What I Learned about "Stepping up to the Stage" from Joan Bowling - Public Speaking Tips for Authors

This week, I attended the James River Writers' Writing Show, "Stepping up to the Stage" with Joan Bowling. She had some great presentation and public speaking tips for authors. Here's what I learned...

1. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Make sure that you're ready for your event. 
2. Relax! You are more confident when you feel comfortable.
3. Make the butterflies you feel fly in formation. Get control of your nerves.
4. Breathing helps. Calm your thoughts.
5. Nervousness means you care. Use that energy in your presentation.
6. You need to create an impression or mood with what you're going to say.
7. Start off with a question or an "imagine a time when" story. You want to draw your listeners in.
8. Practice your opening. 
9. You want your presentation to be an easy conversation. She said to avoid the "wind up." "Hi. Thank you for having me here. I am so honored to be here..."
10. Know your audience and have questions prepared.
11. Listening is crucial. 
12. Be present.
13. If you're on a stage, do a sound check. Walk around and get to know the environment before the event. 
14. If you've not used to using a microphone, practice at home with a hairbrush.
15. The microphone is an extension of your chin. Hold it below your chin. Your audience needs to see your mouth.
16. When it doubt, use a microphone. It's hard to sustain a voice loud enough for the audience to hear for 45 minutes.
17. Mingle with the audience before an event.
18. When you are on stage, scan the audience. Don't do a windshield wiper thing with your head. Scan in a slow "W" formation, so it looks more natural. 
19. If you're terrified, look at your audience's foreheads. They can't tell that you're not looking directly at them.
20. Be hydrated before you speak. Stay away from dairy. 
21. If you're doing a reading, animate it. Leave them with an emotion. Read a funny, scary, or sad excerpt. 
22. If you're reading, hold the book so they can see it, but don't cover your face. They shouldn't see the top of your head during the entire reading. 
23. Some people print out the excerpt and read from the paper. (Just make sure that you have your book on the lectern or table, so they can see the cover.
24. Know the power of a pause. Pause from time to time to let your audience catch up and to draw them in.
25. Don't do accents in readings.
26. Get comfortable with the sound of your voice. Tape yourself and listen.
27. If you're doing TV, make it a live conversation. 
28. Always have your book with you.
29. When you're doing a presentation, don't end on a question. End where YOU want to leave the audience. Leave them with an impression.

Joan had some wonderful advice. Check out her website and her newsletter. These are all great ideas that writers need in their toolbox when they're doing a reading or a presentation. 

Proof of Alien Life or Just Story Ideas?

You never know where story ideas will come from. Recently we installed two cameras outside. I have a blind driveway, I've always wanted to be able to see who drives up without having to run upstairs to look out a window or open a door. 

I never really knew what was going on in my front yard. And it's been fun. I like being able to see when packages are dropped off. Here are some other things we've "captured" recently.

I thought we captured proof of alien life when I saw this. I have no idea what this is. The bug looks gigantic on the camera. Hopefully, he and I won't meet. I may send this to the "What's Bugging You" team to see what kind of critter this is.

I'm not sure if this little guy was saying hello or attacking the camera. I'm pretty sure he's not the blue bird of happiness. 

And then there are the deer who eat my azaleas and tulips. They come through about every other night for a visit. 

My private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her sidekick/computer hacker Duncan Reynolds, use security cameras in their investigations. I'm going to expand the use in the next book and add some of the funny things that they might capture. I'm enjoying the videos from the unexpected in my front yard. And you never know where a story idea will come from...

Happy writing!

Collaborating on a Mystery Party Script

For the past few years, my Sisters in Crime chapter volunteers have been asked to write a script for our library's fundraiser. We write the script, and the very talented librarians and staff bring the play to life. On the night of the event, the guests are divided into two groups. One views the mystery clues, and the other attends an author panel. They switch. Then there's time for the guests to interview the actors and look for clues. Afterwards, there is the big "who dunnit" reveal and a book signing.

