Melodie Campbell on the mystery novel

#81
Melodie, before we wrap up today, I’d like to hear from you on the publishing end of the industry. Increasingly writers are electing to publish their own books, even when they also work with an existing publisher. Any thoughts on this trend, or any of the dramatic changes in the publishing industry we’ve witnessed over the last few years?
I always tell my students that I'm ambivalent about Amazon and self-publishing. On one hand, up until 7 years ago, 5 publishing companies controlled what we read. Now WE control what we read, because there is so much out there on Amazon. Also, I think Amazon is terrific for authors to publish their backlist. And ebooks in general are just another way to read, so all that is good.

To my own students, I advise them to try to get a traditional publisher for their first book. It makes you a professional. By that I mean, a professional gets paid for his/her work. Some will argue that Amazon pays you when you sell a book, but I think we all know what I mean. Even an ebook publisher is good. But someone other than yourself, so that your work will be edited by someone who has a stake in it.

To be clear, if you are with a traditional publisher (ebook or otherwise) you, as the author, don't pay for anything. They pay you.

The problem with self-publishing is there is no peer-review process. I've been a college prof. Everything we publish is peer reviewed. If you go through a traditional publisher, you are peer-reviewed. So there is a certain quality assurance (you may think, not very good! but at least there is some).

On Amazon, a lot of people are so anxious to be published that they put up first drafts of work that is not very good. Some have not even taken a course, and don't know the rules of viewpoint or basic plot requirements. If you self-publish, you are lumped in with them.

ON the other hand, if my publisher had not taken my last manuscript, I might have self-published it! That is because I have several novels published traditionally and a rep of some sort, with possibly built in readers. Hopefully.

So you can see my ambivalence!
 

Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Moderator
Staff member
#86
Melodie, you have been so generous with your time and in answering all our questions. Thanks so much! Again, I'll be sending the writers I work with here and revisiting the discussion myself for some time to come.

Thank you so very much for joining us!
 
#90
I had kind of saved this to the end, as kind of a wrap up to mystery and suspense writing. This is a handout that I give to my students in the first class of Crafting a Novel 2:

REFRESHER ON PLOT: GOAL/MOTIVATION/CONFLICT

1. Who is your MAIN CHARACTER? (your protagonist)

2. What does he WANT?

a. What moral (or immoral) choices will she have to make in her attempt to gain that objective?

3. Who or What is the OPPONENT?

a. Who or what stands in the way of the hero achieving his objective?

4. What does the protagonist STAND TO LOSE if he does not achieve his objective?

a. Make it BIG. They should stand to lose a lot.

5. What does he RISK?

a. What kick starts him out of his comfortable life and makes him act, and perhaps act out of character?

Here, I am mixing up my own advice with points from Feb. Writers’ Digest Magazine, K. M Weiland
THREE ACT STRUCTURE (Three acts and a finale)

· Introduce all prominent characters in the first 25% of your book

o Consider how to demonstrate what is at stake for your characters: what could they each lose?

· Four plot points will divide your book into roughly four parts.

o At the 25% mark, the first major plot point should shake up your character’s normal world and force him into a series of reactions.

· Let you characters’ reactions lead to the midpoint.

o But from now on, your protagonist is taking action on his own.

· Open your third act with a plot point that forces your character to a place of apparent defeat. This is the ‘black moment’.

o He will have to rise from this moment, strengthened in his resolve.
 
#91
I had kind of saved this to the end, as kind of a wrap up to mystery and suspense writing. This is a handout that I give to my students in the first class of Crafting a Novel 2:

REFRESHER ON PLOT: GOAL/MOTIVATION/CONFLICT

1. Who is your MAIN CHARACTER? (your protagonist)

2. What does he WANT?

a. What moral (or immoral) choices will she have to make in her attempt to gain that objective?

3. Who or What is the OPPONENT?

a. Who or what stands in the way of the hero achieving his objective?

4. What does the protagonist STAND TO LOSE if he does not achieve his objective?

a. Make it BIG. They should stand to lose a lot.

5. What does he RISK?

a. What kick starts him out of his comfortable life and makes him act, and perhaps act out of character?

Here, I am mixing up my own advice with points from Feb. Writers’ Digest Magazine, K. M Weiland
THREE ACT STRUCTURE (Three acts and a finale)

· Introduce all prominent characters in the first 25% of your book

o Consider how to demonstrate what is at stake for your characters: what could they each lose?

· Four plot points will divide your book into roughly four parts.

o At the 25% mark, the first major plot point should shake up your character’s normal world and force him into a series of reactions.

· Let you characters’ reactions lead to the midpoint.

o But from now on, your protagonist is taking action on his own.

· Open your third act with a plot point that forces your character to a place of apparent defeat. This is the ‘black moment’.

o He will have to rise from this moment, strengthened in his resolve.
Oops - I seem to caught in an endless loop here! I'll post and get out
 
#92
Melodie, before we wrap up today, I’d like to hear from you on the publishing end of the industry. Increasingly writers are electing to publish their own books, even when they also work with an existing publisher. Any thoughts on this trend, or any of the dramatic changes in the publishing industry we’ve witnessed over the last few years?
Finally, a word on mystery/suspense publishers:

Most of the big five have Canadian divisions. In particular, Berkley Prime Time publishes lots of cozies. Mira, part of Harlequin, publish mystery and suspense.

In Canada, these publishers have mystery lines:
Dundurn
NeWest
Touchwood
ECW
Anansi
Imajin

Gail and I write for Orca, in their Rapid Reads series. Orca quite often hand picks their authors for this series. They choose established writers, and often approach them directly. I also write for Imajin.

Thanks everyone! I'll stand by until 2 here (11 your time) in case there are last minute questions.
You can reach me at mcampbell50@cogeco.ca
or www.melodiecampbell.com
 
#93
Final note:
Crime writers of Canada is the national professional association for mystery and suspense (plus true crime) writers in Canada. We welcome published writers, and also have an associate category for aspiring writers and industry professionals. CWC sponsors the Arthur Ellis Awards for Crime Writing every year. You can find us at www.crimewriterscanada.com
 
#95
Final note:
Crime writers of Canada is the national professional association for mystery and suspense (plus true crime) writers in Canada. We welcome published writers, and also have an associate category for aspiring writers and industry professionals. CWC sponsors the Arthur Ellis Awards for Crime Writing every year. You can find us at www.crimewriterscanada.com
My pleasure, Gail! There were very interesting and extremely intelligent questions asked here today. Many thanks to you, Gail, for being such a generous resource for writers!
 
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