Why You Can't Afford Not To Attend A Convention - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T02:09:50Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:164429?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A165190&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI've never been to Bouchercon…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-04:537324:Comment:1651902008-11-04T06:18:17.128ZMark Orrhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarkOrr
I've never been to Bouchercon, but I made the HorrorFind Weekend a few years ago. I sold a yarn to a magazine publisher I met there and wrote the whole trip off on my taxes. I also went to a slew of SF cons in my misspent youth, and partied with folks like Gordy Dickson, Ted Sturgeon, Stephen King, etc., etc., etc. You never know who you'll run into if you don't hide in your room after the official stuff is over. Indianapolis is close enough for me to drive to, so next year might just be my…
I've never been to Bouchercon, but I made the HorrorFind Weekend a few years ago. I sold a yarn to a magazine publisher I met there and wrote the whole trip off on my taxes. I also went to a slew of SF cons in my misspent youth, and partied with folks like Gordy Dickson, Ted Sturgeon, Stephen King, etc., etc., etc. You never know who you'll run into if you don't hide in your room after the official stuff is over. Indianapolis is close enough for me to drive to, so next year might just be my first Bouchercon. Bouchercon can be fun but als…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-04:537324:Comment:1651542008-11-04T01:43:14.083ZMarilyn Meredithhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarilynMeredith
Bouchercon can be fun but also overwhelming. I've been to several, some better than others.<br />
<br />
There are tons of people--it is not really the place to find publishers and agents though they are there--but mostly to be with their own authors. A writers conference is better for that--rather than a mystery convention which is what Bouchercon and Left Coast Crime are.<br />
<br />
If you go with the idea that you are going to have fun and meet new people, then you won't be disappointed.<br />
<br />
Marilyn…
Bouchercon can be fun but also overwhelming. I've been to several, some better than others.<br />
<br />
There are tons of people--it is not really the place to find publishers and agents though they are there--but mostly to be with their own authors. A writers conference is better for that--rather than a mystery convention which is what Bouchercon and Left Coast Crime are.<br />
<br />
If you go with the idea that you are going to have fun and meet new people, then you won't be disappointed.<br />
<br />
Marilyn <a href="http://fictionforyou.com">http://fictionforyou.com</a> I also am planning to attend…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-04:537324:Comment:1651482008-11-04T01:16:56.664ZD. C. Hawkinshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CurtDaniels
I also am planning to attend my first B'con in Indy. I would also like to recommend one of the smaller conferences. I attended the <i>Discovering New Mysteries International Mystery Writers' Festival</i> in Owensboro, KY this spring and had a great time. From their web site (<a href="http://newmysteries.org/">http://newmysteries.org/</a>) it looks like they are skipping 2009 and planing their next event for June 17-27, 2010. I am looking forward to meeting many of you nice folks in Indy and I'm…
I also am planning to attend my first B'con in Indy. I would also like to recommend one of the smaller conferences. I attended the <i>Discovering New Mysteries International Mystery Writers' Festival</i> in Owensboro, KY this spring and had a great time. From their web site (<a href="http://newmysteries.org/">http://newmysteries.org/</a>) it looks like they are skipping 2009 and planing their next event for June 17-27, 2010. I am looking forward to meeting many of you nice folks in Indy and I'm praying for all I'm worth that I can one of my short stories published by then. Getting published is frustrat…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-03:537324:Comment:1650662008-11-03T16:09:23.585ZMarilyn Meredithhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarilynMeredith
Getting published is frustrating, however there are many ways of doing it. Of course being published by a New York publisher is definitely the most favored way--but is not the easiest.<br />
<br />
I've been published about every way there is: New York, small independent presses, e-publishing.<br />
<br />
Just don't go the route of paying to be published--there are too many good small presses out there.<br />
<br />
Again, I'd like to suggest you attend the PSWA conference in Vegas. It's small and you can pick everyone's brain.…
Getting published is frustrating, however there are many ways of doing it. Of course being published by a New York publisher is definitely the most favored way--but is not the easiest.<br />
<br />
I've been published about every way there is: New York, small independent presses, e-publishing.<br />
<br />
Just don't go the route of paying to be published--there are too many good small presses out there.<br />
<br />
Again, I'd like to suggest you attend the PSWA conference in Vegas. It's small and you can pick everyone's brain. <a href="http://www.policewriter.com">http://www.policewriter.com</a> I plan on attending Boucherco…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-03:537324:Comment:1650622008-11-03T15:53:11.115ZCliffhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Cliff
I plan on attending Bouchercon next year in Indianapolis and also a convention closer to home in Nashville, TN called Killer Nashville. I don't know what to expect and have no ambitious expectations, but the fact is with the market continuing to tighten in the publishing industry, I don't think I can afford not to go.<br />
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It's been my dream since I was small to be a professional writer. If it takes sending letter after letter and getting rejection after rejection, so be it. If it takes going to a…
I plan on attending Bouchercon next year in Indianapolis and also a convention closer to home in Nashville, TN called Killer Nashville. I don't know what to expect and have no ambitious expectations, but the fact is with the market continuing to tighten in the publishing industry, I don't think I can afford not to go.<br />
<br />
It's been my dream since I was small to be a professional writer. If it takes sending letter after letter and getting rejection after rejection, so be it. If it takes going to a conference and trying to network, so be it as well.<br />
<br />
I used to have a noble view of writing that I'd write something great and prolific and an agent or editor would see it and come clamoring for it. But I've become a lot more skeptical and realistic after years of studying the industry and how it works.<br />
