Launch of a Novice Fiction Writer’s Path – Part II

How Does It Feel to be a Newbie?

In this series of posts, I thought it would be interesting for me to trace my feelings about commencing a fiction career. As I noted in Part I, I have written several thriller manuscripts over the years, self-published Riddle of Berlin in 2008, and then decided that I would take advice of successful thriller writers and undertake to develop the skills and habits of a successful fiction writer.

I should also note that I am age 67 and have had successful careers as an international tax lawyer, author of taxation books, and director of a family company that has become a major multinational. Success in other areas, of course, means nothing on a new path.

When people on planes, beaches, or otherwise ask what I am doing when I am writing or editing, I inevitably answer that I am learning to become a fiction writer. After asking what genre and how many stories have you published, the next question is usually “how does it feel to be a nobody.” Actually, the comments are far more polite, but this is the underlying questions. I often think that these questions come from the commenter’s own self-question of “could I do that.”

I answer these questions based on my feelings of the moment. As I now head down this path with patience and persistence, I have thought about what it does feel like to be a newbie, rookie, novice, neophyte, or whatever other terms one chooses to describe someone at the precipice of beginning. 

The answer is that it feels good. I am proud of myself for learning that I have a hobby that is relaxing and joyful (I did it for about 15 years before deciding to get serious). I am not one whose hobbies are television, watching sports, hunting, fishing, or other pastimes. My hobby became fiction writing.

I am also proud that I have taken the time and coaching to prepare myself for striving to achieve my dream of becoming a skilled fiction writer. One benefit of age (life experience) and success in other areas, I think, is that I can approach this process with perspective. I will have fun regardless of whether my stories become bestsellers. If there is such success, via reviews or royalties, that will be great, of course. 

At ThrillerFest each year, new published authors are introduced. This year, there were 60 of them. My immediate dream is to be so introduced one year in the future. It may be that I will be the oldest newbie on the dais, but there will be no one happier and prouder to say a few words.

Another question that I am often asked is whether, as a newbie, I am prepared to “have fun.” This is a polite way of asking whether I am prepared to be a critical and commercial non-event. It is another good question, to be addressed in the next blog of this series.

Warms, Cym

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ThrillerFest 2013

During the past few days, we attended the annual meeting of the Thriller Writers Association, Inc., in New York City, affectionately named ThrillerFest. This was the 8^th ThrillerFest, of which we have attended the past 4.

ThrillerFest is a celebration of thrillers, the authors who write them and the fans who read them. It provides an environment in which aspiring authors (like me) gain the tools and make the contacts they need to get published, readers meet authors, and authors get an update on what is going in the wider business (as opposed to their own world). It is also a place where agents can discover new authors and up-and-coming authors find resources to move their careers forward. Finally, it is a community gathering in which bestselling authors share experience, advice, anxieties, and wisdom with those traveling the same road.

The full 4 day program is divided into the following elements:

CraftFest: This day and a half is devoted to assisting writers hone their writing skills. Well known writers conduct 50 minute tutorials, and panel discussions, on a variety of topics, spanning the spectrum from plot, characterization, genres, current events, and so on. It provides a priceless opportunity to listen to the famous names of the genre explain what they do and how they do it. The authors are also selfless in terms of explaining how they got from nobody to somebody in this business.

AgentFest: As a means of providing a forum for writers and agents to meet, there is an afternoon of, in essence, speed dating interviews. About 60 agents sit at tables and spend 3 or so minutes with each author wanting to discuss what the agent is looking for in terms of content, connection, and so on. For any aspiring author, this is another priceless element of education about the business. It is quite an amazing experience to make your pitch to 25-30 agents, and assess the range of reaction. Like authors, all agents are different personalities, experience, perspective, reaction, and so on. I participated as an interviewee in AgentFest 3 times and learned all that I needed to know at the time. I have a list of 12-15 agents who have asked for a copy of my current novel draft, Dust Scenario, when it is complete. I am almost done, and will explain my intended process in a future blog.

ThrillerFest: This is the business portion of the meeting, intended to provide experienced authors and other attendees a snapshot of all critical issues in the business. The topics that were of most interest to me this year included:

What are the secrets behind award-winning fiction?

What is the elixir that keeps your series character fresh?

What are the new rules for writing a bestseller?

What are the new rules of being a hybrid author?

What are the new rules of Social media?

What do authors need today?

There are also interviews with famous writers, including this year Michael Palmer, Steve Barry, Anne Rice, and so on.

Banquet: ThrillerFest concludes with a Saturday evening banquet at which awards are given, including to the ThrillerMaster of the year (Anne Rice in 2013). It is an elegant evening, enjoying cocktails, dinner, and presentations by your favorite authors as you mingle with a delightful group of people who love to write and read. Winner's Link.

And as a bonus, I have lots of Best Selling Books that I brought home from NYC to give away to you!! Giveaways will happen in August!

Over the next 2 weeks, I am going to take some time to rearrange the blog & take care of some business. I will announce last week's review link-up winner later this week. The Wednesday Party will be put on hold until August! Stay tuned & please be patient with me!

I just signed up for Instagram... www.instagram.com/cymlowell (come follow me!)

Warms-

CYM

Thrillerfest

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