2016 New England Crime Bake

Once disdained by serious writers, self-publishing is fast gaining ground as a smart, respectable way for authors to gain income and readers in a crowded market. In this workshop, we’ll talk about what it takes to self-publish a mystery or crime novel successfully, and whether that’s the right route for you. Then, we’ll move onto specifics.

You’ll get an overview of the benefits, drawbacks, and pitfalls of publishing through the major retailers–Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Draft2Digital, Kobo, and Smashwords– before we go in depth to learn:

• How to price your book
• How to strategically use keywords and categories to find your audience and attract more readers
• How to get all-important online reviews, and
• What it takes to get your self-published novel charting with the major online retailers, whether it’s just been released or your titles have been out for months – or even years.

This course does not go into the technical aspects of formatting or uploading your manuscript, but will still be beneficial for those just exploring the self-publishing process, as well as beginning and veteran independent authors. Many of the selling strategies are also helpful for traditionally published authors, so all are welcome.
Class limited to 50 attendees
Additional payment required
Preregistration required

Your manuscript is finally finished...now what? Whether you're a beginner trying to attract an agent or editor, or a seasoned professional wanting to make less work (and more brownie points!) for your editor and publisher, or you're preparing your work to send to an independent editor for your indie publishing project, learning to self-edit will help you go beyond Spell Check and put your best work forward. In this workshop we'll discuss: the most common grammar, syntax, and word choice mistakes authors make, and how to identify and root out overused words, phrases, and physical movements, head hops, POV issues, and passive language. We'll also talk about which rules can be bent or broken in the name of literary license. Finally we will touch on tension and pacing, story structure and plot holes, and characterization. You will come away from this workshop with the specific tools to shine up your own manuscript to a dazzling finish.
Class limited to 50 attendees
Additional payment required
Preregistration required

In this session we will all have read the same book, one that you have probably read before, Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. We'll look at it from the point of view of craft--how does Christie use point of view? How does she play with the reader's expectations? Should she have been kicked out of the Detection Club? (More about that at the session.) This early Christie work is what put her firmly on the path of success. What can we learn from her?

Price included in registration

Come watch, listen and learn as authors Toby Ball, Rebecca Lavoie, Kevin Flynn and Lara Bricker record an episode of their podcast Crime Writers on...