01-31-2010, 09:03 PM | #1 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,222
Karma: 769316
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eternal summer
Device: 350, iPad, PW
|
Writing Conferences?
I just signed up for the Superstars of Writing seminar in Pasadena, CA in March.
I've been tossing the idea back and forth in my head for the past three weeks now. I finally bit the bullet and paid the tuition. I figure this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. The speakers this year are Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn, Wheel of Time), Kevin J Anderson, (Dune, Terra Incognito) Eric Flint (1632,etc), David Farland (Of Mice and Magic), and Rebecca Moestra (Star Wars: YJK) I don't know if it'll be life changing or benefit my writing in any way..but ya never know. Plus, I've never been off the East Coast, so it'll be different Anyone ever take one of these? |
01-31-2010, 10:32 PM | #2 |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
I think you know my opinion on these kinds of things; I believe they're massive con jobs that prey on the natural fear of up-and-coming writers. But saying that, if you're drunk enough, you might have a lot of fun
|
Advert | |
|
02-01-2010, 07:35 PM | #3 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,222
Karma: 769316
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eternal summer
Device: 350, iPad, PW
|
especially during the saturday dinner with them =)
|
02-01-2010, 07:49 PM | #4 |
Indie Author
Posts: 15
Karma: 100000
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Boston
Device: Kindle
|
One nice thing about something like that is you're around all things writing-related and so your creativity gets really fired up.
The speakers sound great. |
02-02-2010, 09:54 AM | #5 |
Kate
Posts: 1,700
Karma: 3605799
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon, United States
Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour
|
It seems to me you could meet the same people at a SF convention, have a lot more fun for a lot less money.
I've always found the writers at cons to very approachable - you could get a one-on-one discussion about writing with pretty much anyone of them if you wanted. Invite 'em to lunch - that almost always works! Lots of good cons on the East Coast- Boskone is less than two weeks away, for example. http://www.nesfa.org/boskone/ Wow! I just looked up the writing conference you're attending - you could go to 10 cons for that price and have money left over for a really cool costume! Last edited by khalleron; 02-02-2010 at 10:00 AM. |
Advert | |
|
02-03-2010, 08:37 AM | #6 |
Author
Posts: 179
Karma: 300002
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North Carolina
Device: none
|
I remember going to my first Romance Writers of America conference. I went because I was nominated for a Golden Heart, but I was absolutely terrified because I'm socially inept I walked in the hotel and saw 2000 women and I started to hyperventilate and almost turned around.
I remember for the awards ceremony they told us "No matter what you do, don't drink before the ceremony." (high heels, stairs to the stage, alcohol=bad combination) Tess Gerritsen won an award and got up behind the podium and ended her speech with "....and guess what? I've been drinking!" Sometimes you walk away from these conferences with fun tales. |
02-03-2010, 09:55 AM | #7 |
Kate
Posts: 1,700
Karma: 3605799
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon, United States
Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour
|
Well, Maureen, find me a writer who isn't socially inept!
|
02-03-2010, 11:43 AM | #8 |
Author
Posts: 179
Karma: 300002
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North Carolina
Device: none
|
So true, Kate!
Here's me at a conference. |
02-04-2010, 03:40 PM | #9 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,222
Karma: 769316
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eternal summer
Device: 350, iPad, PW
|
I've never been to a con. I'm sure I wasted close to 1500 to go to Cali. But we'll see next month. I've been in such a rut lately personally and professionally. To get out of the house and even out of this shit state would be a blessing. At this point, I'd probably be willing to pay twice that much more for a break in scenery. =)
As I've said before, I'm going in with an open mind. While I'm sure a con would be a great place to speak to authors. But with the hustle and bustle that goes on at other conventions, I think time would be fleeting at best. I've listened to Sanderson's podcasts before and he's a pretty good speaker. That was pretty much the selling point. Since I'm not Mormon or in Utah, going to BYU would be impossible at best. So, I guess this is the closest thing I can to reliving my college years and taking more writing related classes. Don't get me wrong, I majored in Journalism/Public Relations, but this is...different. The story building class seems like it'll be a fun snowball experience. It looks like the instructor takes something and then the rest of the class builds onto it until it's a living breathing world. Quote:
I couldn't get K to agree to let me out and play by myself at a con. And she refuses to join me....so this one will be me by myself in a hotel for 3 days. No girlfriend. No cats. Bliss. |
|
02-05-2010, 12:17 PM | #10 |
Author: Clade Josso
Posts: 80
Karma: 500474
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Michigan
Device: none
|
If any of you get to do something like that with Stephen King, let me know!
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
What are you currently writing? | Dr. Drib | Writers' Corner | 948 | 09-13-2012 12:12 AM |
GOLD NUGGETS ABOUT AGENTS, EDITORS AND CONFERENCES | lmpreston | Writers' Corner | 3 | 04-28-2010 03:15 PM |
Emotions and writing | poshm | Writers' Corner | 11 | 11-19-2009 06:14 PM |
Help with writing recipe | kiklop74 | Calibre | 2 | 12-05-2008 01:54 PM |
With Pina Colada on cruising technology conferences | Alexander Turcic | Lounge | 2 | 07-16-2005 05:36 PM |