Overstimulated Boogie
Fri 2005-11-04 23:03:31 (in context)
- 5,264 words (if poetry, lines) long
Today, after a lotta lotta panels, was the World Fantasy Convention Mass Autograph Party. This is the event that reminds me how well I do not do in big crowds. Thankfully, the WFC Gods had arranged everyone relatively logically and according to My Convenience. For instance, I went up to say hi to Alma and Deck, and they happened to be sitting next to Patricia McKillip, whose autograph I was seeking (this year I remembered to bring my old, beloved copy of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld). Steve Rasnic Tem (writer, writing teacher, and husband to Melanie Tem, ditto, whose classes I take twice monthly) was sitting next to Ellen Datlow. Charles de Lint (who faithfully emailed me the photo he took of me with the googly-eye goggles on last year), Charles Vess (with hand-drawn draft of illustrations for Neil Gaiman's "Blueberry Girl" bravely available for all comers to flip through and melt at the sight of), and Nina Hoffman (who's a good friend and fellow workshop member to Jen, whom I met on the bus and have been having write-ins with) were all in a convenient row--and their table was the one making all the jolly noises, so you know where the party is. And all the guys 'n gals with gaming fiction were kinda grouped together, too. (Hi, Lucien!)
Still, I felt like I was at Whole Foods on a particularly crowded day--you've got your grocery list organized by aisle and then you hope you don't forget anything because after fighting your way from the produce section all the way over to the bakery you do not want to do it all again.
(Oh, and don't be fooled. I am not actually on a first-name buddy-buddy basis with most of the names you'll recognize up there. But I find that after attending two WFCs and WHCs each, some of the regulars--some of them Names, but most of them just members like me--are starting to wave at me on arrival, even if they don't really know me beyond "face I see repeatedly at this con." So I wave back. Cons are cool.)
I may put up some photos later. Or not. We'll see.
One should strive to learn something new at every panel one attends, I think. I sure learned a lot. I'm hoping that the schmuck behind me in the second row at the panel on fairy tales has learned the folly of attempting to lecture Terri Windling, Jane Yolen, and other professionals about the fine art of world-building, or has at least learned that panels are for asking questions of, not arguing with. As for me, I learned that schmucks who would actually do that sort of thing exist. Another paradigm shift for me! I think that's at least 500 XP.
Ah, yes, writing. Rather slow this morning. Starting to get worried by how far behind I am! But today over dinner I got to meet the talemouse. For now, I'm calling him Rakash Sketterkin. I know a lot more about him today: how he travels, what he eats, and why he decided to interfere with Gwen Halpburn-Smith's novel. I also know more about Gwen's novel: what happens to Brooke in it, and how that informs what Brooke does when she escapes into Gwen's reality. Lastly, I actually cameo'd in the novel--I mentioned that "Gwen's author has never seen Central Park, hasn't even been to New York," and that this is why Rakash Sketterkin finds it so easy to travel "up" into Gwen's reality via Central Park. Talemice get in where details are not well thought out. (I might have mentioned that already.)
Anyway. More tomorrow, including the links I didn't bother inserting tonight. And possibly photos. For now, sleeeeeeeep.