with books. Where had they been during normal business hours? If all these people had come into the store then, maybe Borders wouldn't be having financial woes today.

Magazines were forty percent off so I started there. Then I roamed the aisles, picking out a few things I might not have bought otherwise. People loaded all kinds of things into their baskets: children's books, puzzles, gifts, hardcover novels, novelty notebooks, and more. I can understand how adults may become more comfortable reading an e-book on their Kindle, but kids will never lose the pleasure of thumbing through a pop-up book or a picture book. Do we expect to keep our children entertained via the television, computer, or handheld device? Children need to have books at home if they are to develop a love for learning and reading.

Where do we expect to browse magazines if not at the big chain bookstores? Will we have to subscribe online? I like leafing through magazines, cutting out pictures and recipes. How will I satisfy this need if I can't browse the magazine racks and pick out issues that appeal to me?

For authors, we lose the experience of readers browsing the new release table and spotting our catchy book cover. How can we attract their attention online? Reader review sites? Genre niche sites? If we are not already a known name, do we have a chance at all?

Our choices to buy a physical print book in person will now be narrowed to Barnes & Noble, for however long they last, and to the local independent bookstores. Supermarkets and discount chains are viable alternatives but their selection is often limited to bestsellers. Will we be forced to hunt for more reads online, increasing our time spent in front of the computer? Book reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations will be just as important as ever. But things are changing, and how those are delivered is changing too. We'll have to look online for recommendations. Or maybe we'll let sites like Amazon recommend titles for us based on our previous purchases like they do now.

As I stood in the checkout line, I heard two opposing points of view. The man from behind said that e-books are going to take over because e-books are cheaper and it's easier for people to download them. His female companion shook her head. " I like to hold a book, and I like to smell it. I'll never stop wanting to have a book in my hands."

Networking for Writers

This past weekend I participated in a book discussion and signing at Glades Branch Library in Boca Raton. There were 18 romance authors including NY Times bestseller Heather Graham. Many members of our Florida Romance Writers attended for a show of support. Patrons filled the seats and asked relevant questions. We didn't sell many books but that wasn't the point. We met new readers, enticed people into the library, and performed a community service.

Our organization, Florida Romance Writers, arranges group events like this one. We're happy to show up for each other, buy each other's books, and rejoice in our successes. We share our rejections, pat each other on the back, and offer sympathy when needed. I joined FRW in 1988, and I owe everything I've learned about the business of writing from its members.

Allison Chase, Nancy J. Cohen, Linda Conrad

When I want to delve into crime-related details for my mysteries, I'll go to a Florida chapter of MWA meeting or I'll attend SleuthFest, their annual conference for mystery writers coming up in March (http://www.mwaflorida.org/sleuthfest.htm ). Published author concerns are addressed by my membership in Ninc, or Novelists Inc.

Carol Stephenson, Cynthia Thomason, Jan Washburn, Patrice Wilton, Pearl Wolf

Allison Chase, Nancy J. Cohen, Linda Conrad, Traci Hall

Heather Graham & Carol Stephenson

Besides the education, networking has brought me speaking engagements, authors who've endorsed my works, and critique partners. It's critical to a writing career to join professional organizations. It shows you're serious about your craft, that you are pursuing writing as a career, and that you're educating yourself about the industry. So here are some places for you to get started if you have an interest in writing:

Author's Guild: http://www.authorsguild.org

Florida Chapter of MWA: http://www.mwaflorida.org/

Florida Romance Writers: http://www.frwriters.org

International Thriller Writers: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Kiss of Death: http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org

Mystery Writers of America: http://www.mysterywriters.org

Novelists, Inc.: http://www.ninc.com

Romance Writers of America: http://www.rwanational.org

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers: http://www.sfwa.org

Sisters in Crime: http://www.sistersincrime.org

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators: http://www.scbwi.org