A film student in India is going to make a short film based on my CWA Dagger Nominated short story, PROTECTING THE INNOCENT. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.
I will be posting a link to the movie when it’s finished for everyone to see.
Simon Wood's Blog
This month marks a special moment for me. It’s been twenty years since the release of my first novel, ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. That book and I have been on quite a journey over the last twenty years. My first thriller has come of age. It’s been responsible for a lot of firsts in my writing career:
- First book I wrote
- First published book
- First mass paperback release
- First book to be translated
- First book to sell 100,000 copies
When I look over my writing career, this book has been the one that kept my career moving on to the next stage. Although first published by a small publishing house, it picked up a lot of good trade reviews which gave me some legitimacy as a writer. That resulted in the book picking up a contract with a New York publisher. When the NY publisher folded during the credit crunch, it was the book to reboot my career when I relaunched it as an ebook. The sales success of the ebook resulted in an 8-book deal with a new publisher and a new edition. And if it wasn’t for that 8-book deal, I wouldn’t have the success I’ve had with my other books. Whenever I examine my writing career, invariably it all stems back to ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN.
The book has served as a springboard for so much. When I take stock of where I am today, I’m astounded. I’ve had over fifty book releases in a dozen countries having sold two million copies with my books produced in hardback, softback and audio. It’s bonkers!
Another weird factoid is there are three versions of the book—the 2002 Barclay Books version, the 2007 Dorchester version & the 2011 Thomas & Mercer version. Each version got revised…and got shorter each time (I got better at being more concise). The Thomas & Mercer version is some 15,000 words shorter than the Barclay Books version. I don’t think many writers get to rewrite their books…
This book about an obscure, but chilling facet of the insurance industry changed my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for it. I will forever be in this book’s debt.
To mark the occasion, there’s 20% off all my titles at my website when you use the code “20TH.” So if you’ve never read ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN or want to grab the other editions or want to catch up on my other books, just go to http://simonwood.net/books/.
It might be the 4th of July but it’s also publication date of the Hungarian version of THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY aka THE FUGATIVE…so if you have any Hungarians in your life, tell them to buy it!!
This month is very special because it also marks the 20th anniversary of my first book release, ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. This Hungarian book represents my 60th book release and almost my 100th book if you include anthologies and other book contributions in those twenty years. I am planning to celebrate this milestone with a special event, stay tuned for details.
My ever-popular online workshop on PLOT THICKENERS writing starts on July 11th. This workshop blossomed out of a piece I wrote for Writers’ Digest and there’s now interest for me to develop into a book. So if you want to learn how to inject some drama and conflict into your fiction, here’s what to expect from the workshop and you can sign up here:
Plotting out your novel before you begin is a great exercise. Your story is thought through with no bad logic or unnecessary scenes. This process doesn’t have to be some drawn out and creativity killing affair. I’ll teach you some fast & effective techniques for plotting a novel from beginning to end. Don’t run out of ideas or pad out your novel again. The presentation includes my famous color-coded plotting spreadsheet.
Plotting shouldn’t be viewed as a passion killer that destroys any chance of spontaneity and creativity. Plotting is a very creative process. You’re creating the whole story in short form, providing a skeleton framework that will have the flesh put on during the writing. What can be more motivating than when you have a complete outline for your novel to guide you from “once upon a time…” to “…and they lived happily ever after”? And what can be more demotivating than coming to a grinding halt on a manuscript 30,000 words shy of your target with nothing left to say?
There’s a lot to be said for plotting and why it is a great help to the writing process. With this workshop, students will develop the skills for producing well thought out plotlines and use my outlining style sheet for creating simple “at a glance” outlines.
Lesson Plan:
- Lesson #1: The importance of plotting and outlining
- Lesson #2: Breaking down the story
- Lesson #3: Identifying the pieces
- Lesson #4: Arranging the pieces
- Lesson #5: Maintaining consistency of character and voice
- Lesson #6: Reviewing the outline
This is another of my custom bike builds. I converted a Cannondale Mountain bike into a drop bar gravel bike. I wasn’t sure if it would work but it rides very nicely. The pictures represent where I started and where I finished.
This has been a long time in the making but the Hungarian edition of THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY comes out next month. The Hungarian title translates to THE FUGATIVE. I can’t wait to get my author copies.
I have a new writer’s workshop starting in June. It came at the suggestion of one of my previous workshop students and I’ve been working on it for the last few months. The new workshop is QUERY LETTERS, SYNOPSIS WRITING AND PITCHING. The workshop would explore the following:
- Crafting a query letter directed at agents and publishers and how to perform a coordinated agent/publisher search.
- Writing synopses. Yes, I said “synopses.” Multiple synopses are needed for book title because you’ll need a 200-word synopsis, 1-page synopsis, 2-page synopsis and a 4-page synopsis. There’s no such thing as a standard synopsis length…sadly.
- There are plenty of opportunities to pitch face-to-face with industry professionals—both formally and informally—so it pays to have your elevator pitch in your back pocket ready to pull out at a moment’s notice.
So if you want to learn how to interact with the industry and present your story concept effectively, you can sign up here:
My ever-popular online workshop on KILLER SUSPENSE writing starts on May 2nd. This workshop blossomed out of a piece I wrote for Writers’ Digest and there’s now interest for me to develop into a book. So if you want to learn how to inject some drama and conflict into your fiction, here’s what to expect from the workshop and you can sign up here:
You’re reading. Your heart is slamming against your ribcage, your fingertips are moist and you turn another page. The protagonist’s back is up against the wall and the antagonist is setting up a trap. You wish you could do something to prevent the protagonist from walking into it, but you can’t. You are helpless, totally at the mercy of the writer. You turn another page.
If you’ve ever felt this way while reading a book, then the writer has done a great job at creating suspense—and if you continue to read all the way to the end, the writer has also done a great job of maintaining it. So how do you, the writer, go about creating the same for your readers? KILLER SUSPENSE reveals the tricks of the trade for creating top notch suspense in your writing, whether it be a cozy or a spy thriller. The intensity might be different but the techniques are the same.
Lesson Plan:
- Lesson #1: Understanding Suspense—Thrillers vs. Mysteries
- Lesson #2: Viewpoints
- Lesson #3: Heroes and Villains
- Lesson #4: Elements of Suspense #1—High Stakes, Pressure Points & Dilemmas
- Lesson #5: Elements of Suspense #2—Time Constraints, Complications, Unpredictability
- Lesson #6: Suspense Plan Review
More conference news!
On May 14th, I’m going to be a presenter at the Killer Workshop presented by Capital Crimes & Palmetto Sisters in Crime chapters. This is a 1-day virtual & in-person conference. Yes, I will be there in person. After two years of being shut in from the world, I am emerging where I get to see real life people. I think I’ve forgotten what that feels like.
My workshop will be on short stories. If you’d like more details, go here.
What do you do when you’re injured and can’t ride…build a bike! This is a 2009 Trek Alpha 2.3 built from a secondhand bike frameset, spares, used parts and new parts.
