Wiscon and Cons

[joannemerriam]

I've been reading a lot of entries about Wiscon, and I've been wondering if I should be going to these things, and how helpful they may be to my career. Obviously, not going hasn't been an impediment to getting published, but I do wonder if it wouldn't feel so uphill all the time if I had more of a network. I wonder if my name would leap to mind

Comments

I'm not a published author, but I play one in the hotel bar

[_darkvictory]

Cons can be a good opportunity if you pick the right ones to attend. Some have stronger writing programming than others.

I've met editors and publishers at Worldcon and at Westercon, the West Coast regional. I attend two local cons, one in L.A. and one in the Bay Area. Those have been good for networking with other writers. Have heard good things about Wiscon and World Fantasy.

Understand this is the opinion of someone who's a long way from having a book to push. Right now I'm mainly looking for advice and tips about what's going on in publishing. At least one older pro who really believes in the "pay it forward" concept has been given much needed guidance and encouragement.

There's another factor, too. It's not unusual for people to accost editors in the buffet line or the elevator and try to force unsolicited manuscripts on them. I think a bit of informal socializing, conversing intelligently and behaving like you know what you're doing, helps get the name and the face together in people's minds in the right way.

Vanessa

Re: I'm not a published author, but I play one in the hotel bar

[joannemerriam]

Those are all good points. Thanks.

Re: I'm not a published author, but I play one in the hotel bar

[_darkvictory]

That's "... giving much needed..." Blech.