What a brilliant event!And how wonderful to hear every single writer say first and foremost you have to write what you want to write, and be true to your own voice.
And secondly, that so many of them make so much of it up - including police procedurals - saying that there is a danger of too much research being fed in (because you've done it so why not?) and slowing the pace. Most impressively astounding of all was Malcolm Mackay who admitted he didn't grow up against a background of Glaswegian underworld - you'd never think it from the world he's so skilfully created.
Other highlights, for me, included hearing Christopher Brookmyre talk, during Friday's Crime Writing Masterclass about the importance of magic - reveal and misdirection - and later reading 'Puck Knows' his story of teenagers at a performance of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' - and hearing William McIlvanney talk about the process of writing his Laidlaw trilogy - plus the news that there may be two more to come.
Friendly, well-organised, and loads of books to buy - I certainly intend to be back next year!
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