We know that we become better writers by being good readers. By reading the best - and sometimes the worst - of the mystery genre, we discover how to create snappier dialogue, smarter plots, and more complex characters.
Here's another fun and effective way to learn from your favorite authors. Take the time (and invest the money)in attending at least one - if not more - mystery conventions. Last year, the collective Evelyn David attended three different mystery conferences: Love is Murder, Mayhem in the Midlands, and Malice Domestic. We're going back to them all again this year and, hope to attend Bouchercon as well. If we had more money and time, we'd sign up for others. Here's why.
These three-day mystery extravaganzas are like accelerated graduate programs on writing and promoting mysteries. You'll find an incredible array of panels with experts on a wide-range of subjects. Here are some tips to help you enjoy and take full advantage of a mystery conference.
1. Be picky. There are a slew of mystery conventions held each year, throughout the country, so find one that meets your needs. Check
here for the 2008 offerings. Some are more specialized than others. For example, Malice Domestic focuses on traditional mysteries, while ThrillerFest features authors who emphasize more terror and chills. Before sending in a deposit and booking a room, check out the list of authors who will be attending the conference, as well as the scheduled panels.
2. But think outside the box. Attend at least one panel that is outside the parameters of the kind of mystery you normally read and write. Even if you don't think you're going to write a thriller, you can still learn a great deal of pacing and plotting from an author who knows how to build suspense and surprises in an action-packed story. The Northern half of Evelyn David attended a panel featuring Southern writers discussing the impact of the region on their stories. The direct impact, on this Northerner, was a greater focus on incorporating "place" into her writing.
3. No time for shyness. Even if you tend to be a reclusive artist, avoiding cocktail parties and crowds because making small talk is hard - mystery conferences are the time when you need to take a deep breath, stick out your hand, and say "howdy." (If you're not from Texas, you could just say,"hi.") Give your name and start chatting about anything mystery related. First, it's nice to share enthusiasm for the genre with a fellow traveler. But also, these conventions are the perfect place to network about agents, editors, publishers, writer's block, promotion, and any other question you may have about writing and selling mysteries.
4. Be a fan. Mystery conventions are as close as many of us will get to the Academy Awards. The superstar authors we've been reading for years are often on the bill. They are eager to meet their fans, and share their enthusiasm for the genre. Relax, have fun, listen and learn.
Evelyn David
