What I Learned at Sleuthfest 2010

My good friend Jamie Morris from Woodstream Writers told me I "must" attend Sleuthfest 2010. We were sitting over a cup of coffee in Borders six months ago discussing my writing genre. At the time I knew what I wanted to write but had no idea what genre it fit into. I also had no idea what Sleuthfest was or why I "must" attend it.

Jamie sent me the link to Mystery Writers of America and after reading their website I knew Jamie was right; I "must" attend Sleuthfest 2010! I immediately began saving my pennies and reading books by the two keynote speakers, David Morrell and Stephen J. Cannell. After months of anticipation and preparation the day finally arrived. I packed my bags, loaded the van, and set out for Deerfield Beach.

Money is always an issue for me so I elected to stay in a nearby La Quinta on the first night. Thank God I had booked the Hilton for Friday and Saturday nights because I was not sure I would survive the night in the Bates Motel -- oh, excuse me, I meant La Quinta. The very first lesson I learned from Sleuthfest is do not pack a 900-pound suitcase if you're going to have to lug it up three flights of stairs. The second thing I learned is do not pack six pair of three-inch heels when you're going to be walking up and down an interminably long shiny marble hallway for three days.

Accomodations and apparel aside, here are a few (not all) of the valuable lessons I learned from Sleuthfest:

• CONTACTS I met so many authors and agents who all had a story to tell, and I gratefully listened to all of them. The friends I made the first night stuck with me throughout the weekend, and hopefully at least some of us will keep in touch. From mere conversation I learned valuable information about marketing, pitching to an agent, what's happening in the publishing industry, and about other events for mystery writers.
  
  
• PANELS If you're a writer like me who has attended writing workshops and devoured every book and blog on writing that's out there you may not get a whole lot out of structure and style panels. I found many of the panelists used the opportunity to pitch their own books rather than share their knowledge on writing. I veered from course after the third such panel and attended Point/Counterpoint with Paul Levine (author) and Paul Levine (agent). I learned how to get a previously self-published booked picked up by a publisher, how to buy and sell movie and television rights, and how to retain your rights if your work goes out of print. The next panel I attended was a CSI panel about recovering displaced caskets after Hurricane Katrina. I found the PowerPoint presentation fascinating and I now have three pages of notes about decomposing bodies.
  
  
• MARKETING A common myth is if you get a publisher to pick up your book your work is done. You can sit back, rake in the dough, and watch your book climb the ranks of the New York Times bestseller list. Unless you are James Patterson or Stephen King that is simply not going to happen. You have to think of yourself as a business: You have to market yourself if you want to sell your book. Every author should have a website, blog, and Facebook and Twitter accounts. You must take every opportunity to sell your product, which is you. A publisher is not going to do it for you. Ever.

Finally, the most valuable gem I learned at Sleuthfest 2010. It is deceptively simple but the most important thing you need to know. Write the book.