<br />
When it comes closer to the next Bouchercon, I'm sure I'll be asking for tips and suggestions on here. Some of the readers on this b…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-03:537324:Comment:1649952008-11-03T00:47:39.950ZMarilyn Meredithhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarilynMeredith
Some of the readers on this blog might be interested in the following:<br />
<br />
Public Safety Writers Conference is in June of 2009 in Las Vegas and it's going to be the best one ever! Not only do we have some great keynote speakers and experts, we have lots of opportunity for authors and experts to share their expertise on panels.<br />
<br />
Though a majority of our members are in or have been in law enforcement, we encourage anyone who is writing about crime or law enforcement in fiction or non-fiction to join…
Some of the readers on this blog might be interested in the following:<br />
<br />
Public Safety Writers Conference is in June of 2009 in Las Vegas and it's going to be the best one ever! Not only do we have some great keynote speakers and experts, we have lots of opportunity for authors and experts to share their expertise on panels.<br />
<br />
Though a majority of our members are in or have been in law enforcement, we encourage anyone who is writing about crime or law enforcement in fiction or non-fiction to join us. We have no restrictions about who your published by and you may bring books to sell at our bookstore.<br />
<br />
For more information go to: <a href="http://www.policewriter.com">http://www.policewriter.com</a><br />
<br />
Marilyn<br />
<a href="http://fictionforyou.com">http://fictionforyou.com</a> Good discussion, I would add…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-31:537324:Comment:1647252008-10-31T17:32:45.839ZAlihttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/alikarim
Good discussion, I would add it is good to also to sample the local beers<br />
<br />
;-)<br />
<br />
I love going to conventions, conferences and talking and listening to what's going on, what's hot and all<br />
<br />
The dinner with you guys on the Sunday night was excellent and very thought provoking<br />
<br />
Ali
Good discussion, I would add it is good to also to sample the local beers<br />
<br />
;-)<br />
<br />
I love going to conventions, conferences and talking and listening to what's going on, what's hot and all<br />
<br />
The dinner with you guys on the Sunday night was excellent and very thought provoking<br />
<br />
Ali I agree with everyone else: g…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-31:537324:Comment:1646572008-10-31T14:25:27.139ZF.T. Bradleyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/fleurtjebrad
I agree with everyone else: go to have fun. Meet other writers, fans, booksellers. The times I've gone to conventions I really come away recharged.<br />
<br />
Advantages I've found are anthology and other opportunities, often from people I wasn't expecting to help me out that way.<br />
<br />
One disadvantage: when you don't have a book to show, it's a little awkward. Thankfully, I've been able to talk about my short stories, but still...<br />
If I had to give unpublished authors any advice I would tell them to go to…
I agree with everyone else: go to have fun. Meet other writers, fans, booksellers. The times I've gone to conventions I really come away recharged.<br />
<br />
Advantages I've found are anthology and other opportunities, often from people I wasn't expecting to help me out that way.<br />
<br />
One disadvantage: when you don't have a book to show, it's a little awkward. Thankfully, I've been able to talk about my short stories, but still...<br />
If I had to give unpublished authors any advice I would tell them to go to these conventions before they have a book out, but make sure you have something to say when someone asks, "So, where's your book?" You got it, John! The author…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-30:537324:Comment:1645112008-10-30T21:24:06.063ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
You got it, John! The author has leverage when he/she makes the New York Times bestseller list. Not until then.
You got it, John! The author has leverage when he/she makes the New York Times bestseller list. Not until then. Well, "demand" and "fight." W…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-30:537324:Comment:1644892008-10-30T19:02:54.016ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
Well, "demand" and "fight." We like to think we're demanding the best deal we can and fighting for it the best we can. If there's another way to demand something, we're all ears. I'm guessing you're not suggesting some kind of closed-shop collective bargaining. This is capitalism, the people with the capital hold all the cards. Still, it's the best system we have so far.<br />
<br />
But I don't really think publishing is broken. It's far more transparent than things like the movie business. Authors are…
Well, "demand" and "fight." We like to think we're demanding the best deal we can and fighting for it the best we can. If there's another way to demand something, we're all ears. I'm guessing you're not suggesting some kind of closed-shop collective bargaining. This is capitalism, the people with the capital hold all the cards. Still, it's the best system we have so far.<br />
<br />
But I don't really think publishing is broken. It's far more transparent than things like the movie business. Authors are paid royalties based on books sold. There's no "gross" and "net" like the movie business. I get a royalty statement that tells me how many books were sold and that determines how much I get paid. there's no advertising and promotion deduction on that royalty statement, no overhead that can be fudged by fancy, complicated accounting.<br />
<br />
Now, there is of course, advertising and promotion costs and we can bitch about that forever, but because we can never actually be certain how much it really affects sales, a lot of that is just blowing off steam.<br />
<br />
The thing is, no one can know for sure what books are going to sell how much. One publisher just laid off 15 or 16 people and one of the reasons given (among others, of course) was a huge advance (over a million bucks) and lots and lots of promotion spent on a book that didn't then sell.<br />
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What publishers usually do is put out a bunch of books they like and when one starts to get some buzz and make some sales, they put more promotion behind it. Sometimes it then sells even more, sometimes not.<br />
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This is in no way an exact science. It's all speculation and guesswork. At the end of the day it all comes down to individual people making their purchasing choices.