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mmerriamOver at the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
lobo_luna community, I've completed a question and answer session. I thought I'd post the questions and answers here as well.
On the business end of things, I am always interested in what it is like to go to conventions and give public readings. Can you talk about your experiences with both, how you wind up going, what your goals are at the events, how it feels, what you take back with you/learn...that kind of stuff.
The caveat: I didn't start going to conventions--did not really discover SF/F/H fandom (oh, I knew it was out there, but it was something I was not a part of)--until I moved to Minnesota in 1999. What that means on some level is that I don't have the kind of deep attachment to events like Minicon or CONvergence that most of the local Minneapolis – St. Paul fandom feels. Now, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the hell out of conventions, local or otherwise, and it doesn't mean that I won't develop that kind of personal attachment someday soon. In fact, I look forward to convetion season more and more every year.
I go to each for different reasons, and those reasons are ever changing.
When I first started attending Minicon, there was the desire to connect with local fans of SF/F/H, and there was also the desire to listen to all the local authors (of which there are many in the Twin Cities) talk about revision, publishing, rejection, submitting, and anything connected to being a working writer. These days, I go to Minicon mostly to see people I'm friends with. Having become a published writer and being a fan of SF/F/H fiction, comics, movies and such, I sit on a few panels at Minicon, usually one or two a convention. Besides panels, I've done a few public readings at Minicon, though I've had notorious bad luck with my time slots. My first year I was placed in the same time as the wildly popular "Ask Dr. Mike." One year I was slotted opposite the Guest of Honor interview. I was opposite the memorial panel of a beloved local author and fan another time.
But here's the thing: I always read. Even if it's my wife and two friends, I at least read something short before we call it good and move on. Understand, if you are a relative unknown and you get four to six people to attended you reading at a convention, you've done well. I've been to readings by well-know local writers, and even they don't pull much more than a dozen or so folks. I suppose I should count myself fortunate in that I've always had at least one person show up for my readings. I do a little networking, do a promotion of myself and work, but Minicon is mostly about spending time with other local fans who are my friends.
CONvergence is the other local convention I attended every year. CONvergence is large and wild and noisy. CONvergence (which is a media focused convention) doesn't draw as many of the local "A" list writers as Minicon (which is more of a literary convention), so at CONvergence I end up being on more programming events, sometimes as many as eight during the convention. At Convergence, I've always managed to draw a good crowd at my readings (though this might be because I have more close personal friends at this convention) averaging a dozen people up on the 22nd floor literary lounge. I held the release of Shimmers & Shadows at CONvergence last year and drew almost 20 people and sold several copies of the book. At Convergence, I go more as a "working writer," sitting on more panels, giving readings both myself and with the MinnSpec group. I find myself doing more "out-of-panel" talking about writing and writing related things in the hallways and at the Krushenko's lounge.
I have also done several conventions on a once or twice basis, such as 4th Street Fantasy, where I went to listen to big name authors talk about writing and writing related subjects, Wiscon, where I meant to mostly watch and found myself doing more pro-stuff than I had expected, Icon and Odyssey Con, which I attended early in my convention attending and mostly went to panels and readings, and World Fantasy Convention, where I personally had nothing as a writer to do (as I am way too small-fry), but met a ton of cool and friendly people, most of whom work in the SF/F/H industry.
So I guess I attend conventions for different reasons. Sometimes I go to be around like-minded people and to hang out, sometimes I go primarily as a working writer.
Now, about readings. They are always nerve-wrecking for me. I just know everyone is going to hate my stories. I'm going to be too nervous to read clearly. I might spit on someone. I might pass out...
But once I start, I'm usually okay. I'm still trying to improve. I read too fast, sometimes. I need to make more eye-contact. I need to learn to modulate my voice to make it easier for the audience to distinguish different characters. I'm working on all of these things. On my reading manuscripts, I write little notes to myself (Look up. Pause. Breath. Slow down). I attended a reading workshop![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yuki_onna did at Wiscon, a storytelling workshop with a professional storyteller last year, and am taking a voice acting class this year. I suggest attending readings by authors and studying what you think works and what doesn't. Take a class on public speaking or acting.
