Max McCoy, live from Dogwood

I went to a journalism/writing/word-nerds convention in Kentucky a few weeks ago (just now getting things settled from the trip) and I am going to transcribe and talk about some of the seminars I went to on Concerning Fiction.

The seminar that really got me going and pumped about writing was by Max McCoy. He is the guy who wrote the Indiana Jones books, some westerns, but above all novels with mystery elements. In the seminar he told about how he became a writer and (without saying it all out loud) what it is like to be in the word-writing industry.

McCoy wore a plain dark navy suit, his hair was slicked back, and he wore a smile that said the milk in his coffee was a little sour, but he would drink it since it was free. He spoke in a dull timbre. He made sure to remind us that he had a day job, and at the end he told us the books on the table top were for sale.

I want to be Max McCoy when I grow; a shameless self-promoting writer/journalist who does and writes pretty much whatever he feels like.

Just to point out, these are his personal ideas, I cannot attest to any of these for sure--all I can say is I have heard a lot of these before so some of them are more than likely true.

But I digress. Here are the important bits straight from his talk:

• "News, liquor, and drugs." The three things that go together well in journalism--which happen to apply to novelists as well.
• The skills needed to write news translates well to fiction.
• If your story isn't good enough then you aren't asking the right questions.
• Follow up questions with more questions
• write, write, write... --he talked about working for a newspaper while writing his novels, he practiced writing everyday on things other than his books
• start low (he wrote porn filler before writing his first novel)
• Freelance writing is a good way to get started, builds reputation
• He suggested mystery detective novels--5,000 words about a true crime that had a conviction,  suggests finding a journal with stories you like and writing for it
• Write short things first, get a few things finished and under your belt before tackling an epic
• Pen names free you from making a history of "mistakes:, rather that you can use a pen name when doing things you wouldn't want to be remembered for by your in-laws (back to that porn filler)
• Warned about alternate personalities growing out of control--his (Ruben Buckner) received fan mail, a social security card, and requests to appear on TV before he did
• Never say no TO an editor (say it behind their back). --he said this regarding a story about his first novel editor saying no to his first story but asking if he would write something else, his comment is closer to don't refuse a job
• His first was "The Sixth Rider"
• Have several outlets to many different mediums to get out there, don't confine yourself to just fantasy fiction or to just western, just novels, just newspaper--put yourself into several different places to build a reputation.
• When he wrote his Indiana Jones books he had to watch and study the characters in the films. He suggested studying people who created the characters
• You put yourself into your characters, they reflect you whether you try to or not.
• Recommended Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's Journey; The Hero of a Thousand Faces"
• Force anyone you are signing a contract with to always allow for creativity
• Use the skills of journalism in novel writing--"Make shit up, but act like it's true."
• Go to writer's conferences and meet with editors and publishers in person, make contacts with people
• Meet with the people who have the authority to get you started
• You do not need an agent to get started, be weary of any agent who will sign an unpublished author--DO NOT PAY AN AGENT UPFRONT! Those kinds of agents are mostly scam artists. They make their money by making you money (a percentage).
• Get an agent when contracts are being discussed
• Do not work for hire--publishing house controls rights--you loose film and audio-book rights.
• Do not e-publish (self-publish) when you are a fledgling writer, e-books need legitimacy to make money for the author--places like Vantage Press are vanity presses (or just to see your name on the cover publishing)
• Publishers are hesitant to publish books that are part of a series--try to pitch it as a single novel that has room to grow and expand if popular.
• Find a way to pay the bills and still have time to write, don't quite your day job but don't give up on your dreams
• You are typecasted by whatever you write that gets famous first, it happens
• Hang out with the people you want to write about

He talked about the three things to do before sending off your manuscript

1. The Cover Letter

•  Introduces you as a writer; who are you, what's your platform, why the hell should an editor give a crap about you
• If you are unpublished do not say so, they will figure that out--but don't publicize it though
• Be able to describe your work in two or three sentances
• convey essence of the novel
• you don't have the luxury of explaining the whole story
• Cover letters should be one page, single spacing, act like the book is finished (or that you know how it will end), have a good title ready (it will likely change, this is to catch attention)
• Only double space things that are going to be put into type (be published)
• Don't address your manuscript to the publishing house, find a list of employees and mail it directly to a specific editor to avoid getting stuck into slush-pile-purgatory.
• You can find these names in places like publishers weekly; find authors you like that write about what you write like and find their agents

2. The Synopsis

• This is a two page document that acts as a sales pitch.
• This is not an outline or book report--why should the publisher want your work
• Don't give away the ending, your synopsis should be a modest Victorian girl
• This should explain why  your hero and villain are unique

3. Sample Chapters

• This should be about 40-60 pages of sequential sections from your novel
• This is a taste of your book, don't skip around--if you get bored reading these consider rewriting before sending off--starting later perhaps.

Closing Thoughts

• How long should you wait? Give them three months, after which you should write a follow up letter or phone call.
• Simultaneous submissions are great! If your book is good they create auctions.--companies hate it because it creates a seller's market.
• Unsolicited submissions really means they don't want the whole manuscript
• pick an assistant or junior editor--people needing a big break to put a gamble on someone--to send your manuscript to.
• You cannot copyright ideas
• Do not put (C) on your manuscript, it makes you look like an amateur
• Be prepared to write the whole thing, be prepared for change
• Any advance is against your royalties, be careful about how much you take

 Even though he was a bit pessimistic I think he has some good points. Also some of these suggestions are too ballsy not to be things that have worked for him. Also even though it showed that he was looking for things to sale, you could tell he loved writing as a whole. He talked about his characters like they were real people that he had coffee with on a regular basis.

I hope these tips help you all out there!