Why You Shouldn't Take a Picture
Where Fleur goes to Left Coast Crime in Denver, catches up with friends, and takes almost no pictures.
It was a busy weekend for me, hence this not-on-Sunday-schedule newsletter. I figured we’re all friends here in my little corner of the internet, so you’d forgive me. I was doing laundry and catching my breath.
Which brings me to my thoughts on the weekend, which I spent catching up with lots of writer friends at Left Coast Crime. For those of you not in the know: it’s a convention of crime writers that is hosted in a different city every year. Luckily, it was kind of in my back yard this year, in Denver.
I had fun, despite a pesky cold that I brought from home. I caught up with lots of friends, met people IRL who I’d befriended on the internet, and generally felt like I got a giant crime writer hug. We’re friendly folk, despite all that murderous writing.
As the newbie president of Rocky Mountain chapter of MWA, I also did my share of representing and trying to talk to people about Mystery Writers of America. It was fun, and I think I talked a few people into joining. If you are a mystery writer, I hope you’ll consider joining us too.
But all this busy-ness meant that I forgot to take pictures most of the time…! And one of my goals for the year was to take more pictures, so I was kicking myself for failing again, somewhere on my drive home from Denver.
Then I realized why I hadn’t taken pictures. I was busy having good, meaningful conversations with colleagues. I was listening to panelists say smart things about the genre I love. In short: I was present, in the moment.
Although my goal to take more photos was a good one (I simply didn’t want nice stuff to go forgotten), in many ways, worrying about pulling out your phone takes away from the very moment you’re having.
I’m still aiming to remember to take photos, but I’m not going to beat myself up if another event goes by without me pulling out my phone to snap a picture. Being there is more important.
What I’m Writing
I’m continuing work on the non-fiction book, How to Write a Middle-Grade & YA Mystery. It’s in the revision and formatting stage right now; I should have more news on that project soon…
Also, I started writing the second book in a (still top-secret) YA mystery series. New words always bring me joy; it’s easy to forget when you get busy with the business side of writing. My goal is to finish a rough draft by Memorial Day. About ten weeks, with some travel smack dab in the middle of it. Fleur is a busy girl…
Where I’m Going
I’m still getting caught up from Left Coast Crime, but I’m leaving my suitcase out for Malice Domestic conference in April and the MWA Edgars Awards and Symposium right afterward. If you are a mystery writer, I hope to see you there!
On the virtual side, I’ll be on a very cool MWA University panel with fellow MG/YA authors Michael Thomas Ford and Christina Diaz Gonzalez on March 25th; you can sign up to attend here.
What I’m Watching
I was glued to Adolescence on Netflix (in the U.S.) and watched it in just two sittings. Though a little on the darker side of crime, the character work is top notch. Recommended.
Fluffy Guests
It’s been quiet without my Floof cat, so I welcomed the chance to watch my daughter’s dog George and cat Chuchu while she’s on vacation.
At least now I’m not just talking to myself but having conversations with my houseguests. If you think about it, I’m really just a friendly host.
Sometimes taking pictures is fun and sometimes it gets in the way. Ask me how I know. ;)