FenCon Day 2:
By the second day, I mustered enough courage? stamina? to attend some actual panels. They were entertaining, instructional and enlightening. After dinner, I began to wish I could have a do-over as I suddenly realized how much I was missing by allowing myself to be overwhelmed the day before... *sigh*
The first panel I attended, impressed upon me the importance of word choice--- specifically in the realm of context. One of the panelists used as an example, a mistake she herself had made. The lines of discussion previously had been about ensuring that you were using the correct word. She wanted to point out that you could use a word, that in terms of definition would make sense, but, which might have a more accepted definition that would take the word out of context. Her beta readers were quick to point out the mistake she had made. In a love scene, she described the man caressing his lover's "spare breasts"--- the author, had of course, meant to illustrate the breasts' lean, thin quality... and not that the woman had an extra pair of breasts in her back pocket for times such as these.... I will never forget the lesson I learned that day!
Second panel I attended discussed Horror and whether or not the horror story was on its way out... or, if sexy had replaced horror--- (ie Twilight causing Dracula to spin in his undead grave). What struck me as odd--- though I didn't think about it at first--- was the panel consisted of 4 men and 1 woman and the audience was about 95% female--- Sooo, men write the horror and woman read it?? Just an interesting observation---- What I loved about this panel was the ultimate consensus by the time we left... that creatures in horror stories might be horrible one day and sexy the next... but, the worst creature, that can never be anything but horrible, is the creature sitting next to you on the bus or standing in front of you in line at the bank. I have always been more terrified by stories where the monster is human than any other gruesome creature my darkest imagination could conjure.
Last panel for Day 2 was a random novel reading--- This was sheer joy and I wish I had had the foresight to record this session. I had my digital recorder, but I couldn't stop laughing long enough to put a sentient thought together. The premise of the panel was exactly what the title suggested. Five panelists took it in turn to read from about 20 different novels that were thrown on the table in front of them. Once one reader came to an interesting part, they passed the reading on to the next panelist. Most of the novels were probably fine on their own, but... mash them all together and suddenly the sexual innuendos exploded through the room. When a panelist read from what was supposed to have been a children's Star Wars story after a particularly innuendo-filled few minutes, the room exploded and the panelists nearly fell from their chairs---- Quote: "Young Anakin then watched his Master rise." The reader halted immediately and exclaimed: "But, this is a children's book!" Oh, Innuendo... how do you do those things you do.....
FenCon Day 3:
Didn't do much this day except wander the dealer's room, drooling over everything that I couldn't afford to buy. Could have made a lovely wardrobe from the Doctor Who t-shirts alone!
I did, however, snap a couple of pictures of a nifty, homemade Dalek that adorned the stage in the main ballroom for the length of the event. Seemed that getting close enough to touch one without being exterminated did much to improve my lamenting soul, as I knew the convention was coming to a close--- just when I was figuring out how everything worked *sigh*
Oh, how I didn't want it to end.... 3 days is definitely not enough--- especially for someone like me, who can't seem to jump in with both feet from the start! I promise the next time I attend one, I will do more to participate.
NYC Midnight:
Somehow, before the end of the convention, I had managed to get a very rough first draft of my NYC short story thrown together. Titled, Such Stuff As Dreams, it centers around a doctor in the near-future who has perfected the human/machine interface... and the problems that arise from it.
An interesting story.... I even managed to include my assigned object: A loaf of bread... but, I can guarantee that nobody ate any bread---- no one would want to eat my bread---- *grin*
The 5 1/2 hour car ride home left me plenty of time to scratch out a 2nd draft, though I managed to keep myself car-sick the entire ride home as a result... ugh
Got home around 8:30p, which gave me a little time for some final tweaks before submission. With about an hour to spare, I kissed my little story and sent him off to play with the other stories in the NYC universe.Once they send out the confirmation emails in the next day or two, I'll post the story for anyone who's brave enough to read a flash fiction piece written in 45 hours. Just don't say I didn't warn you....
