I had a nice post half written about my trip to San Diego for World Fantasy and for a little vacation.  The stupid ipage weebly site refreshed itself halfway through and I really don't know if I'll have the time to re-create it.

Stupid, stupid ipage.

Ok, short version:  San Diego is awesome at the end of October/Early November. Go. There's lots to see, great weather and not a lot of tourists.

World Fantasy is also awesome, though I remain painfully inept at putting myself forward to established authors and I am also still very uncomfortable at parties.  This is a pity, since those are the two best reasons to attend World Fantasy Con.  Seriously, if you want to meet other authors -not to mention agents, publishers and editors- you owe it to yourself to go.  The attendance cap is low, so you can actually talk to your favorite author...unless he's Neil Gaiman.  Poor bastard.

I spent most of the Con attending author readings, which avoided my crippling fears of large crowds. It also let me show support for other new writers, since most of the readings were by less-established writers for some reason.  The readings by Peter Beagle and Connie Willis were wonderful (and Neil Gaiman's reading was both massively attended and deservedly so) but for me the breakout stars of World Fantasy were the inkpunks. (http://www.inkpunks.com/)  All of them were great, but Sandra Wickham's story made me laugh, both of Christie Yant's stories blew me away and Wendy Wagner brought down the house with one of the best Lovecraft stories since H.P. was a lonely shut in.  Great, great stuff.

I did get to meet a few people I knew and reconnect with a few friends. That was nice.  I also got to chat a bit with the funny and surprisingly deep David Maliki (of www.wondermark.com and the Machine of Death antholoy fame), I was able to express my appreciation to Kate Elliot and Michael Stackpole and bump fists with Sam Sykes and Dan Wells...didn't get to spend enough time with those guys, they're great people and great writers.

Will I go next year?  Probably not.  I don't feel like going to Toronto in late October and I remain painfully shy, despite my stunning sartorial style and my acting ability (I can pretend to be fun, funny and charming. Honest, I can. I just can't maintain it for long) I had a rough time of it...though it was easier than last year.  I hope it will get better the more I attend, we'll see.  I may go to 2013, if the world is still around, since I've never been to England.  I expect I'll be at WorldCon next year instead.

But seriously, go checkout the inkpunks site and the authors there.  
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Yep, it's been a year already.  This will be my second World Fantasy Con. The first one, in Columbus, OH was kind of tough.  I can fake extroversion for short periods of time but it's tough.  I had lots of plans for meeting editors and agents which almost completely fell apart.


Here's why. There's no way to tell who anyone is there.  There are very few authors that I knew by sight and editors or agents? Forget about it.  Yes, everyone is wearing badges around their necks* but unless you know the names, that doesn't tell you much.  


There are also very clear 'tiers' at World Fantasy, I didn't know what to expect but it was pretty clear once I was there.  The best sellers are in their own tier and are surrounded by orbiting fans or lower-tier writers, who are also fans.  Next down but well above me are the established writers tier.    Below that, is my tier, the unpublished writers here to network.  (there are also the agent and editor tiers) The thing is, people tend to mingle only with the tier they're in.  They don't mingle down (it was rare to see a best-seller or an established writer actually hanging out with fans or lower tier writers).  


I get part of it.  World Fantasy and World Con are an excuse for a lot of these writers to catch up with old friends and colleagues. Writers tend to be an insular bunch and we don't get out much.  So, naturally, they're going to want to spend time with people they already know.  


Anyway, my point isn't to talk about the cliques of WFC.  It's more that I didn't know what to expect and the expectations I did have were probably too high.  I didn't serious expect to sell Angel Odyssey or land an agent but I did hope.  This year, I'm just going to enjoy myself.  I'm going to listen to author readings and go to parties.  I'm going to introduce myself and be entertaining and charming.  I'm not going to meet anyone specific or with any goal in mind. I'm not going to pitch anything.


I will know a few people there this year. I can't reccomend highly enough going to one of these big cons with a friend.  Things get pretty lonely. That said, I'm not going to cling to the folks I do know.  I AM going to do my level best to be friendly and relaxed.  Which means, I may start drinking again.


Here's to you, San Diego!


*It funny to see strangers meet, look at each other's chest and then smile politely
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Well, it's coming.  And so am I.  I, apparently, am incapable of reading a schedule, though. So I have my flight set for Wednesday morning and the convention doesn't start until Thursday.  Grr.


