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 8th 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!)
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