EPUBBING with NICOLA FURLONG » writing skills

Guest Post at Mystery Maven Canada

Nicola — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:52:01 +0000

My good friend and fellow crime writer, Linda Wiken, kindly offered me a guest post slot over at her excellent blog: Mystery Maven Canada.

The blog offers news, reviews and schmooze by and about Canadian mystery authors.

I’m chatting about the clues to the popularity of mysteries. You may wish to discover them today at Clues to the popularity of mysteries.

Love to know the clues you have discovered in your own investigations of crime writing!

How to Write a Mystery Novel – Victoria, BC Writers’ Workshop

Nicola — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:40:15 +0000

If you live on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, and you’ve always wanted to write a mystery novel, then take your fingers off the keyboard and listen up.

I’m again teaching a workshop on writing mystery novels for Camosun College in lovely Victoria, BC. The workshop is based on my experiences crafting a number of published mysteries and on my little how-to primer, Youdunit Whodunit!

cover image for Youdunit Whodunit!

The workshop is offered on six consecutive Thursday evenings from from September 29 to November 3, 2011. For more details and how to register, go to Mystery Writers’ Workshop at Camosun College.

Here’s the catalog blurb to whet your whistle:

Love reading mysteries? Always wanted to write one? You can – with a few clues from mystery novelist, Nicola Furlong. This practical writing workshop, based on Nicola’s primer Youdunit Whodunit!, is designed for anyone interested in creating crime fiction.

Designed to be more craft than critique oriented, this workshop offers advice you can use immediately to improve your short story, screenplay or novel. Nicola Furlong has published eight mystery novels and a primer on mystery writing. She regularly blogs and speaks about genre writing.

Hope to see you and a sample of your thrilling and mysterious words on September 29th!!

Epubbing Summer Break

Nicola — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:29:20 +0000

Taking a little time off to…

ponder an historical series,
try out a new biz concept,
get dirty in the jardin,
spin along our rural bike trails and…
indulge in fudge, bien sur!

Enjoy your summer. You can still check out my previous posts, especially if you’re interested in:

Cheers!

How to Write A Mystery Novel 19 – Character Development

Nicola — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 01:05:59 +0000

Intro: I occasionally teach a writers’ workshop at our local Camosun College on how to write a mystery novel. The students eat it up, telling me that they’re learning lots of practical and usable tips and techniques, so I thought I’d offer bits and pieces of the workshop in my Friday Mystery Writing blog posts.

The information is gleaned from my little non-fiction e-book primer called Youdunit Whodunit! How to Write Mysteries and offers my tips, techniques and information suitable for crafting of all types of genre writing.

So, even if you write romance, sci-fi, fantasy or horror, please keep reading and learn with us crime writers.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: VILLAINS (Part 19)

The last group of posts have focused on the point of view (POV) from which to tell your tale.

Most recently, we’ve moved into creating the people who populate your story. I nicknamed this step: Haven’t We Met Before?

There are three types of CHARACTERS who populate fiction: Major, Secondary and Minor.

Last post, we talked about using four personality traits to help define your main characters. This works well with villains with one caveat. Every villain has one common trait: they are amoral. The other three are up to your imagination and your efforts NOT to have clichéd baddies.

But remember, one or more of your players will be villains; however, they don’t think of themselves as scoundrels. Give them a chance to show their human side, their contradictions, challenges and conflicts. Have some fun. The bad guys and gals are often much easier to create and to carry off than heroes and heroines. Being good doesn’t always result in riveting reading.

Elmore Leonard understands this big time. Like Chili Palmer (loan shark) and Jack Foley (bank robber), his lead characters are often crooks. What’s cool is that they believe what they’re doing is right and they usually do it with staggering style.

If you found this of interest, you may wish to begin at the beginning of my How to Write a Mystery Novel posts.

…Of course, there’ll be MORE how-to write a mystery tips and techniques continued in the next Friday post as we push further to develop the three types of characters that commonly populate genre fiction in: You’re Invading My Personal Space, Part 20.

Challenges of Writing Historical Fiction

Nicola — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:48:44 +0000

Summer’s finally here on southern Vancouver Island. The garden’s lovely, though the poppies are finished and I’m getting back on track in researching a new series and pushing out the odd blog post now and again.

