Catherine Dilts
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Short Stories
  • Annie's Fiction
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series

Killer Nashville: Afternoon, Day Two

9/19/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
I continue my report on the Killer Nashville writers' conference in August with a panel populated by several stellar mystery authors. 

2:00 Saturday August 26 – I’m not the Same Anymore: Character Arcs
Catherine Dilts – moderator; J. A. Jance, Margaret Mizushima, Sharon Marchisello, Karen McCullough, Howard Owen

I was the moderator for this panel of gifted authors, speaking on the topic of how to maintain character arcs over the course of a novel, or a series. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of this panel. I opened by giving two definitions.

If you Google character arc, the ever helpful Wikipedia gives you this definition:
A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. If a story has a character arc, the character begins as one sort of person and gradually transforms into a different sort of person in response to changing developments in the story.
On the other hand, the Narrative First website adds this caveat:
Not all growth is transformative. Sometimes a person can grow by maintaining their position, shoring up their resolve against whatever is thrown at them. This is no less meaningful than the kind of growth where someone changes who they are or how they see the world.

I asked how authors keep track of character arc, and whether they are ever surprised by their characters.
Best-selling author of multiple series J. A. Jance said she maintains a file for characters with details including physical descriptions and weapons they use. Even then, details can slip over the course of a series. This is where Jance told the audience GYAB: Give Yourself A Break. Jance does not outline. She said the story is “all a surprise.”

Howard Owen began writing a short story that became a novel series. He pins pictures to a board to keep track of his characters. Sharon Marchisello is a pantser, but does keep a spreadsheet of her characters. Karen McCullough’s Market Center mysteries were planned as a series. She uses One Note to track character arc. Margaret Muzushima outlines her Timber Creek K-9 series. She has been surprised when character arc changed as she wrote the story.
​
I went from moderating, to being on the next panel.

Picture
3:00 Saturday August 26 – It’s Not About Selling Books: Social Media for Writers
Julie Schoerke – moderator; Catherine Dilts, Michelle Kubitz, Jenean McBrearty, Warren Moore, Shari Stauch

I do have a photo of this panel, but by Saturday afternoon some of us were definitely worn out. Instead, check out the photo of the fun elevators in the Embassy Suites Hotel. Some of us encountered Elevator Boy, a young man very serious about pretending to be an elevator operator.

Julie Schoerke guided a lively discussion on this panel covering social media venues like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and blogging. All agreed that aggressively and relentlessly pushing a buy-my-book message is guaranteed to fail. Establishing a presence on social media consistent with your fiction is a better tactic.

One panelist was still full of energy. Ah, youth! Michelle Kubitz was knowledgeable about all things social media. She was also runner up for the Claymore Award. 

I chatted with authors in the book store for a while, then hurried to Room 224 to hear the solution to the staged Crime Scene. I did not get my paperwork in on time to be a contender for the prize, but I had to know whodunnit.

PicturePam De Voe holds her trilogy of mystery books set in ancient China
5:40 Saturday August 26 – The Killer Nashville Crime Scene Explained
I won’t give the solution, because it would lack meaning. Solving a conference crime scene is a “you had to be there” kind of deal. I will say that former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Assistant Director Dan Royse did a great job of explaining how law enforcement would put together the clues to solve an actual crime. Much time, creativity, and labor went into setting up the mock crime scene, the suspect interviews, and the scenario. This was one of the highlights of the conference.

My husband and I went to the Networking Open Bar, where we chatted with new friends. My husband decided his new purchases of special Jack Daniels whiskey and liquor were preferable to the free drinks offered at the bar. We met up with Sisters in Crime for dinner at Pasta & Cream, a little place in Franklin. Several of the Sisters were attending the awards banquet. I dragged my husband along with the promise that he wouldn’t be the only guy, but the other Mister bailed at the last minute. Somehow, he survived being surrounded by women authors chatting about murder scenarios.

I was exhausted from another full day at Killer Nashville. Next week, I’ll finish blogging about Killer Nashville with Day Three, and closing words of inspiration.

3 Comments
Linda Thorne link
9/20/2017 04:50:39 am

I'm talking on the same subject on my Make Mine Mystery post tomorrow. I love Killer Nashville and go every single year. Enjoyed your post.

Reply
Catherine Dilts
9/20/2017 06:08:49 am

Linda, I will be watching for your blog on Killer Nashville. Thanks for stopping by!

Reply
Michelle Kubitz link
9/21/2017 09:36:11 am

I had a great time appearing on the social media panel with you. Thanks for the shout out!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to this blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly