Four days of panels and author interviews, up to three parallel sessions and a lively atmosphere where writers and readers of crime fiction mingle in equal quantities; that’s Crimefest. I could fill the blog with simply a list of speakers and topics, but instead will focus on a few inspiring writing ideas coming from the panels.
- Small communities make the ideal setting for murder mysteries, where outsiders can be the observer and where incomers can attempt to re-invent themselves and hide their own past.
- In a thriller the danger must feel genuine, so the action should be grounded in reality whether it is a fist fight, car chase or shootout.
- Older characters have lived through many phases of their own life, may have followed several careers and almost been different people at different stages.
- In what is nebulously called a ‘cosy’ and in plots featuring amateur sleuths, the stories can be hyper-real once we are past the suspension of disbelief.
- Readers, publishers and agents like series vs stand-alones.
- When trying to push your own book, the publisher, agent, bookseller and book-buyer will ask ‘What other book is it like?’
- Many historical writers side-step attitudes which were commonplace in the period they were writing about but are now regarded as outdated or offensive (casual sexism, racism, homophobia etc).
- Low-level trivia worked into a story adds to making the setting or period come alive.
The panel featuring indie and hybrid authors contained a good deal of detail for the budding writer thinking of self-publishing. None of the information was new as the tricks are well known, it is mainly down to how well an author can apply themselves to mastering these tricks then keeping tabs on their effectiveness. Such ideas were also thrown around in conversations in the bar and over dinner.
Established authors frequently part company with agents or publishers, and there is an increasing trend for publishers to drop a writer after just a couple of books if sales are disappointing/trends change/editors change or life just gets in the way. Older writers find it hard to break into the market and frankly do not have the time to spend years trying to get their book taken up, then more years before seeing it in print. Self-publishing has become a practical, respectable and profitable alternative.
The key advice is to have the manuscript professionally edited and proofed, helped along the way by a stable of beta readers. A good cover that fits the market is essential, again professionally produced. Marketing is of course what makes or breaks the self-pub or indie book. Our panel authors took different approaches, with some recommending Amazon adverts, others Facebook, others more organic word of mouth and local networks. The use AI constructed promotional images was also mentioned – and I’ve been experimenting with that myself. Almost half the income of several authors came from the page reads on KDP Select, so this should not be forgotten when considering whether to ‘go wide’ or become exclusive to Amazon. All mentioned the need to monitor marketing closely – what works, and how much return comes from each pound spent.
Room remains to mention one other panel. The cover image is of from a stellar line-up of crime writers who have won the CWA Diamond Dagger; Martin Edwards, Simon Brett, Lyndsey Davies and Lee Child. The cut-and-thrust of their discussions made for a lively and entertaining hour. The event was billed as the final Crimefest after sixteen years, but it was fitting there was a twist in the tale; it may be saved, repackaged or reborn – if so I’m looking forward to ‘Son of Crimefest’.