The Other Side of Cons
Last week we talked about Love is Murder, a favorite fan/author gathering. That's one type of writer's conference, but there is a very different animal that uses the same name.
Yesterday I was part of the faculty of the Bay To Ocean writers conference. This was not a gathering of fans watching their favorite writers present on panels. This was a couple of hundred aspiring and emerging writers attending classes to improve their craft.
The atmosphere is just as warm and cordial at either kind of event, but whereas one set of cons is all for fun, the other, the Bay to Ocean set, puts the emphasis on learning. My role this year began with 30-minute individual meetings to critique work submitted by new writers. I am always tense before these meetings, because I have to be honest about work that is often less than professional. But new writers almost always appreciate being told exactly what they can do to make their work better. I try to be encouraging with every writer, pointing out what's good about their work before I get into the flaws and weaknesses.
After a lunch full of networking I sat before an audience with another talented author, Candice Porch, to discuss a challenging subject: bringing diversity to characters in fiction. For an interactive hour, we spoke with the audience about using minority characters, how to distinguish them from mainstream white characters and what not to do if you want to avoid being hated by the reading public.
Finally I moved to the auditorium and gave a one-hour lecture on the use of conflict and suspense. I have to admit that I prefer the direct lecture on craft, and I'm happier at the podium by myself. The audience was very welcoming and attentive - a good sign. And I saved 15 minutes at the end for my favorite part of any class, when I open the floor to questions and the audience plays "stump the author," asking anything and everything they can think of.
I can't say that I love one kind of writers Con more than the other. Both are great fun and both are necessary to a successful writing career. Because in both cases, it's about being part of a writing community.
Yesterday I was part of the faculty of the Bay To Ocean writers conference. This was not a gathering of fans watching their favorite writers present on panels. This was a couple of hundred aspiring and emerging writers attending classes to improve their craft.The atmosphere is just as warm and cordial at either kind of event, but whereas one set of cons is all for fun, the other, the Bay to Ocean set, puts the emphasis on learning. My role this year began with 30-minute individual meetings to critique work submitted by new writers. I am always tense before these meetings, because I have to be honest about work that is often less than professional. But new writers almost always appreciate being told exactly what they can do to make their work better. I try to be encouraging with every writer, pointing out what's good about their work before I get into the flaws and weaknesses.
After a lunch full of networking I sat before an audience with another talented author, Candice Porch, to discuss a challenging subject: bringing diversity to characters in fiction. For an interactive hour, we spoke with the audience about using minority characters, how to distinguish them from mainstream white characters and what not to do if you want to avoid being hated by the reading public.
Finally I moved to the auditorium and gave a one-hour lecture on the use of conflict and suspense. I have to admit that I prefer the direct lecture on craft, and I'm happier at the podium by myself. The audience was very welcoming and attentive - a good sign. And I saved 15 minutes at the end for my favorite part of any class, when I open the floor to questions and the audience plays "stump the author," asking anything and everything they can think of.
I can't say that I love one kind of writers Con more than the other. Both are great fun and both are necessary to a successful writing career. Because in both cases, it's about being part of a writing community.
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