This post is now nearly two weeks after the fact, but I’ve had time to reflect on World Fantasy 2011, and have a few thoughts.  After attending World Con in Reno (Renovation), this was a welcome respite from the chaos of that convention.  World Fantasy is a much smaller con, but in my opinion, offers a much greater opportunity for networking and relationship building if you’re really trying to get published in science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Last year I attended World Fantasy for the first time–and I went alone.  For many people I’m sure that would be intimidating, what with not knowing anyone in the industry and so forth.  Luckily, I tend to not have any issues meeting people, or striking up a conversation.  I’m also somewhat immune to fanboy moments, but I’m sure I could succumb under the right circumstances. That first World Fantasy for me was excellent, as I was able to make new friends that carried forward to World Con this past August, and then into World Fantasy 2011 in San Diego.

I went to far fewer panels at this con than I did at the other ones I attended. Why? Well, it’s because I was too busy talking to other writers, editors, publishers, and literary agents.  Once you become friends with a  few people, amazing things begin to happen. Such as what?

For one, many professional writers in the scifi/fantasy genre are helpful and want to help others succeed.  I received invaluable advice from, and developed friendships with many, many people in the publishing industry.  I’d name names, but honestly, there are so many!  If you can make it to one convention, I’d say go for World Fantasy.  I met YA writers, sic-fi writers, etc., etc.  Not only do you meet writers, but professional artists, editors, publishers, copy editors, agents, it’s unbelievable.

An example of what can happen at the con:  I was invited to a fairly exclusive Subterranean Press breakfast by Bill Schafer. Why? Because my friend Griffin and I for some reason entertain him.  Who was at this breakfast? It’s quite a list:  well, Bill Schafer and some of his staff from Sub Press, and:  Robert Silverberg, James Blaylock, Brent Weeks, Steven Erikson, Ian Esslemont, Gordon van Gelder, Peter V. Brett, and then you had me and my friend Griffin Barber.  But what a fantastic opportunity that was to meet these guys and have all sorts of cool conversations.

Another example of con goodness:  I’m standing in a walkway outside of one of the parties (I believe it was the SFWA party) and probably the only literary agent I’d want to have represent me (Joshua Bilmes) walks up and starts a conversation with me.  We chit-chat for a few minutes and for some reason I mention a client of his that I’m friends with (Tim Akers) and he suddenly offers me a Sun Drop.  I have no idea why or even what that is, but I say yes, thinking it’s some sort of drink. Joshua says, ‘ok, I’ll go get some cups’, disappears and comes back and pours us both a bit of Sun Drop (it’s a soft drink).  The reason he offered me this is because Tim Akers has told him about it and Joshua wanted to try it.  We continue chatting and he asks what I do and so forth and then offers me his business card and later tells me to query him when I have something ready. Now that is pretty awesome.  Joshua doesn’t read things sent over the transom these days, he solicits people specifically.  So, just by being laid back and cool and treating him like a normal human being, he obviously thought I’d be someone he could work with someday.  So, now I’m finishing up some edits on one of the novels I’ve completed and I’ll query Joshua.

I could go on and on, but I’ll mention a few more items:  I met writers who are local to Denver and I may be invited into an invitation only writers group that has some published authors in its ranks.  I again ran into Rae Carson who encouraged me to re-join the online writers workshop and promised she’d point me in the right direction regarding critiques.

A very important note about the convention:  almost all of the above great things happened at the after hours parties.

World Fantasy was outstanding because I got to hang out and have a great time with the friends I’ve made over the past year in the writing community.  And one final note:  Mark Van Name is one of the most helpful and friendly writers I’ve ever met at a convention.  He has provided advice and has offered to help me in ways most professionals wouldn’t have the time for.

At DIA waiting to board-it’s going to be a crowded flight, but at least it will be a short flight.

Me at the gate, looking for trouble.

Looking forward to seeing friends at WFC!

Blogging is one of those activities I enjoy, but I happen to enjoy writing fiction much more, and as a result I don’t post often. In fact, when I looked at my last entry, it was just after World Fantasy 2010–that’s pretty sad, but I’ve gone through many changes over the past year so I don’t feel too bad about skipping the blog.

In January we moved to Colorado, specifically, Evergreen–a small town up in the Rocky Mountains. Our home is at around 8000 feet, and needless to say, it took a while to get acclimated. P90X at this altitude was pretty crazy, but I’ve since conquered that. The move to Colorado was day job related, but I have to say, my writing environment has never been better.

Speaking of writing, I’ve written more short stories in the past nine months than in the 2.5 years I spent in the D.C. area. Some of that is the lovely environment I’m in now, and some is the work situation–I was miserable at my last assignment, and now I’m happy at the day job.

Speaking of the day job, well, I’ve already traveled more for work in the past nine months than in the 2.5 years I spent in the D.C. area. I’ve been to some really cool places such as Alaska and Seattle, and of course I had to go back to D.C. (which I’d normally enjoy, but was under some major time constraints and couldn’t visit all the people on my list).

