When Words Collide 2015: The Long and Short of It

Another August is half over, which means another When Words Collide is behind me. This was my third year attending and I have to say it was great! We were at a new venue, which means I got lost looking for rooms and had to drive further, but that didn’t detract from the experience.

I took the week before off of work this year in order to mentally prepare. Last year I took the week after off, which didn’t help me whatsoever because I was mentally exhausted and, well, bitchy throughout the weekend. While I felt mentally ready to socialize and learn, I was out of whack from staying up late reading and sleeping in during the days leading up to WWC this time around. My lack of sleep has allowed me to catch something that I am barely holding at bay as I slog through the day job.

Next year I’m going to try and plan the readercon only a couple days into my vacation. So if you’re strategizing your con, learn from my experiences.

Anyway.

Aside from locale, this year was markedly different from last year. I found the panelists were much more conscious about sticking to topics and really talking ideas through seriously. Even in rooms without moderators. I’m not sure why, but I loved this aspect of change! There was a mix of new and old panelists too. Even the audience asked really insightful questions for the most part. As I type I’m wondering if the big change was my increased people patience…

It’s hard for me to pick a single favourite panel, but I’ll keep it to three. The Strong Female Characters panel was marvelous this year! I can’t remember if there was a male panelist in previous years for this particular topic, but he brought up excellent points about SFCs from a male perspective without mansplaining or oversimplifying. I enjoyed what the five people had to say about SFCs and as a group they complimented one another and raised refreshing ideas.

Diversity is Real was another great panel. Each panelist came from a personal place while covering the topic of diversity in fiction, which wasn’t relegated to only LGBTQ issues, or questions of ableism, or ageism. They covered it all. Plus the group walked away with an excellent to-read list.

Finally, common Sex Scene Mistakes, an ARWA sponsored panel, was a riot. But more importantly, the panelists brought up really significant points about consent, writing technique, and research, to name a few topics of discussion. They were very real, treated the audience’s questions seriously and respectfully, and were fun. Maybe too much fun? Oh well.

Fantastic panels aside, the tour de force for me this year was the pre-festival workshop I attended called Bait and Hook, presented by Faith Hunter (aka Gwen Hunter). Not only did I receive positive and critical feedback about my first five pages, I took away so many writing lessons! Faith was right, if any of us take just one thing away from the entire festival, it was worth it. I took away much more than one lesson, which is awesome.

There’s just something about being surrounded by other creatives. It’s daunting and motivating to be surrounded by talent for four straight days –talent of course refers to Faith Hunter, D.B. Jackson (aka David B. Coe), and Diana Gabaldon (Diana FREAKING Gabaldon) just to drop a few names.

Faith Hunter discussing switching genres. Yes, it was that fun!

Going in I was feeling a little insecure, what with this being my third year and all, and me still not having a novel manuscript completed. Or anything new published or printed anywhere. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others or feel bad about my pace and all that. But I still feel grossly unaccomplished, even though I know exactly why I haven’t gotten my WIP completed in full. I said as much to Kate during a break in our workshop and she expressed similar feelings. I’ll share the results of that next month although she spoilered on Wednesday!

After getting so much out this conference, receiving such positive feedback, and amassing major inspiration, I feel ready to tackle my WIP in full. I’m devoting myself to getting that damn manuscript written this year. Oy.

Oh, and I submitted one of my literary stories to an American magazine on Monday. It was well past time I dove off the creative cliff!

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