(no subject)

[nonionay]

Just got back from Norwescon. So many things happen at cons, it's just a general high made up of being entertained/intimidated/ astounded that I'm getting used to "the industry." My critique with the Fairwood group went well, though it left me with a certain unease. Empire's Daughters is different than the other stuff I've workshopped; I know I've set a challenge for myself. Now, I'm wondering if I should start with these books I've been planning on starting with. I imagine they would be marketed as standard fantasy, but they're really dark and brutal. The first one's fine, but I will probably make readers hate me in books 2 and 3. Not that I think I can't get away with that, but I think I might need a reputation first. I either want to write a bunch of completely standalone novels in The Big World, or a dark urban fantasy like Kiernan or Melville.
Anyway, the problems I have are the same old problems I'm aware of. I figure, if I get enough of the same old advice on how to fix these problems (mainly my deep pov and infodumping problems I always rattle on about) I'll fix them. Plenty of old issues have evidently vanished. :-)

I got to bring kehrli. It was so awesome getting to share this stuff. And we both went on about the joys of gossiping in a bookstore afterwards about the writers we saw/met/jostled. Keffy was buying two books by Tony Ballantyne, an adorable and very British guy. He and Keffy got in each others' way in the dealers room. We told the story to the cashier at Barnes and Noble and she was all "wow..." even though she's probably never heard of the guy. But maybe she'll go buy his book and tell her friends, "I totally met this person who bumped into this guy." Because humanity is silly like that, and I love them for it.

Hung out a bit/got drunk with people who are hoping to hold ValhallaCon (Where dead VikingCons go when they die.) in August of next year, with Freeman Dyson as a guest. Hopefully I'll get to help out with that. The idea of a con in Bham makes me happy.

Congratulations to murvosh on selling your first story :-) And Caitlin Kittridge, who I didn't actually realize was from Writers Weekend, despite hearing her name many times, until Sän said she'd been in his crit group.

To finish off, I'll leave you with Keffy's post from last night:
http://kehrli.livejournal.com/425147.html

Comments

So That's Where You Guys Were!

[patlandness.livejournal.com]

I was at The Black Drop on Friday--yep, it's probably a con they're at. BTW, Valhallacon sounds neat!

[mareklamo.livejournal.com]

Hey - it was nice talking to you at the ValhallaCon party! I have asked jkling to send you an invite for the B'ham SF group's mailing list. We meet 1st and 3rd Thursdays, usually at the Beaver.

P.S. Freeman has agreed to be a guest (assuming no scheduling conflicts, since there is not yet a fixed date for the con), but I don't think he's guest of honor.

[criada.livejournal.com]

It was great meeting you, too. :-) I'll make sure to stop by the SF group sometime.