LCC Lessons Learned from Readers

by Catherine Dilts

In March, I attended Left Coast Crime in Denver, where I picked up new ideas and information on the business of writing. Coincidentally, Thomas Kies just posted on Type M for Murder about small versus large conferences. I'm here to discuss what I learned at a reader oriented conference.  

The Left Coast Crime conference has an emphasis on readers and fans. Authors and readers sat on panels and discussed specific topics. There were a few one-on-one interviews. Other conferences focus on the craft and business of writing in more of a workshop setting geared toward writers. I found listening to readers at LCC as instructional as many workshops I’ve attended.

Here are four things I learned from readers:

1)  Readers like what they like. A thriller fan might dip into other genres, but the core of their To Be Read pile will consist of thrillers. Likewise with cozy, Western, romantic suspense, and detective mystery fans. The lesson for authors? Occasionally, you may persuade readers to partake in fiction outside their genre of choice, but unless you have a truly genre-bending story, you may be wasting your time in the long term. Stick to your lane. Focus your appeals to your designated audience.

2)     Readers use websites and blogs to find new reads. Popular sites listed – Jungle Red Writers, Lisa Holstine, Dru’s Book Musings, First Chapter Fun on Instagram and Facebook, The Saturday Reader by Sue Provich, The Mystery Readers Journal by Janet Rudolph, Goodreads, Book Series in Order, Mystery Writers Journal, and Fantastic Fiction (UK). The lesson for authors? Follow bloggers and websites appropriate to your genre. Seek out appearances on those sites to let readers know about your new releases.

3)   Readers can’t disguise their reactions. They are honest with their likes and dislikes. Sometimes painfully honest. The lesson for authors? Listen. During the Author Speed Dating event, I quickly learned which part of my pitch caused a smile or laugh, and when the attention of folks at a table wandered. In casual conversations with readers, I learned how strongly they feel about their chosen fictional interests.

4)    Readers find books online because of proper use of keywords. With more readers using e-readers and listening to audio books, they are obviously getting their fiction online. Less and less people browse physical library or bookstore shelves. Keywords are words and phrases that people use to search for content online. Z. S. Diamanti explained that keywords are a net-casting system. Lisa Matthews said “cozy” is a helpful tag among a list of tags. The lesson for authors? Learn about keywords, and how to use them to help readers find your work. If you don’t know how to define your story, you need to figure it out ASAP.

I discovered Goodreads several years ago, adopting it as a way to track my reading. When I became published, I started an author’s page. I enjoy using Goodreads, as a reader and as a writer. I also find Carstairs Considers a lot of fun, as Mark Baker reviews cozy novels, movies and television shows, and Disney decorations.

This brings up a point I’ve heard for many years: only focus your energy on websites, social media, and apps that you enjoy. Don’t shy away from testing out the newest thing, but if it’s not to your taste, don’t waste your time trying to force your enthusiasm.

Next month I’m going to my hometown workshop-based writers conference, Pikes Peak Writers Conference. The atmosphere will be entirely different from LCC. I’m hoping to absorb new knowledge on the business and craft of writing.

Fried chicken

Remember the chicken? The cartoon I couldn't scan a while back? This had such a sad sad ending. I finally got Windows 10 to upload my contribution to this blog. I was jubilant! I felt like I was one of the truly sophisticated persons who paste images into Type M. I mean, like ALL THE TIME.

None of them even sweat it. They just go plink with their index finger and voila--witty entries appear that are actually illustrated.

I can do this now (well, minus the wit) but now my chicken is dead.

I had my newest entry ready to post on my Poisoned Pen Blog and Michele, the daughter who is editor-in-chief for Vegetarian Times informed me that it was a violation of copyright laws to post a New Yorker cartoon on the internet without getting all kinds of complicated permission.

That doesn't seem fair. But a number of PPP writers who are lawyers jumped in and said she was right. Anyway, I think I assumed that Rick would dash in and save us from doing anything that's inappropiate on Type M. I've posted a number of cartoons here too and now I must stop.

The cartoon was so applicable to what's on my mind: marketing. But I can tell you what the cartoon was about. A guy is walking down a hotel corridor carrying a chicken, knocking on each door, telling each occupant that he would like like for them to join his professional network on LinkedIn.

I thought it was hilarious because it summed up the sheer looniness of much of today's marketing efforts. The number of books being published every year is astonompical. Far too many for the market to absorb. The industry counts as a book a work that has an International Standard Book Number. No doubt there are many more that do not have this number. In fact, a good friend of mine just printed one on her home computer that will appeal to button collectors. It's doing quite well. She's an expert on this subject.

So the challenge is to get our books into the hands of readers. And therein lies the rub. Often, these mysterious readers are already taken.