I'd be interesting in hearing people's thoughts on why they do or don't attend Worldcon and ways to enjoy it if you do or things to watch out for, etc. There's some potential things brewing over the next couple years, and I always love hearing about people's experiences. 

2014 Master List

melsheartsthings: Talk to me about your convention experiences and what worked and what didn't.

Conventions aren't a big part of my fannish life. I went to Wiscon for a few years (30, 31, and 32), and to the WriterCon that took place in 2009. (I actually had to go back to nikitangel's archive to even get the convention name right.) I also worked a few smaller local conventions back in the early 2000s, when I was a part of a start up gaming company.

I like the idea of conventions a lot; I like shared experiences and the joy of discussing things I love with people who love them, too. I had a wonderful time at Wiscon and WriterCon. But I'm not much of a people person. I dislike crowds, I am bad at networking, and I know I come across as cold and standoffish with new people a lot of the time.

The three years I went to Wiscon, I stayed off site with friends (cabell the first year and nikitangel the other two years). When I go back, I'll be staying in the host hotel. I think that will help a lot; staying off site meant I didn't easily have a quiet place to go when I needed a break. (No, the quiet room doesn't work for me. It still has people.) My plan is to go back next year, for Wiscon 40, and have a reunion with my writing group, but if the job situation doesn't work out soon, that will have to come off the table.

I like being on panels a lot, and I mostly attend panels, very few paper readings or book readings. I like the parties to the extent that I like to hang out with my friends, but as I said, I'm not great at working a room, and I often feel like I'm penalized for that, even at Wiscon. I love things like the karaoke party and the new people dinner. I like being able to take a break to explore the city, or simply lounge around the pool or hang out in someone's room while we decompress a bit. I love talking to people about their projects, and meeting small press representatives, and all the media available. I love taking the physical schedule and highlighting all the places I want to be, and second choices, and figuring out when and where to meet people. I love random games in the con suite, and fun conversations in the hallways, and the energy that fills the place. There are shitty parts to conventions just like everywhere else (I've personally run into fat hate, racism, and homophobia), but there's also that feeling of being surrounded by my people, and I miss that. I hope I get to go back soon.

In short: best convention would be packed full of activities and people, and involve a private room where I can go be alone at the point where everything is too much and I'm about to snap. Then back to chaos.

I bought my ticket for writercon.

I have a Dreamwidth account: escritoireazul. Please feel free to add me there if you have one too. I'll be crossposting once I figure out an easy way to do it; I'm not really sure what I think about it yet.

I signed up for apocalyptothon: Sign up here.

My requests:

( Apocalyptothon requests )

Man, I'm really working that inclusion of the Fast and the Furious franchise, aren't I? Hee.

I'm so tired and frustrated at Castle even though I haven't watched the episode yet (did you really have to go there? REALLY?) and I think I'm going to bed.

Y'all! Writercon 2009 is ON! Click here for more information. Not to mention, it is in Minneapolis, which isn't too far from where I'll be working this summer. (Flying or driving will be an option.) AND, it is the weekend after I finish work. Literally, the weekend after. So not only will I have the time to go, but I will have just finished working at a firm for the summer.

I may not get to go to Wiscon this year (because of work, mostly), but at least I have one convention to which I can look forward. What a way to end my summer employment!

So! Are you going to Writercon 2009?

To sum up where I've been:

+ WisCon, which was marvelous, and involved meeting a number of wonderful people, most for the first time (and including nikitangel who was absolutely brilliant and actually had Michelle Rodriguez vids and clips on her iPod which we watched at a party, which is just one of many signs of how wonderful she is), being introduced to Alias (the comic) by kphoebe's paper presentation, lots of interesting panels, seeing the fantastic cabell again (I stayed with her, actually), meeting revena (and loving her car), and on and on and on. I left it feeling positive for the first time in awhile, because I met so many women who are out there, in the world, making a difference.

+ Nevada and Utah, which was a fun, relaxing vacation with J.

+ attending wedding events for a local friend

+ working. a lot. more than a lot.

+ riding my motorcycle

Did I mention that before I disappeared (for six plus weeks)? I bought a '78 Honda 400 Hawk, which is a small bike, but just the right size for me. It's a neat little bike, and I'm having fun riding back and forth to work and around in the sun. (Yes, I'm careful and wear my helmet and heavy jeans and solid boots. I don't want to break my brain.)

I probably have skip three million to read, and there is no way I can catch up on over six weeks of posts, so please point me to things of interest.

What are some of your most and least favorite of the juvenile and young adult fantasy novels published in the last year or so? Harry Potter is on the list, of course, but this is all beyond Harry Potter.

To start the ball rolling, here are some off the top of my head.

Tamora Pierce The Will of the Empress, a book which follows two quartets, Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens.

Jenny Nimmo Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors, book four of the series The Children of the Red King. The first book very much reminded me of Harry Potter, but as the series progresses, it has grown and changed. I actually like parts of it much more than Harry Potter.

Christopher Paolini Eldest, sequel to Eragon. I have to admit, I haven't read either of them, because I started Eragon and was so disgusted by the writing style I couldn't make it more than a couple chapters in. Weak, weak writing and very derivative.

Eoin Colfer The Opal Deception, book four of the Artemis Fowl series. I loved the first two books to this, but haven't read the later ones. I really should, before Wiscon.

Eoin Colfer Half-Moon Investigations, about which I know absolutely nothing. Has anyone read this?

Jonathan Stroud Ptolemy's Gate, book three of The Bartimaeus Trilogy. I haven't read any of these, and I probably should.

Angie Sage Septimus Heap, Book Two: Flyte. I haven't even heard of this author. Anyone?

Okay, let's get the discussion going. Any thoughts? Favorites? Most hated? Why?

Okay, say there was going to be a fancy dress party in a few weeks, at a convention maybe, and the theme was the Carnivale di Venezia, the Carnival of Venice, what kind of costume ideas would you have for me, taking two things into consideration, a) that I don't know how to do my own regular make-up and b) this has to not only travel to the convention in a car but then be able to fit into a suitcase to make the flight to Salt Lake City after?

It's been a long time since I came up with a costume for a fancy dress anything. Suggestions?

Also, internet is back on at home, so I hope to do a bunch of posting this weekend of writing things I have finished but could not post.

Supernatural con discussion. I think I'll be in, what about you?

Okay, everyone else is doing this, so.

Who all is going to Writer Con? I'm tempted.