The first two years, we killed off the head librarian and the children's librarian. The next event has even more surprises. I met with Mary Miley and Rosemary Shomaker yesterday to create the characters and plot the murder. The collaboration was a lot of fun. Writing is usually a solitary sport, and it was neat to bounce ideas and motives off each other. I just hope the folks in the next booth didn't think we were plotting a real murder.

This event has sold out in the previous years. And it is such a thrill for me to see something we created brought to life. The actors do such a good job of filling out the characters and making the scenario seem realistic. Each guest gets a handout with a list of all the characters and room to make notes. At the end, they vote on who they think the guilty person is.

Here are some things we do to prepare the script.

1. Work with the library's planning team to get an idea of themes and interests for the event.
2. Come up with the crime (usually a murder) and build clues around it. It needs to be something that can be done either on or off stage. (The first year, the guests were invited to an event, and they arrived to find the police investigating the head librarian's murder. The next year, the guests were attending a concert by a popular children's musician, and there was a murder.)
3. Create an interesting/zany cast of characters. Each character needs to have some distinguishing characteristic that the actors can exploit.
4. Name the characters so that there's not confusion about who did what. You don't want a Kevin, Kyle, and Kurt. 
5. Think of characteristics or props that the actors can use. The planning team seeds the library with clues and red herrings. 
6. Make sure that every character has some combination of means, motive, or opportunity. The guilty one should have all three. 
7. Ensure that there are ways for the audience to get the clues they need (e.g. through action, dialogue, or questioning the suspects). 

I'm looking forward to the next murder mystery evening. I can't wait to see what the actors do with our latest script. 

Plan B - Computer Tips for Writers

I work in IT, and we're always preparing for outages and how to recover from disasters. We have a plan B or a work-around for lots of scenarios, so that our users can continue working if there is a disruption of service.

As a writer, your computer and other tools are part of your business, and your writings are valuable. You need a back up plan if something goes wrong. If you've ever lost a file or had a computer die on you, you know that sinking feeling. Here are some tips that can help.

1. You need to backup your files regularly (on an external harddrive or to the cloud). Find the way that works best for you. Make sure that backups are part of your routine. Your work is too important to lose.
2. Check with your website/blog provider to ensure that backups are part of your plan. It's a lot of work to recreate your site if something catastrophic happens. 
3. Keep up with emails from your website/blog provider and other software services. If your subscription runs out, your access is revoked. Make sure to keep copies of all of your receipts.
4. Make sure that you have anti-virus software on your computer. There are a lot of services out there, and you need to find the one that works best for your. Attacks, viruses, and malware unfortunately are a part of daily life.
5. If you signup for software services, often there is an auto-renewal feature. If you leave it on, make sure you know when it's time to renew and that you want to continue the service. If you turn it off, make sure that you renew at the proper time. See #3. Be aware that it could expire and you lose access.
6. Keep all of your passwords in a safe place (not in a spreadsheet or Word document on your computer). I use KeePass. It's a password locker, and it's free. You just have to remember the one password to access the application. 
7. You may want to back up your contacts. You can export a list and save it outside of your email software. This list is hard to recreate if it's damaged or inaccessible.

15 Quotes for Writers

I like the motivation hashtags on Twitter. They gave me the idea to pull together some of my favorite quotes for writers (published and pre-published) on books and writing. Writing is hard work, and it is often solitary. Here are #motivations to get or keep you going. I also found some interesting reviews from Rotten Reviews (edited by Bill Henderson). If you are a writer, you're not alone...

Writing

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." —Anaïs Nin

"I try to leave out the parts that people skip." —Elmore Leonard

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium." —Norbet

"I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter. " —James Michener

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." —Anton Chekhov

"I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions." —James Michener

"The pen sometimes builds a more enduring monument than can the hammer or chisel." —James Lendall Basford (1845–1915), Sparks from the Philosopher's Stone, 1882

Books and Reading

“The dearest ones of time, the strongest friends of the soul—BOOKS.” —Emily Dickinson

“Easy reading is damn hard writing.” —Nathaniel Hawthorne

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” —George R. R. Martin

“One sure window into a person’s soul is his reading list.” —Mary B. W. Tabor

“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.” —Henry David Thoreau

Rotten Reviews

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte: "...wild, confused, disjointed, and improbable...the people who make up the drama, which is tragic enough in its consequences, are savages ruder than those who lived before the days of Homer." (The Examiner)

