Sunday, November 4, 2012

Remembering World Fantasy Con

This weekend I've been seriously lamenting the fact that I was not in Toronto at the 2012 World Fantasy Convention. Last year I went to WFC in San Diego, and it was amazing. Life changing even. For a few different reasons, which I'll share.

It was the first time I've done something really crazy like fly across the country (I'm in Florida, so literally coast to coast) all by myself to go to an event I'd never attended before with people I'd never met. Not a single soul. Luckily, fellow blogger Liz Briggs told me her and her husband were going, and we made plans to meet up. But they weren't driving in until the first day of the con, which meant I had a whole evening and morning to try and make friends. Kind of terrifying since I'm not the bravest of people in situations like this. But I did meet people, and they were great, and it was awesome, and I survived, and I grew as a person. My wanderlust increased exponentially, and I wanted to go on more adventures to meet more awesome writer people.

The second thing that changed me was Neil Gaiman. Cliche, sure. True, yes. I've told this tale before, but when I went to WFC last year, I had just started reading Neil's stuff, so I felt like a very inadequate and undeserving fan. But I gawked and swooned at his awesomeness nonetheless. In my defense, it really can't be helped. And during one of his many talks over the weekend, he said something along the lines of "I love WFC because when I'm here, I'm with my people. You are my people." And I realized, YES! I'm with my fellow fantasy writers at the premier fantasy literary con in the world. And I want to do this forever. And I want to do other cons. And I want to try to be even a fraction as rad and badass as Neil, traveling the world and doing cool writerly stuff. I've always known I wanted to be a writer, and that I would write until I am old and can't write anymore. But I'd never really been immersed in the vision of how exactly that could unfold, and all the awesome adventures I could have. Neil showed me that.

The third thing was my novel Everdream. The inspiration for it hit a week or so after I got back home from WFC, while I was still swimming in the inspiration high of meeting so many amazing writers, both published and aspiring. I wanted a brilliant idea, something very different from anything anyone had written. And walking out to feed my horses one night, under a bright splash of stars, it hit me hard. And my writerly brain started cranking out the details, and the plot and the characters, and a few months later it was written. Being with other writers feeds our souls, and helps us stretch to new levels. I know I have WFC to thank for that novel.

So, while I'm uber jealous of everyone that got to go to WFC 2012, I'm super grateful for what I learned last year. I'll be hopping around to hear about all the amazing panels and readings and meetings and awesomeness. And since I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna make it to WFC 2013 in Brighton, England (unless I win the lottery), I'll probably have to aim for WFC 2014 in Washington, D.C. I should be able to swing that.

What are your fave cons? Any world changing experiences you'd like to share? I hope everybody has an amazing week!

18 comments:

  1. It made a huge impact on you. Even if you didn't get to go this year, last year was the one that mattered. And sadly I've never been to a con, although there are many science fiction ones in the area.

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  2. Sounds like it was a blast and it stayed with you, so it's okay that you missed it this year. I'll have to see if I can make the one in Brighton next year though.

    Jamie

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  3. Wow, that does sound like a life-changing experience! I'd love to find a conference like that--I've got some researching to do!

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  4. I'm super-impressed that you could go all that way on your own! I've wanted to move to Manhattan, or travel to Chicago, or do a million things that, due to many circumstances, I would've had to do on my own. And I never did them. Heck, I have trouble even going to the movies on my own! I finally did manage to go to a literary and agents convention, with a writers group friend who I didn't really know very well, and wow! what a difference that made with my writing career!

    So---kudos to both of us!!! :-)

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  5. That's awesome! I'd love to go to one of those huge cons. I go to Gen Con in Indianapolis every year. Attending the Writers' Symposium there, I gained the confidence to start putting my books out there and query. At another convention, I met George R.R. Martin and had him sign a few books. I lost my voice. I couldn't talk! If I were faced with Neil Gaiman, I think I might faint!

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  6. Never been to a Con, but I did get to attend Star Wars Celebration in Orlando this year:-) Great fun and so inspiring! Hope you get to attend the next one!

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  7. I have never been to a Con, would love to attend one in the future. Any agent bites on Everdream?

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  8. I LOVE that you went to WFC by yourself. What a bold/brave/kick-ass thing to do! Totally jealous. And I'm such a Neil-ophile. He is someone I just adore in every way.
    Man Brighton would be awesome but uber expensive, but hey I'd love to plan for DC in 2014! I could meet you there. I'm gonna start saving up now. ;)

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  9. So many of my close writer friends went last year ...AND this year. (last year's was better, according to them, if that makes you feel any better.) Next year it's in Bristol, UK. I *think* I *might* go. I mean what a perfect setting for WFC, amiright?!
    I love this post. :) I love that you punched fear in the face and went alone. It's exciting that WFC changed you and inspired you so deeply.
    Also, I'm jelly you have horses. I long to have a small farm, organic free-range chickens, some goats and sheep...and horses. But husband is not on board with it. "Too much work". (he knows it'd be him cleaning the poop. ;)
    Hugs,
    Lola

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    1. Hi Lola. When are we going to finally meet? See my comment below for multiple choice answers.

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  10. I'm going to try and save up for the Brighton one, since who knows when it'll be on my shores again. :)

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  11. I think it is just wonderful one event made such a difference to your life.

    Did you say England? I could go! If I win the lottery I will buy you an airplane ticket ;)

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  12. Sounds like you had an amazing time - such great memories. And you must be brave to fly across the country and go to a huge event alone!

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  13. I'm so sad that I missed Toronto, too. Seeing friends photos on Facebook makes it worse. But, that said, I will be making it to more Cons eventually. It was awesome to meet all the amazing people I met last year (like you!) and I can't wait to have another experience like that. Here are some Cons I'm thinking of trying to make it to next year:

    WisCon 2013 - May 24-27 - Madison
    ALA Annual 2013 - June 27 - Jul 2 - Chicago
    WorldCon 2013 - Aug 29 - Sep 2 - San Antonio

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    1. I'll be in touch, Matt. Gonna try to go to WFC next year, though I see that isn't on your list. (and you likely still don't have your passport, yeah? Get on that.)

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    2. Yeah, the one in the UK? No way I can afford that airfare.

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  14. It's so true that going to a conference can be life-changing. I went to the SCBW&I summer conference a couple of summers ago, and listening to presentations of authors I admire and attending their workshops and meeting other writers on their way was truly inspirational. Like you, I'm not particularly extroverted in a crowd, but I did make some new writer friends that I'm still in touch with. I think it's great that you also got an inspiration for your book following your conference. That's wonderful.

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  15. Love the inspiration for your novel, and I'm proud of you for taking the leap and attending the conference last year. I went to my first conference last year, too, and I was amazed at how quickly I met and became friends with other writers. We writerly types usually fit together nicely!

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