So, I changed my hotel dates.  One less day of work, one more day of vacation, hopefully it won't break the bank.


I'm really looking forward to this convention. My first big con was last year's World Fantasy. I had high expectations and I...didn't meet them.  That's on me.  Also the expectations, that's on me, too.


This year, I'm just going to meet people and enjoy myself. I'm not going with the intention of selling anything or of trying to pitch anything. (But, yes, I will be polishing the heck out my pitches for my three novel.  No, I won't be bringing them up unless specifically asked).


I should be less nervous this time. I do know a few people who'll be there this year. That helps.  But I'm not going to hover around them or use them like a crutch.  Much to everyone's relief, no doubt.  No, I plan to hit a few panels but mostly just listen to author's readings and sit in the bar and chat.  Or hang out in the parties and chat.  Yep...chatting.  My strong suit.  Bleh.  I'd better think about something else.


One thing that IS on my mind is my Clarion West application. It's due at the end of December...way earlier than I'd like.  I have one or two scenes left to write for the first draft of The Mageborn Mechanic and then I'm going full-blown gonzo into short story writing mode.  I plan to stay there until my Clarion West portfolio is as good as I can get it.


Anyway, it should be a great convention, in (hopefully) sunny San Diego.  I haven't been there since I was twelve, so this will a good vacation as well....after the convention is done.  If it's like last year, I'll be exhausted.
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  I started the third revision of chapter 4 last night.  I say started because after an hour, I was about a fifth of the way done.  A frickin' fifth!  Arg.  Revising is so much more work than actually writing.  The good news is, it's better for the revising.  I cut out some kerlunky parts...but also padded up some other parts.  So no net reduction in length and chapter 4 is a long one.  Over 5k words.
  Its actually one of the chapters I was most proud of so I'm almost surprised at all the revising I'm finding myself doing.  Someone (Harry Shaw or Michel Crichton) said, "There is no such thing as writing, only re-writing" or words to that effect.  That exaggerates things a bit but the amount of time and effort I put into revisions is much, much greater than in writing the first draft. Ah well, forging onward. Forward momentum!
  I had planned to write more about World Fantasy but I think I said it all yesterday.  That or it's too early in the morning for deep thoughts.  I guess the final word I have is: keep in touch with the people you met.  Write the emails saying 'nice to meet you' to the people you exchanged cards with.  Post on author's blogs for those authors you connected with.  Just a note, a 'it was nice meeting you. I'm looking forward to reading your next work' kind of thing.  This isn't always easy for introverted guys like myself.  But we need to do more than just 'meet' people, we need to keep in touch with them.  Friend them on Facebook, read their stuff and for God's sake, don't pimp your latest book to them.  Let them ask, if they're curious.  :)
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  The best and worst part of World Fantasy was the mingling.  It was really great getting to hear authors I admire do readings from their work.  It was also pretty awesome to meet and speak with (even if it was brief) some of my literary heroes.  It was very cool when an editor or an author I felt intimidated by turned out to be a pussycat once they had a few drinks in them.
  However, it was painfully difficult for me to circulate and network.  That I managed at all is due to the advice of two great people (s): Kay Kenyon has some great advice on her blog (http://www.kaykenyon.com/), especially her series on 'An Introvert's Guide to Writing'.  The second is the Writing Excuses podcast (http://www.writingexcuses.com/) put on by Brandon Sanderson (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog), Dan Wells (http://www.fearfulsymmetry.net/) and Howard Taylor (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/archive/2010).  In particular, the podcast on conventions was the primary motivator to get me to World Fantasy.
  At parties, I had less trouble.  It felt natural to circulate with a drink in my hand (Triple Sec = yum), even if I didn't drink much.  I could introduce myself and ask who everyone is and what they're working on.  The parties in the evening are definately required attendance.  I am KICKING myself for getting a 6am flight on Sunday.  I should have stayed an extra day or done whatever I needed to to make sure I maximized my chance to meet people in a lower-key setting.
