Crime Bake

I came back from the 2013 Crime Bake yesterday afternoon. I had a wonderful time, met many other authors (both published and unpublished) and went to some great training session and panels. During a Masters Class on Pacing done by Paul Doiron, I suddenly got an idea of how to turn my story, Transmutation: Arizad (I posted the prologue a few weeks ago) into a paranormal mystery. I started making notes right away.

The guest of honor this year was Meg Gardiner, who was very genuine and easy to talk to. She dressed up in costume, like the rest of us, at the costume banquet (a Hawaiian shirt and grass skirt - which was exactly what I wanted to wear, but couldn't find a grass skirt!).

Next year's guest of honor will be Craig Johnson, so I'm really looking forward to that - I love the Longmire series!

At breakfast yesterday morning, Hank Phillip Ryan sat next to me. I must say that I was very impressed by her. For a woman as accomplished as she is (investigative reporter and author) she was very down to earth and willing to help those of us still struggling to get published. She gave all of us at the table her cards and took cards from those of us that brought them (I'm definitely having some cards made!) and told us that we could contact her any time.

So, I have to say that I had an even better time than I did at last year's Crime Bake. I can't wait for next years!

Writing without an outline

Read an interesting article by Steven James as guest blogger on Brian Kerns Editor blog for Writer's Digest: "6 Secrets of Writing a Novel Without an Outline." I found it fascinating and vindicating as that is how I also write. I even commented on the blog (something I never do!)

If you, too, write without an outline, you will also find it interesting. You can read it here:

6 Secrets of Writing a Novel Without an Outline
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/6-secrets-of-writing-a-novel-without-an-outline?et_mid=641764&rid=239631409

Working

It's amazing. You think that if you're not actually "writing" you're not "working." But that is not the case at all. There is posting on your blog and/or Facebook page. Then there's editing. And that's what I've been doing. I've been working on a story to submit to a contest and of course I put it off until the last moment - today is the 13th and the cut off is the 15th.

I was all set to submit when I read the max word count - 4000, and my story is 4637! So I've been "editing" or cutting things out, in other words. Getting rid of unnecessary adverbs (I never even realized I had so many!) and passive voice passages - was counting is 2 words versus counted - 1 word. Now for one last read through to make sure I didn't aggressively cut out something necessary and I will be hitting that old Submit button.

Very true!

Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book. 
Jane Smiley