One of my favorite aspects
of writing mysteries is that I can be in complete control of the
process, from beginning to end. Such independence was not possible
when I was a songwriter back in the 1980s and ’90s. Although I
could pen the lyrics and compose a melody line and chords to go along
with them, the song was never “complete” until I got the band
together and we worked out a full-fleshed arrangement. And unlike
with fiction writing, a song doesn’t really exist until performed
or recorded, which also (at least for me) requires the assistance of
others.
But as with many things in
life, there’s a downside to the independence inherent in
fiction-writing: It can be a lonely calling. And discouraging, too,
when those rejection letters start pouring in.
Tournament of Roses poster
in the hotel hallway
The main reason I signed up
for the conference was to attend the classes. And, for the most part,
they were terrific: lectures on how to bring your characters to life,
crime scene investigation, and page-turning techniques; panel
discussions on outlining vs. seat-of-the-pantsing, marketing, and the
role of agents and editors.
