#IWSG: Starting the Con Circuit

My one novel out there in the world is a superhero novel, which might be science fiction or might be fantasy depending on who is shelving the books, but is definitely speculative fiction.  So, this means that one of my best promotional strategies is the con. Not a Leverage sort of Con, but con, as in, short for convention. A gathering of geeky folk.

I'm not new to cons. I've been attending on the consumer side for a few years now, pretty such since marrying my husband raised my XP and leveled me up. But this will be my first year appearing on the other side of the table/podium/etc. I'm really excited about that, and also nervous as heck.

So, I've been dipping my toes in the water. I got an author table at a local book festival. I've agreed to be a presenter or participant in a couple of library events this summer. And, I've started applying to be a guest at cons.

In light of that, I went to ConCarolinas on a day pass this past Saturday (here's my article on GeekDad about it). Much as I learned to read like a writer, now I'm learning to "con" like a writer. I walked around the con, looking at the tables that attracted consumers (and didn't) and figuring out what they had, so I could learn to have that, too.

I wish it was as easy as just buying the same paraphernalia they had: book racks, standing posters, displays, swag, etc. But I can tell it's something more ephemeral than that, something about being approachable and attractive without being pushy.  Dang. It's another "you know it when you see it" thing, isn't it? Like pornography and bad marketing on Twitter?

How about you IWSGers? Any advice for a neophyte book peddler heading for the world of cons?
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This posting is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. To check out other posts by writers in a variety of places in their careers, check out the participant list. This group is one of the most open and supportive groups of people I have ever been associated with. You should check them out!