Culpeper, Virginia Library Author Extravaganza Event

Today I am headed to Culpeper, Virginia, about an hour southwest of Fredericksburg to attend their library’s “Local Author Extravaganza.” There are twenty-six authors registered, and I look forward to meeting other local authors.

I didn’t realize I had been put on a panel until Wednesday afternoon when I received an email listing the panel members and questions. That was a nice surprise, because I have already met two of the panel members, Suzi Weinert and Melinda Crocker.

Below is a sneak peek at the panel questions and my advice to aspiring writers:

"How do you develop characters?" "How do you make your stories feel like they are set in a specific city (or a specific time)?"

I develop bios of each character; I get to know them, their personalities, likes, dislikes, physical features. And don’t be surprised when you do that and start writing that the characters take over and change the story. It happened to me in both my books!

Setting is character – describe the place, think about the senses, what does it look like (colors), smell like (pine forest, ocean, etc.), sound like?

How do you keep your plots unpredictable without sacrificing believability?

Careful plotting, planning/planting subtle red herrings, and my beta readers catch inconsistencies and help keep my stories believable.

Why do you choose to work in this genre? Do you consider yourself a genre writer, or do you want to try other modes

I love puzzles, and always loved reading mysteries. So, yes, I am a genre writer.

What is the question you would most/least like to be asked by the audience, and what is your answer

Question: What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Answer: Decide your ultimate writing goal. Then figure out how to get there. Do your homework – publishing has changed. You have to provide a near perfect manuscript (do you have the skill level for grammar, punctuation, editing, proof reading, or will you have to hire these out?), you have to do your own marketing, what will your royalties be? Bottom line: Research carefully all aspects and decide which option is best for you.

Who is your favorite mystery writer?

I am going to say a lesser-known author, Kate Charles. I love her characters and the way she describes the setting – small English cathedral towns.

I love Elizabeth George’s earlier books, though I feel her more recent books are novels rather than mysteries.

Let's talk about setting

Next to plot and character, I think setting is the next most important decision a writer has to make. Setting is where the story takes place and it can be a character in itself. The setting creates the atmosphere of the book. 

Think about the geographic location (state, country, city), the terrain (midtown Manhattan, Midwest fields, San Francisco bay), buildings (is the story set in the city or rural area), weather (is it excessively hot, cold, major storms), transportation, population, economic, ethnic traditions, and time of year (spring, summer, fall, winter). Once the setting is decided, as you progress through the story make sure you stay consistent with time and place.

Don’t resort to clichés – “Dark and stormy night.”

Provide sensory details. What does the place look like, smell like. What are the shapes, colors, and textures? Use descriptive terms. “It was a nice day,” is bland. Come up with phrasing that ignites the reader’s senses.

Link details of your setting with emotions your reader might feel. What makes your setting different? What details can you provide that makes this setting unique.

Louise Penny, Deborah Crombie, and Elizabeth George (along with may other authors) do a great job of placing readers into their setting.