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carol: "We fancy that any real child might be more puzzled than enchanted by this stiff, overwrought story." (Children's Books)

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald: "A little slack, a little soft, more than a little artificial, The Great Gatsby falls into the class of negligible novels." (The Springfield Republican)

Don't Go It Alone - Find a Writer's Group

It can be lonely in your writing cave. Writers need to find their groups. It's important to have others to chat with, brainstorm ideas, and share celebrations (and setbacks). I am very fortunate to be a part of several writing groups.

I've been a member of Sisters in Crime for almost seven years. It's a wonderfully supportive group of mystery and thriller writers. Our local chapter has programs and opportunities for our writers. We've partnered with another chapter to produce two short story anthologies to provide our members publication and book marketing opportunities.

Several of our published authors in our chapter created Lethal Ladies Write. We blog together and promote each other on social media. We also partner for book signings and workshops. My chapter also has a critique group, and their feedback on my works in progress is invaluable.

I am also a member of SinC's online chapter, the Guppies (The Great Unpublished). It's another supportive group, that even when folks are published, they hang around to offer assistance and information. They offer online workshops, training, and listservs for a variety of interests.

I joined James River Writers last year, and I wondered what took me so long. It is based in Richmond, VA. This group celebrates and supports all kinds of writing. It offers programs, workshops, and an annual writing conference that grows and grows every year.

Each of these groups off me support, new ideas, advice, and comradery. And they also help me to understand that I'm not alone on my writing journey. Sometimes, I need to be reminded of that.

There are a variety of writing groups out there, some local and others online. Some are genre-specific, and others are more general. Here are some you should check out:

• Sisters in Crime (Guppies and Many Local Chapters)
• Mystery Writers of America
• Romance Writers of America
• James River Writers
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
• American Christian Fiction Writers
• Western Writers of America
• Virginia Writers Club

What I Learned from "Murder Shorts - Short Stories"

I attended "Murder Shorts - Short Stories" at Malice Domestic 2017. Here's what I learned from this fun bunch of short story authors: Leone Ciporin, Teresa Inge, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and Maggie King.

1. The group liked the short story format. They felt they could experiment more as writers in this compact format.
2. Short stories are seeing a resurgence. Check out Spine Tingler Magazine, Flashbang.com, Mystery Weekly, and Woman's World. They all pay for mystery submissions.
3. Visit Sandra Seaman's blog to see calls for publication for short stories.
4. Readers care about the characters in short stories. The characters are often ordinary people in ordinary settings.
5. Characters are important in short stories. Description and dialogue help create the picture for the reader.
6. I loved Alan Orloff's advice for writers - BIFOK! (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard). You just have to sit down and write.
7. You have a small space in a short story; every word must count.
8. Use both sides of your brain when you write. Your creative side writes and plots, while your analytical site proofreads and edits.
9. Don't edit as you write. Just write. Revise later.

What I Learned from the Fabulous Charlaine Harris

At Malice Domestic 2017, I attended an interview with the very talented and funny Charlaine Harris. Here's what I learned about her and her writing.

1. The best example you can set for a child is for them to see you reading. She said that she grew up in a house full of avid readers and books in every room.
2. She said that she writes personal stories with one character or a small group of characters.
3. We all face struggles that cause us (or our characters) to make decisions. As a writer, you need to think about the choices your characters make.
4. She said that she's a pantser (one who writes by the seat of her pants) because that's the fun of writing. It's exciting to see what happens. She likened outlining to paint by numbers.
5. She said she started writing about the paranormal because she wanted to do something different to make money. She said that she's always been interested in things we can't see or hear.
6. She said that she often writes about the south in many of her books. She talked about southern charm and living in Arkansas and Texas. She was asked what was something about southern culture that she had to explain to folks in other areas. She said that y'all is plural. And she wanted to let people know that there is more than one southern accent. Not all southerners sound the same.

I love listening to other authors talk about their paths to publication. Ms. Harris was charming and gracious and so willing to share her experiences.