  The bar, however, is a different story.  Everyone hangs out in the bar, that is where all the business gets transacted and where all the high-level elbows get rubbed.  I had very little luck trying to fit in there and meet people.  I literally couldn't think of a way to insert myself into anyone's conversation or table.  It just felt too rude.  I'm ambitious and a little aggressive but I'm a polite arrogant asshole, if I am an arrogant asshole.  So I ended up acting like I was waiting for someone, over and over again.  I'd hang out at the bar itself for a bit, then go take in a reading or a panel and then go back to the bar again.  Nothing.  No luck in seeing anyone I knew or getting invited to sit at someone's table.  That was so depressing.
  On the other hand, I did manage to find and introduce myself to an agent Kay Kenyon has recommended to me.  That is the good thing about the bar, everyone goes there eventually. 
  The next time (and there will be an next time) it will be easier.  I've learned a bit about how to network.  And here it is:
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  One of the very cool and very frustrating things about World Fantasy was the chance to rub elbows with publishers, editors and writers.  Some of the writers were particular heroes of mine (I got to tell Stephen Donaldson how much I loved the 'Mirror of her Dreams' duology).
  The thing is, though, you don't really get to rub elbows with them as much as you'd like, or at least I didn't.  With the notable exception of Dan Wells (http://www.fearfulsymmetry.net/), who decided to play some zombie board games with fans, most of the writers and editors rubbed elbows with...other published writers and editors.
  It makes sense.  I'm sure many of them know each other already and it's natural to hang out with people you know, rather than strangers.  And many of the writers (and almost all the editors it seemed) were here for business, not just to have fun.  In that case, it makes sense to socialize with people who can help your career.  It also feels like you have to 'make your bones' in order to get into that top tier.  That also makes sense, there are a lot of aspiring writers but you don't really know if someone has 'the goods' until they've been published as well.  I almost feel like there's this club you get invited into once you've published something in a major publishing house.
  Here's the four levels of elbow-rubbing that I saw:
  The highest level is composed of the 'name' authors, the editors of big publishing houses and the publishers themselves.  These are the people I, and I imagine most people there, most wanted to meet and socialize with.  This is also the hardest group, for me at least, to approach.  I'm not saying anyone was unfriendly.  Almost everyone* was very nice and pleasant.  However, most of them were a bit dismissive and defensive.  Probably because they get approached by the lower level elbows all the time, it makes them put their shields up.
  The next level are the self-published or small press authors.  These guys have made it...and haven't quite.  They have books out, some have fans there, but they are clearly in the shadows of the upper-level writers.  They tended to be very friendly and approachable.  They also seemed to throw the best parties and went out of their way to make you feel welcome.  I never got a brush off from a writer or publisher at this level.
  The next level of elbow-rubbers are the people like me: the hungry, ambitious aspiring authors.  Several people at this level have/are attending Odyssey, Clarion, Clarion West or other professional writer's workshops.  A lot of us went to World Fantasy to meet editors, agents and publishers.  People who can help us make that transition from aspiring authors to published authors.  We all seemed to sort of recognize each other, as well.  Or maybe that's just me, but I felt completely at home socializing with other elbow-rubbers of this level.  I wanted to help and support and encourage everyone I met, because we were all in the same boat, so to speak, and heading the same place.  I wish I could have had more time to hang out but...well, next time I'll take more time off work so I can stay later.
  Finally we come to the fans.  You know, the people who actually put on conventions and attend them for the fun of it.  These are the people who went to every panel and reading they could.  They had stuffed animals on their necks or shoulders.  They carried around suitcases full of books for writers to sign for them.  They seemed to ask the most inane questions if they got called on in a panel.  I'm not trying to denigrate them (or not most of them, at least), they were also mostly very nice and fun-loving. 
  So, there were all were, each rubbing elbows, but mostly with people at our level.  Of course, this is all subjective.  It could all just be my perceptions and hang ups.  I suck and networking, as I shall relate more, in depth, tomorrow.



*No, I'm not going to name names, but I am tempted...There's one guy who's books I'll never buy/read again
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   I'm back from the World Fantasy convention in Columbus, Ohio.  A lot of stuff happened, too much for just one blog posting, so I'll break it up into several throughout the week.
 