I’m doing something never before attempted: researching for an historical fiction series.

I’ve got a strong setting, memorable characters in development, multiple story lines beginning to weave and an interested agent but…it’s all based in an earlier century.

Of course, being historical is one of the idea’s key assets; however, I’m finding that it’s the biggest drawback to actual writing. Can I find the voice?

I’ve created worlds before, ones involving murder, opera, golf, even the stigmata but recreating a different time, with all the inherent and fascinating elements of geography, social, family and political issues, dialogue and who know what else is proving a challenge.

I keep reminding myself of some of my past research efforts: caddying for days in the pouring rain, testing vocals (and teacher’s ears) to experience opera and surviving an apple pie-making bee.

Guess I’ve just gotta shut up and get on with it!

But…when will I find that voice?

Bloody Words 2011: Crime Writers Rule!

Nicola — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:18:58 +0000

Just spent a dizzingly busy weekend at Canada’s mystery writers’ convention, Bloody Words in Victoria, BC.

About 200 folks, all brought together by a love of bloody words, attended a wonderfully eclectic smorgasbord of lectures, panel discussions, interviews and chitchat. Really amazing when you think we had the first warm and sunny weekend for a long time!

Highlights include:

getting a chance to catch up with friends and meeting new folks
successfully pitching to Sally Harding, Cooke Agency
having fun as a panelist with Sunny Frazier, Oak Tree Press
learning from some terrific authors, like Tess Gerritsen, Michal Slade and William Deverell

My sincere congratulations and thanks to the amazing organizers, Kay Stewart and Lou Allin, and their fab group of hard-working volunteers, many of whom were students of mine! Also thanks to Walter and Jill of DeadWrite Books in Vancouver.

Why not sign up for Bloody Words 2012?

Bloody Words Mystery Conference: June 3-5, Victoria, BC

Nicola — Sun, 29 May 2011 00:07:02 +0000

Bloody Words is an excellent, fun writers’ conference where authors and fans of crime writing get together, share stories, laughs and a love of mystery/crime writing.

bloody words logo

It’s happening next weekend, in gorgeous Victoria, BC. I’m attending and am on a couple of panels. Lots of chances to meet your fav authors and learn about writing mystery/crime novels. Love to see/meet you!

More info at the Bloody Words 2011 site.

The Novel Experience on Digital Podcast

Nicola — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:03:13 +0000

Hey fans of writing, radio and podcasts.

The Novel Experience podcast is now available via Digital Podcast.

Check it out at The Novel Experience.

The Novel Experience Podcast

The Novel Experience Podcast- Interview with Kay Stewart, Co-Chair Bloody Words 2011

Nicola — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:01:09 +0000

Hey lovers of words and stories.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing.

Novel Experience Podcast

No fluff, no filth, just fun, fascinating and fruitful discussions with authors, editors, booksellers, publishers and agents to help you fulfill your writing career. Your comments, guest suggestions and topic ideas are welcome.

Episode 15: Bloody Words Mystery Conference, June 3-5, Victoria, BC

Today, I interview Kay Stewart, published mystery author and co-chair of Canada’s largest mystery conference, being held in Victoria, British Columbia this June. (click link above or below).

Discover Kay’s embarrassing writing secret (I’m amazed and impressed that she revealed it), add her excellent tips to your writer’s toolkit, learn how she successfully collaborated on a mystery novel with her husband, find out about Bloody Words and why she’s desperately seeking a coffin maker before June! (duration ~ 38 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 15 – Kay Stewart

Also, hear our title track, Devil in the Details by Glynne Turner.

The Novel Experience Podcast – Interview with Publisher Clare Thorbes Part 3

Nicola — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:53:03 +0000

Hey lovers of words and stories.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 14: From Words to Print

Today, I complete my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link above or below).

Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.

Listen to discover what challenges Clare encountered and surmounted as a small publishing house, learn what she would do differently if she were entering publishing today and find out she thinks makes an ideal manuscript. (duration ~ 18 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 14 – Clare Thorbes

This episode’s music track is the rockin’ instrumental Don’t Give Up, by Glynne Turner.