Tips from the 2015 California Crime Writers Conference, by Jackie Houchin

            AS A MEMBER of Sisters-in-Crime and Mystery Writers of America, I've attended all their combined conferences so far, and agree with everyone (even Anne Perry), this was the best one yet.  I love the camaraderie of fellow writers. I eagerly chat with them and sit in on their panel discussions. I commiserate with their anxieties and failures, celebrate their successes, and take note of the hard-earned tips they offer.

            The key note speakers – Southern belle, Charlaine Harris and British maven, Anne Perry – were the icing on the cake.

            I usually follow the "Craft" track because I'm a journalist with only an occasional dip into short stories. But the Industry, Forensics, and Marketing tracks were all well-attended, and for the first time this year CD recordings of each were made available for purchase.

            To order any of them, follow the links at http://vwtapes.com/sistersincrimewritersconference.aspx or contact Patrick Von Wiegnandt  at pvw@hawaii.rr.com.

NOTE: In order to be sure I did not misquote any of the authors from my scribbled notes, I listed their names on the panels, then used unattributed quotes. To hear just who said what (and more) check the CDs. 

"Addressing Fear and Other Plagues of the Writing Life" --- Tyler Dilts, DJ Adamson, Terry Shames, Terri Nolan, moderator: Dennis Palumbo

            About anxieties for beginning new projects: "I let my alter self rant for about 3 minutes (maybe journal) then say 'Shut up and get up.'" "Just get the words on the page. I do about 2,000 daily. When you have a draft the fear is gone."

            About procrastination: "I do writing activities (email, etc.) other than writing on my book." " My kids say I'm circling the computer." "I don't call it procrastination, but preparation."

"Thrills & Chills" ---- Laurie Stevens, D.P. Lyle, Craig Faustus Buck, Paul D. Marks, moderator: Diana Gould

            About creating the elements of suspense: "I make characters sympathetic, then put them in jeopardy." "Write thrillers only in 3rd person POV." "Tell readers things the protagonist doesn't know." "Cliff hangers on most chapters." " Pace is critical." "Short chapters." "However, NEVER end the book with a cliff hanger." "Don't end chapters with 'She had no idea what was coming'. It's author intrusion." " I punch up violence in 2nd drafts."

            About writing processes: "I do the 1st draft as a screenplay, an outline of sorts, I guess." "I write the crime first, then write the psychological parts." "When finished with the 1st draft, I do passes on what concerns me, like characters or pace." "Anyone who doesn't use Scrivener" is crazy!" http://bit.ly/1G5W0Q4

"Miss Marple's Rules, Traditional Mysteries Today" ---- Jill Amadio, Susan Shea, Gay Degani, Carole Sojka, moderator Susan Goldstein

            About labels and rules: "There's more bloodshed in a Divorce Practice than in traditional mysteries."  "Solving a puzzle. A whodunit." "No graphic sex or violence, an amateur or private detective, justice rules in the end." "Multiple suspects and a small town setting." "Victims are usually odious people." " No killing animals, no harm to children." Traditionals are more cerebral, more analytical of human behavior."

            About changes in traditional mysteries:  "Technology, cell phones, the internet." "The basics don't change (structure, clues, a puzzle, suspects)." "Authors today like to break some rules along the way." "Today's world – travel, social settings – can work its way into mysteries." "Less likely to stereotype (maids all the same, etc.)." "More humor." "Some authors today like to have a niche, a "craft" of some kind in their mysteries (quilting, cooking, bookstores, tea shops)." "You can usually tell a niche-type cozy by its cover."

            (A hot topic: Most in the audience said these types of popular mysteries were "cozies." However publishers and book stores do not distinguish them from the more traditional (Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot) "whodunit" mysteries.  They refer to ALL traditional mysteries (niche or soft-boiled) as COZIES. Women in the audience, as well as the authors, thought this was a bad rap, because men are less likely to try soft-boiled traditional puzzle/sleuth mysteries if they think they are reading "cozies.") 

            A question from a gentleman:  What is it about a woman liking to write mysteries?  "Women are more willing to listen to others." "They are more apt to ask a lot of questions." "Maybe they are more intuitive."

"Short and Deadly" ---- Bonnie Cardone, Andrew Jetarski, Gay Kinman, Donna May, moderator: Kate Thornton

            Why write short stories: "Immediate gratification." "I was trying to make a living and had no time to write a novel." "My first short story was the first chapter of my novel, slightly changed; the second one, the second chapter condensed. I wrote the third story on my own." "Writing short stories was a way to put off writing my novel."

            About the importance of Short Story anthologies:  "It's how I began." "I saw the announcement for submissions and thought 'I know I can do that.'" "I wouldn't be writing today without that opportunity. I like that when the theme is announced, everyone starts at the same time, no one has an advantage."

