I’ve been to quite a few conventions now, so I feel I have quite a bit I can say on the subject of conventions in general.\u00a0 There’s even been a couple of conventions where I’ve been a volunteer, giving me an interesting perspective on how that particular sausage is made.<\/p>\n
Tonight I’m going to talk about some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.\u00a0 I’m going to split this into two sections.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At the beginning of a convention, you get a schedule.\u00a0 Sometimes it’s a little book, but most of the time these days it’s in an app on your phone.\u00a0 It’s usually online via the convention’s web site.<\/p>\n
If you try to do everything without giving yourself time to eat, breathe, and process, you’ll miss things that you don’t want to miss, and you won’t retain half the things you attend.<\/p>\n
Pace yourself both during the day with the panels, and in the evening with the parties.\u00a0 Be kind to yourself and to others, and don’t push beyond your limits.<\/p>\n
At the macro level, make some goals for this event you’re attending.\u00a0 Are you looking to learn something?\u00a0 Are you trying to meet an Agent?\u00a0 Are you hoping to meet some writer or artist that you admire?\u00a0 Decide on some goals in advance so you can get the most out of the convention.<\/p>\n
With your goal in mind, look at the schedule.\u00a0 I like to try and plan out my day the night before, but sometimes I’ll get up and figure out my plans over breakfast.<\/p>\n
Don’t be afraid to change your plans.\u00a0 You have to use your best judgement, but sometimes opportunities present themselves that are too rich to pass up.\u00a0 Keep your goals in mind, but also keep your eyes open for these unexpected treasures.<\/p>\n
Whether you’re there to network, improve your craft, or rub elbows with your idols, desperation has a kind of social stink to it that acts as a natural repellent.\u00a0 I’ve seen a lot of hungry writers get this predatory gleam in their eye.\u00a0 It is not endearing.\u00a0 Try to avoid it.<\/p>\n
How do you avoid this? First, take a deep breath. Then put aside your story and live in the moment.\u00a0 Focus on other things.\u00a0 And when you find yourself talking to someone that might be interested in what you have to offer, try to listen more than you speak.\u00a0 Ask questions.\u00a0 Be a partner in the conversation rather than a bad actor hogging up the spotlight.<\/p>\n
I learned this lesson the hard way.\u00a0 When Westercon came to Sacramento, I had to attend.\u00a0 From what I saw, it was a good convention!\u00a0 However, I only attended half of it.\u00a0 Since I went home every night, I had enough distance between myself and the con that I could easily talk myself out of the drive on one of the days when the schedule didn’t look stellar.<\/p>\n
Since that Westercon, I try to stay at the hotel where the convention is taking place, or as close as I can get.\u00a0 It forces me to come out of my shell and stay engaged.\u00a0 Also, it frees me up to have a drink or two at the bar are the after parties because I don’t have as far to travel.<\/p>\n
Usually there’s a bar at the hotel, and usually that’s where Barcon takes place.\u00a0 It’s the informal con within the con, and it’s a great way to talk to people in a relaxed environment.<\/p>\n
Unexpected things can happen at Barcon.\u00a0 Jim Butcher found his agent at Barcon.\u00a0 She’d turned him down before, but after meeting him in person in a relaxed environment, changed her mind and took him on.<\/p>\n
Don’t go into Barcon or con parties with this story in mind.\u00a0 It can happen, but it’s not going to happen if you go in desperate and hungry.\u00a0 Just go and relax and have a good time.\u00a0 Be a good listener.\u00a0 Make friends.<\/p>\n
That’s what conventions are really for, after all.\u00a0 We say “networking” but really that’s just a fancy word for making friends.\u00a0 The same skills apply.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is one of those lessons they teach you at conventions, which applies\u00a0both at the convention and outside in the regular world.\u00a0 Agents, editors, and publishers are looking for people that they can work with.\u00a0 They want people that can follow directions and listen to instructions.\u00a0 They also want people that can present themselves in a fashion that is suitable for doing business.<\/p>\n
You don’t have to be a stick-in-the-mud.\u00a0 You don’t have to pack your personality in a closet and hide it from the reset of the world.\u00a0 Being professional doesn’t mean turning into an automaton.<\/p>\n
Professionals respond to emails in a timely fashion.\u00a0 They’re polite.\u00a0 They’re engaging.\u00a0 They’re honest without being cruel, and they’re confident without being too cocky (most of the time).\u00a0 They dress appropriately for the event they’re attending, though this can mean a lot of things and isn’t nearly as restrictive as a regular day job.\u00a0 You can get away with weird color hair and most tattoos (probably want to avoid the face).<\/p>\n
Receiving rejection as a professional means grieving in private and not responding emotionally.\u00a0 Often it means you don’t respond at all, though you can probably get away with a simple thank you.\u00a0 Don’t go to your blog or social media and start blasting the person that rejected you.\u00a0 That is unprofessional behavior, and it will be a quick and easy sign to people that you’re not someone that they can work with.<\/p>\n
In addition to being a shitty thing to say to an artist, it’s one of those truisms that you just have to accept.\u00a0 I’ve completed two novels and a fist full of short stories, and even if I get all of it published, I’m not going to be able to quit my job.\u00a0 That’s not practical.<\/p>\n
It’s fine to dream it.\u00a0 It’s fine to aim for it.\u00a0 Just don’t be too disappointed when it doesn’t happen.\u00a0 It’s better odds than playing the lottery, but it’s still a long shot.<\/p>\n
I think this is the third night in a row where I’m going to mention perseverance.\u00a0 That’s what this is all about.\u00a0 Keep the day job, as it will act as a pillar supporting the rest of your life, enabling you to live while you write.\u00a0 If you’re too stressed over figuring out how to pay your bills, you’re too stressed to write.<\/p>\n
Agents and editors are looking for stories they can sell.\u00a0 But they’re receiving a wealth of stories from hopeful writers, and any excuse to let a story go will do.\u00a0 Sometimes the story can be great, but they still can’t use it because it’s too close to something else that’s just been published, or they don’t see a market to sell the story to.<\/p>\n
Rejection sucks.\u00a0 It stings.\u00a0 It works to confirm all those feelings of impostor syndrome.\u00a0 Every time I get a rejection, I have to fight all my doubts and fears all over again.\u00a0 It’s the hardest part of the job.<\/p>\n
But it’s normal.\u00a0 Everyone is rejected.\u00a0 Stephen King’s wife had to fish out Carrie from the garbage after he’d given up on it from rejection.\u00a0 Keep that in mind when the rejection makes you feel like giving up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I think I could go on and on about the business of writing, pros and cons of self publishing, world building, themes, editing… I’ve attended a lot of panels over the years, and I’ve taken a lot of notes.\u00a0 I think that’s too much for a Thursday night post, though.<\/p>\n
Beginners at conventions will get a lot of out panels.\u00a0 People trying to make the transition from undiscovered to published (like me) are going to get more from meeting people and making friends.\u00a0 The pros at conventions get the benefits of networking as well as opportunities to promote their books.<\/p>\n
Whatever you’re there for, have fun.\u00a0 And after you leave and you get back into the real world?\u00a0 Have some more fun.\u00a0 Writing is work, but it’s also creation and escapism and expression.\u00a0 When I’m feeling down about my writing, it helps sometimes to remind myself that this is something I enjoy.\u00a0 Something that brings me peace and quiets my anxiousness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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