I’ve also traveled a little for my second job: writing. In June, I spent ten days on the Oregon Coast attending a Short Story Workshop taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch with special appearances by Dean Wesley Smith. I highly recommend attending that workshop. Kris pushed me so hard that week, but I’ve never had more fun writing. The other writers I met at the workshop were incredible and I’m honored to have met them.

In August, I attended the World Science Fiction Convention held in Reno, NV. I met many wonderful people there as well as running into people I became acquainted with at World Fantasy last year, and I’m now able to name them friends. The relationship building at the conventions is the big draw for me, but many of the panels were informative. I roomed with Griffin Barber during the convention and had a blast–he’s a great wingman and always entertaining (he’s also a darn good writer, check out his blog it’s great and he updates it quite often). I also had the great privilege of having multiple meals with Griffin and Mark L. Van Name (author of multiple novels and all-around great guy), as well as catch a movie (the Fright Night remake which was pretty decent really).

Also at World Con I had a short story critiqued by Jay Lake and Eytan Kollin. The critique went well and Jay said he could see that particular story published in Realms of Fantasy if I tightened it up a bit–very awesome. And speaking of Jay Lake, I attended the Hugo Awards (with Mark Van Name) which Jay emceed with Ken Scholes – the ceremony was very entertaining.

Griffin and I also met with author Chuck Gannon at what they call a kaffeeklatsch. We discussed what Chuck was currently working on as well as Eric Flint’s 1632 universe. Chuck was able to provide some guidance regarding stories Griffin and I are working on independently for the Grantville Gazette.

And one last note regarding World Con:  I may have stumbled upon a writing opportunity there that I’ll be discussing at World Fantasy this year in San Diego–very exciting.

I’ll probably attend MileHiCon this year now that I work in Denver and live close enough to Denver to make it worthwhile.

Well, that’s quite a bit for one post–hopefully I make posting to the blog more a regular thing!

So to recap the first post, World Fantasy 2010: The Aftermath , WFC is awesome. But there is more…

Sure you get to meet and rub elbows with legends of the fantasy and science fiction field, but the friends and contacts you make at WFC are priceless–especially the friends.

The hotel bar was where most of this happened, but also in the dealers room, the panels, and the various publisher parties that took place on the “party floor” of the hotel. I made new friends in every corner of the convention and some just by luck.

The best times I had at WFC were hanging out with a group of guys and dolls and going from the hotel bar to “the party floor” and back down to the hotel bar. We cracked jokes, engaged in what I’m sure was brilliant conversation, drank, and laughed. A few others drifted in and out of the group all night long and some kept coming back for more punishment, or out of morbid curiosity as to what would happen or be said next. I won’t name any names here, but I think everyone involved knows who they are and the good times we had at World Fantasy Convention.

I had always heard that the WFC crowd could party, but they certainly proved it to me. But you know what? It was never obnoxious, or to the point where it disgusted you. For a group of people who had been drinking–a lot, we were pretty well behaved.

Sunday morning at WFC felt rushed for me, but that was because I had to leave early before the banquet and before the awards ceremony. Next year I hope to stay the entire time.

The last part of WFC remained with me through today, and that is the inevitable convention crud. Oh, and lack of sleep and trying to catch back up on that. Anyway, a great convention that I highly recommend for writers, fans, or anyone with an interest in writing, publishing, fantasy or science fiction. The price of admission is cheap compared to what you will bring away from it. The biggest piece of advice I can give regarding WFC is to not be shy, try to mingle and get outside your comfort zone just a little.

Yes, I’ve been writing and editing a few short stories again. I’ve been trying to piece together the novel and get it to a point where I think I can pitch it to agents and editors at World Fantasy this year, but I needed a break. And what do I do when I need a break? I write and edit short stories.

I was very happy to receive an Honorable Mention for the 2nd quarter of the Writers of the Future contest. Honorable Mention may not seem like much, but considering the amount of entries they receive, it’s affirmation that I’m heading in the right direction. I think the story I submitted for the 3rd quarter is stronger, and I’ll be surprised if I don’t get at least Honorable Mention for that one. Then again, it’s hard to judge your own work. I mean, without actually getting professional feedback in the form of red marks or comments on your manuscript, the only way to learn is to read and write. And keep repeating the process.

So, the story I received an Honorable Mention got revised and submitted to Asimov’s. I probably won’t revise the story anymore, but keep submitting to other magazines, that is, unless I get feedback of some sort. I also submitted a different story to Fantasy & Science Fiction. And tonight I finished revising another short story. It’s science fiction, but more Bradbury like. Now, I’m not saying I write like Bradbury–no one does. It’s reminiscent of Bradbury.

I have a couple of other short stories that are ready for revision, but I think I need to get back to revising the novel–World Fantasy is right around the corner!