            About short story markets:  "Anthologies, they get you started." " Kings River Life always needs themed stories."  http://kingsriverlife.com/  "Duatrope.com has searchable databases for fiction and other genres." https://duotrope.com/  "Woman's World is another good place; very strict guidelines, but pay $500 for 500 words + a clue/question." "Alfred Hitchcock & Ellery Queen magazines." "Try joining the online group, Short Mystery Fiction Society, they even give Derringer Awards."  

            About free or paid submissions"  "If you submit to non-paying markets, try to do it in places that give awards." "I want them published before I put them into my own anthologies." "You can put short stories on Amazon Kindle for 99c." "Free to anthologies is good, it's for a good cause." "I introduce the characters in my novel in free short stories to see if people want to read about them" "Published (free) short stories can act as calling cards to other venues."

            About regrets:  "I sold all the rights to an online market, then later when a film company wanted it, I couldn't sell." "I didn't quite make the deadline on a story, then just let it go." "I have a great story, but I can't figure out the end!"

"Traveling Through Time, Historical Novels" ---- Jessica Ferriday, Anne Cleeland, Ona Russell, Bonnie MacBird, moderator: Rosemary Lord

            About what started you writing historicals:  "Scrapbooks. Clippings of my husband's grandfather who was a judge in the 1920s. When I researched him, I found a wonderful Jewish woman who worked in the courts, perfect as my protagonist." "I have Sherlock Holmes and the Victorian Era in my blood." "I love linguistics and languages. My stories are in 1890s London." "I love Regency novels. You're supposed to write what you read, so I write 1814 Jane Austin."

            About the language and style of historical speech: "I was trained as an actor, I learned to mimic. I listen to a CD every morning before writing." "I get British people to vet my writing for Americanisms."

            About research facts: "I  realized everything moved a lot slower (communications, travel, etc.)" "Hats! No one wears hats today." "They had more ways to entertain themselves with each other – singing, instruments, dancing, storytelling.)"

"Putting Your Blog to Work" ---- Sybil Johnson, Patty Smiley, S.W. Lauden, moderator Mar Preston

            About expectations of a blog:  "I'm a member of a multiple author blog (MAB), so there's no pressure to write a post every day or week." "When I hung up my shingle as a writer, I created a place for other to find what I'm doing – opinion , author interviews, short stories to music videos."

            About blogging to sell your books: "If I don't, people won't buy my books." "I create a voice and style, but a blog won't make you famous." "I've gained readers." "I announce my books on FaceBook and Twitter, but never talk about my books on the blog. I have conversations with people there."

            About writing that blog post:  "We write from 1,500 – 6,000  words." (WOW!) "I write 400-1,000 words." "Begin your blog as if beginning a thriller." "Offer content about YOU, your life, funny and entertaining stuff, not just about writing." "Ask, 'Would people care to read this?'" "Respond to comments." "Make blogs visually attractive. Use photos and graphics. I imbed videos and book covers, use pull quotes. Use fewer words: people see a wall of text and don't stay." "Pay attention to 'Keywords' for your posts. Choose them carefully."

            About all those blog hits from other countries:  "Creepy." "How? Why?"  (An answer from an audience member cleared this up. The International Institute of English encourages their students to find blogs by using keywords. They print them out and use them to study English and English/American idioms; reading and rewriting them.)

            About getting started and keeping going:  "Join a MAB, or guest post on one." "Write a dynamic essay." "Keep a list of things that are happening to you, choose the interesting ones."

Keynote speakers

            From Charlaine Harris: How long does it take to churn out a book?  As long as your editor says. Being a writer means completing the book. It's a business. If you don't sell, you'll be cut. No, I don't outline. Outlining makes me feel like painting by numbers. I write maybe 250 words about the book, then get to it.  My biggest challenge? Personal malice towards me!  Sweet me!

            From Anne Perry:  Do you ever wonder why crime writers are such nice people? If we really don't like you, there are other things we can do with you. The great thing about being a writer is that you are allowed (expected) to be eccentric. You can write your mysteries about anything you like, as long as there are the elements of crime and somebody to solve it. (Photo: with Rosemary Lord)

Keynotes discuss Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, Moderator Craig Faustus Buck

Harris and Perry agreed with most of Leonard Elmore's famous "Ten Rules of Writing," with exceptions.  "It depends..." prefaced many of their answers, and then they often explained how they broke that rule! Or avoided breaking it by using other means. A perfect wind-down to the conference. 

Sisters In Crime Anthology "LAdies Night" authors & editors ---- Naomi Hirahara, Kate Thornton, Jeri Westerson (editors), Julie G. Beers, Julie Brayton, Sarah M. Chen, Arthur Coburn, L.H. Dillman, Bengte Evenson, Cyndra Gernet, Andrew jetarski, Micheal Kelly, Susan Kosar-Beery, Jude McGee, Gigi Pandian, Wendall Thomas