 "Photo: Chelsy Lueth")
The costume parties and trick-or-treating events usually associated with Halloween drew high numbers of people to the streets of Manhattan this weekend.
In addition to trick-or-treaters, readers and writers of mystery novels descended upon the city to participate in the Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave.
The Conclave took place at the Holiday Inn at 17th Street and Anderson Avenue. Citizens of Manhattan and authors from as far away as the east and west coasts of the United States participated in the event. The conclave offered both writers and readers a chance to learn from their peers and others in different fields pertinent to their jobs.
Published writers like Nancy Pickard, author with 17 published novels, and Charlotte Hinger, nonfiction author, talked to attendees about publicity and the mind-set required of a writer.
“When you go to publishing companies to submit your work, leave your ego at home,” Pickard said.
Hinger gave similar advice, explaining to writers resilience is a requirement of the job.
“If you don’t have a sense of humor, rent one,” Hinger said. “If you don’t have thick skin, practice beating yourself up, because you need some level of resiliency to make it.”
Hinger said the most necessary skill of a writer is the ability to say “no” occasionally, otherwise you will not have the time or the energy for writing.
Patrick Balester, author of “In the Dismal Swamp,” of Kansas City, Mo., said he was comforted by the fact that other writers share the challenges he faces with his work.
“It takes a lot of persistence, and I already kind of knew that,” Balester said. “But to hear that other writers face that, it gives you a lot of inspiration to recharge your batteries and throw yourself into your work a little more.”
Dick Seaton, former K-State Attorney, also hosted a discussion on copyright law. He talked about the differences between a copyright, which protects an artist’s work, and trademark, which simply protects a person or organization’s trademark.
He also explained that some things require both, such as the K-State Powercat. Throughout the discussion, Seaton answered questions over various topics, such as the time limitations on copyrights after the death of the original holder, and how much of a creation can be taken and put directly into another person’s work without infringing on the copyright.
“Copyright attaches itself to a work as soon as something is fixed to a tangible meaning of expression,” Seaton said. “My notes for this discussion are copyrighted, though I doubt they’ll sell for much.”
However, Seaton also said for the copyright to be completely valid, there must be a notice somewhere on the document letting viewers know they should not copy it without permission. Even though the copyright does mean work cannot be copied, it generally does not protect against someone taking the ideas and doing something similar with them.
The small conference was deemed a success by the attendees.
Balester said he prefers to attend small conferences, and said this was a good one.
“Everyone has been very nice, the panels have been very professional.” Balester said. “Sometimes when you go to a small conference you wonder if it’ll be worth it, but this is more than worth it.”