The important thing to remember is: the audience wants to enjoy your stories. They’ve come there to be entertained. It's okay to be nervous, but learn to hide it until you've become comfortable reading to an audience. Read clearly. Choose you material carefully. Make them cry and then make them laugh and then send them home wanting more of what you write.
lobo_luna community, I've completed a question and answer session. I thought I'd post the questions and answers here as well.On the business end of things, I am always interested in what it is like to go to conventions and give public readings. Can you talk about your experiences with both, how you wind up going, what your goals are at the events, how it feels, what you take back with you/learn...that kind of stuff.
The caveat: I didn't start going to conventions--did not really discover SF/F/H fandom (oh, I knew it was out there, but it was something I was not a part of)--until I moved to Minnesota in 1999. What that means on some level is that I don't have the kind of deep attachment to events like Minicon or CONvergence that most of the local Minneapolis – St. Paul fandom feels. Now, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the hell out of conventions, local or otherwise, and it doesn't mean that I won't develop that kind of personal attachment someday soon. In fact, I look forward to convetion season more and more every year.
I go to each for different reasons, and those reasons are ever changing.
When I first started attending Minicon, there was the desire to connect with local fans of SF/F/H, and there was also the desire to listen to all the local authors (of which there are many in the Twin Cities) talk about revision, publishing, rejection, submitting, and anything connected to being a working writer. These days, I go to Minicon mostly to see people I'm friends with. Having become a published writer and being a fan of SF/F/H fiction, comics, movies and such, I sit on a few panels at Minicon, usually one or two a convention. Besides panels, I've done a few public readings at Minicon, though I've had notorious bad luck with my time slots. My first year I was placed in the same time as the wildly popular "Ask Dr. Mike." One year I was slotted opposite the Guest of Honor interview. I was opposite the memorial panel of a beloved local author and fan another time.
But here's the thing: I always read. Even if it's my wife and two friends, I at least read something short before we call it good and move on. Understand, if you are a relative unknown and you get four to six people to attended you reading at a convention, you've done well. I've been to readings by well-know local writers, and even they don't pull much more than a dozen or so folks. I suppose I should count myself fortunate in that I've always had at least one person show up for my readings. I do a little networking, do a promotion of myself and work, but Minicon is mostly about spending time with other local fans who are my friends.
CONvergence is the other local convention I attended every year. CONvergence is large and wild and noisy. CONvergence (which is a media focused convention) doesn't draw as many of the local "A" list writers as Minicon (which is more of a literary convention), so at CONvergence I end up being on more programming events, sometimes as many as eight during the convention. At Convergence, I've always managed to draw a good crowd at my readings (though this might be because I have more close personal friends at this convention) averaging a dozen people up on the 22nd floor literary lounge. I held the release of Shimmers & Shadows at CONvergence last year and drew almost 20 people and sold several copies of the book. At Convergence, I go more as a "working writer," sitting on more panels, giving readings both myself and with the MinnSpec group. I find myself doing more "out-of-panel" talking about writing and writing related things in the hallways and at the Krushenko's lounge.
I have also done several conventions on a once or twice basis, such as 4th Street Fantasy, where I went to listen to big name authors talk about writing and writing related subjects, Wiscon, where I meant to mostly watch and found myself doing more pro-stuff than I had expected, Icon and Odyssey Con, which I attended early in my convention attending and mostly went to panels and readings, and World Fantasy Convention, where I personally had nothing as a writer to do (as I am way too small-fry), but met a ton of cool and friendly people, most of whom work in the SF/F/H industry.
So I guess I attend conventions for different reasons. Sometimes I go to be around like-minded people and to hang out, sometimes I go primarily as a working writer.
Now, about readings. They are always nerve-wrecking for me. I just know everyone is going to hate my stories. I'm going to be too nervous to read clearly. I might spit on someone. I might pass out...
But once I start, I'm usually okay. I'm still trying to improve. I read too fast, sometimes. I need to make more eye-contact. I need to learn to modulate my voice to make it easier for the audience to distinguish different characters. I'm working on all of these things. On my reading manuscripts, I write little notes to myself (Look up. Pause. Breath. Slow down). I attended a reading workshop
yuki_onna did at Wiscon, a storytelling workshop with a professional storyteller last year, and am taking a voice acting class this year. I suggest attending readings by authors and studying what you think works and what doesn't. Take a class on public speaking or acting. The important thing to remember is: the audience wants to enjoy your stories. They’ve come there to be entertained. It's okay to be nervous, but learn to hide it until you've become comfortable reading to an audience. Read clearly. Choose you material carefully. Make them cry and then make them laugh and then send them home wanting more of what you write.