  First some potentially good news: despite my gimpy attempts at networking, I did meet some very nice people.  One of which is the (I know this is a cliche but it's true) lovely and talented Kay Kenyon.  (http://www.kaykenyon.com/ and by the by she has a new story up on WOTC's D&D Insider site.  It's outside the subscription wall, so please check it out http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/drfic/20101025 )
  I went to Kay's reading for her next novel and I loved it.  She had a drawing for a copy of her first novel, The Bright of the Sky*, which I somehow won.  I guess that gave me the stones to tell her a little of my admiration for her work and to ask her if she had some time to talk, later.  She kindly agreed to meet me for coffee and gave good advice and guidance, which I soaked up.
  Kay also referred me to an agent who was trying to build her list of clients.  (No names, yet.  Don't want to jinx anything)  I managed to introduce myself to her without looking TOO much of a fool.  Stumbling story short, she extended an invitation to me to submit a query for Angel Odyssey.  That was very cool.  My goal this week (well, tonight and tomorrow night, really) is to polish again the first four pages of Chapter 1 and submit that to her.  If she likes it, we'll go further and start that dance.
  I'm cautiously excited.

  One think Kay picked up on and rightly dinged me for is ambition.  I am ambitious to succeed as a writer.  I'm hungry, not just for success but to learn more and to write well.  I'm hungry to entertain readers, if that makes any sense. Honestly, I'm glad she noticed that.  I was trying to keep my expectations under control for this convention.  I was trying to go there to have fun and meet people as well as begin/further my career.  You could see the people who were there for career reasons, primarily.  They weren't happy.  They weren't having fun.  I mean even the published authors, people I've known and read and loved to read.  They were consumed by uncertainty, fear and ambition.  As a related note, I have a love/hate relationship with mirrors. 

  But my ambition, even tamped down and tamed (I hope) did make it hard to relax and enjoy myself.  My God, it was like dating, all over again.  I was so hyper-conscious of not wanting to look needy or ambitious, it was almost impossible to relax and 'be myself'.  Arg. I was constantly trying to project confidence in my body language, trying not to hover around writers or editors I wanted to meet, trying not to trail after those nice enough to spend some of their time with me.  I hope I didn't come off as some arrogant prick.

  I could go on and on about my networking failures and things I learned (and probably will in other posts) but I have to say that there were good times, too.  The parties were wonderful chances to meet people and talk, much better than the cavernous bar.  But the bar, as well, was a good learning experience.  And I know that my next convention, be it World Con or Dragon Con, will be more successful and more fun because of the things I learned here.
 
  But still, it's tough going solo to one of these things.



*I know I keep gushing, but the whole series is amazing.  Again, check it out: http://www.kaykenyon.com/novels/
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  The World Fantasy convention is this week.  I have my tickets and hotel all paid for.  Now I just need to go, be professional, be pleasant and try to meet people in the industry. 
  I am so going to suck at this.
  I can pretend to be just about anything for a short period of time (I am an actor, or at least play one on stage).  The effort it takes to be sociable is not negligible for me.  Honestly, it's exhausting.  I'm usually the guy at a party who stands by the wall, possibly scowling at people.  (which explains a lot about my early dating experiences)  I CAN be suave, witty and fun, but it's an act...at least around strangers.  In my circle of friends, I am much more of a joker but as I grew older, I became very self-conscious.  Do a lot of class have that happen to them?  Or is it just me?
  Anyway, I'm NOT going with the intention of selling Angel Odyssey.  If that happens, cool, but that's not my intention.  I'll have a manuscript with me, but that's going to be more for my own reading and revising.  I'm NOT going to be pressing it on anyone. 
  I am going to ask people what they're working on.  I may gently ask advice about writing or selling.  I am going to let them ask me what I do and what I'm working on.
  My goal is meet people and have fun.  Yes, I'm going for business reasons, to network and make contacts but I'm not going to be a jerk or a fanboy about it.
  I really hope I can pull that off.  A lot of authors I am in awe of are going to be there.  I'll really have to fight hard to avoid being tounge-tied or star-struck.
  I'll just need to get in character.  But which one?  Maybe I'll go with Patrick Mcgoohan, circa 1970.  He was very cool and he wore black.  Of course, he also ended up as a Prisioner of an international espionage conspiracy.
  I really hope this goes well and I don't just waste my time.  I 'know' what I have to do.  But can I really hang out in a bar for days, talk to strangers, ask where the publisher parties are and act like a professional writer?
  We'll see.
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