By the second day, I mustered enough courage? stamina? to attend some actual panels. They were entertaining, instructional and enlightening. After dinner, I began to wish I could have a do-over as I suddenly realized how much I was missing by allowing myself to be overwhelmed the day before... *sigh*
The first panel I attended, impressed upon me the importance of word choice--- specifically in the realm of context. One of the panelists used as an example, a mistake she herself had made. The lines of discussion previously had been about ensuring that you were using the correct word. She wanted to point out that you could use a word, that in terms of definition would make sense, but, which might have a more accepted definition that would take the word out of context. Her beta readers were quick to point out the mistake she had made. In a love scene, she described the man caressing his lover's "spare breasts"--- the author, had of course, meant to illustrate the breasts' lean, thin quality... and not that the woman had an extra pair of breasts in her back pocket for times such as these.... I will never forget the lesson I learned that day!
Second panel I attended discussed Horror and whether or not the horror story was on its way out... or, if sexy had replaced horror--- (ie Twilight causing Dracula to spin in his undead grave). What struck me as odd--- though I didn't think about it at first--- was the panel consisted of 4 men and 1 woman and the audience was about 95% female--- Sooo, men write the horror and woman read it?? Just an interesting observation---- What I loved about this panel was the ultimate consensus by the time we left... that creatures in horror stories might be horrible one day and sexy the next... but, the worst creature, that can never be anything but horrible, is the creature sitting next to you on the bus or standing in front of you in line at the bank. I have always been more terrified by stories where the monster is human than any other gruesome creature my darkest imagination could conjure.
Last panel for Day 2 was a random novel reading--- This was sheer joy and I wish I had had the foresight to record this session. I had my digital recorder, but I couldn't stop laughing long enough to put a sentient thought together. The premise of the panel was exactly what the title suggested. Five panelists took it in turn to read from about 20 different novels that were thrown on the table in front of them. Once one reader came to an interesting part, they passed the reading on to the next panelist. Most of the novels were probably fine on their own, but... mash them all together and suddenly the sexual innuendos exploded through the room. When a panelist read from what was supposed to have been a children's Star Wars story after a particularly innuendo-filled few minutes, the room exploded and the panelists nearly fell from their chairs---- Quote: "Young Anakin then watched his Master rise." The reader halted immediately and exclaimed: "But, this is a children's book!" Oh, Innuendo... how do you do those things you do.....
FenCon Day 3:
Didn't do much this day except wander the dealer's room, drooling over everything that I couldn't afford to buy. Could have made a lovely wardrobe from the Doctor Who t-shirts alone!
I did, however, snap a couple of pictures of a nifty, homemade Dalek that adorned the stage in the main ballroom for the length of the event. Seemed that getting close enough to touch one without being exterminated did much to improve my lamenting soul, as I knew the convention was coming to a close--- just when I was figuring out how everything worked *sigh*
Oh, how I didn't want it to end.... 3 days is definitely not enough--- especially for someone like me, who can't seem to jump in with both feet from the start! I promise the next time I attend one, I will do more to participate.
NYC Midnight:
Somehow, before the end of the convention, I had managed to get a very rough first draft of my NYC short story thrown together. Titled, Such Stuff As Dreams, it centers around a doctor in the near-future who has perfected the human/machine interface... and the problems that arise from it.
An interesting story.... I even managed to include my assigned object: A loaf of bread... but, I can guarantee that nobody ate any bread---- no one would want to eat my bread---- *grin*
The 5 1/2 hour car ride home left me plenty of time to scratch out a 2nd draft, though I managed to keep myself car-sick the entire ride home as a result... ugh
Got home around 8:30p, which gave me a little time for some final tweaks before submission. With about an hour to spare, I kissed my little story and sent him off to play with the other stories in the NYC universe.Once they send out the confirmation emails in the next day or two, I'll post the story for anyone who's brave enough to read a flash fiction piece written in 45 hours. Just don't say I didn't warn you....
Cons can be overwhelming at first, can't they? But they are so much fun when you just jump in with both feet!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteAlso sounds like you're ready for DragonCon. Talk about panels...