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Let's Do The Time Warp
Jul. 18th, 2014 10:53 pmAgain? Many times. I've been really bad at this game. Luckily, the cake is a lie.
Ahem, anyway... Last month, Kol and I went to our first ever 4th Street Fantasy out in the wilds of Minneapolis MN. (Strangely, this was not my first time to the state. I was there a few years ago for a Nicotine Cessation Conference at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester - Yeah, sometimes my life is strange.) Needless to say, the weather tried to prevent it and weird plane happenings got us there later than we were supposed to land but, in the end, it was beyond worth it. I don't think I've ever been to a convention like it. Part geek gathering, part social club, part seminar, part... Heaven, I guess. Or close to it. It was warm and welcoming and stimulating and relaxed and intense all at once. Everyone was so gosh-darn nice and complete strangers wanted to make sure we, as new members, were having fun. Not just asking us at the end but throughout the con.
PS more small conventions should adopt 4th Street's Ambassador Program. There alone? Shy? Not sure of the area? Just look for the ambassador at the start of meal breaks and you have a ready-built crew to blend into while you tramp over to a restaurant!
Also? One-track paneling with meal breaks? Sheer brilliance. This meant the only panel we missed was the first one Sunday morning because we stayed up until 4am talking and decided that 9am was too early and the topic to meh for us to haul our cookies out of bed.
Talking. Did I mention the wonderful conversations with complete strangers? The laughter and lively discussion and sometimes debate? The free mixing of the "name" authors with the rest of us peons? Why, yes, we spent our lunch during the optional writer's seminar Friday morning chatting with the delightful Marissa Lingen. And Elizabeth Bear was behind me in the buffet line. Also tea tasting. Yarn swap. Book swap.
And we didn't attend the music circles after-hours but next year, promise. Oh, and the hospitality suite where there was free and unending supplies of snacks and soda and juice and water.
This is not even addressing the sheer wonder of the panels. I took notes, people. Notes. At a convention. Voluntarily. I learned a lot and laughed a lot and had my grey matter stirred viciously to the point where I actually goddamn want to write again and feel like I can do it.
I also cried a bit but that is alright because it was so very safe and okay to be crying if you had to do it... Especially at the panel about how depression and anxiety can affect your work as a writer/creator and how you can deal with it. Featuring 2 medical professionals and 2 authors who are legit dealing with such things. Seriously, I was not the only one shaken utterly by the thing. (Notice there are no notes on the panel... But I actually managed a Hollywood-pretty silent cry which is a minor miracle in itself!)
Speaking of notes... If anyone fancies trying to make heads or tails of my stream of thought note-taking process, have at it! Here are links to Gdocs.
Friday Morning - Writing Seminar
Friday Panels
Saturday Panels
Sunday Panel
Kol and I are already planning to go back next year. Who wants to come with us?
Ahem, anyway... Last month, Kol and I went to our first ever 4th Street Fantasy out in the wilds of Minneapolis MN. (Strangely, this was not my first time to the state. I was there a few years ago for a Nicotine Cessation Conference at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester - Yeah, sometimes my life is strange.) Needless to say, the weather tried to prevent it and weird plane happenings got us there later than we were supposed to land but, in the end, it was beyond worth it. I don't think I've ever been to a convention like it. Part geek gathering, part social club, part seminar, part... Heaven, I guess. Or close to it. It was warm and welcoming and stimulating and relaxed and intense all at once. Everyone was so gosh-darn nice and complete strangers wanted to make sure we, as new members, were having fun. Not just asking us at the end but throughout the con.
PS more small conventions should adopt 4th Street's Ambassador Program. There alone? Shy? Not sure of the area? Just look for the ambassador at the start of meal breaks and you have a ready-built crew to blend into while you tramp over to a restaurant!
Also? One-track paneling with meal breaks? Sheer brilliance. This meant the only panel we missed was the first one Sunday morning because we stayed up until 4am talking and decided that 9am was too early and the topic to meh for us to haul our cookies out of bed.
Talking. Did I mention the wonderful conversations with complete strangers? The laughter and lively discussion and sometimes debate? The free mixing of the "name" authors with the rest of us peons? Why, yes, we spent our lunch during the optional writer's seminar Friday morning chatting with the delightful Marissa Lingen. And Elizabeth Bear was behind me in the buffet line. Also tea tasting. Yarn swap. Book swap.
And we didn't attend the music circles after-hours but next year, promise. Oh, and the hospitality suite where there was free and unending supplies of snacks and soda and juice and water.
This is not even addressing the sheer wonder of the panels. I took notes, people. Notes. At a convention. Voluntarily. I learned a lot and laughed a lot and had my grey matter stirred viciously to the point where I actually goddamn want to write again and feel like I can do it.
I also cried a bit but that is alright because it was so very safe and okay to be crying if you had to do it... Especially at the panel about how depression and anxiety can affect your work as a writer/creator and how you can deal with it. Featuring 2 medical professionals and 2 authors who are legit dealing with such things. Seriously, I was not the only one shaken utterly by the thing. (Notice there are no notes on the panel... But I actually managed a Hollywood-pretty silent cry which is a minor miracle in itself!)
Speaking of notes... If anyone fancies trying to make heads or tails of my stream of thought note-taking process, have at it! Here are links to Gdocs.
Friday Morning - Writing Seminar
Friday Panels
Saturday Panels
Sunday Panel
Kol and I are already planning to go back next year. Who wants to come with us?
