The Geek Girl's Survival Guide #9

[Spriggan]

Article reference, Sorry I can't add blurbs to the main page, http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=1264&dep=15

Talk amongst yourselves, I'll give you a topic, Fantasy is neither truth nor fiction.

[Shrain]

You had me at Tetris, fish.

A very knowing column. I love the Tetris comparison. Anyhow, I've had the same experience and it was disconcerting until I realized, like you, that the thing to focus on more is making meaningful contacts.

Edit: Hey, what about that Geek Girl logo you've been working on? Maybe it won't show up until a link is put on the main page? Hmm, guess not.

[stacer]

Yes, connections is what it's all about at cons, really. I go to make industry contacts for both finding writers for future projects, and for making collegial contacts that I may want to tap for finding a job if I ever need to look elsewhere (this is a general statement and by no means implies that I'm ever actively looking--it's just maintaining the network, you know).

And then, once you've gotten enough experience to get published and/or get a job (in the case of an editor), the next thing is to go to cons to promote, promote, promote. And to continue to network.

[jeffday]

I was there, and the big problem with this con, at least in my opinion, is that Kevin J. Anderson, what I consider a literary prostitute, was the keynote speaker. Mediocrity is his middle name and his flashes of what may seem to be excellence are few and far between. I enjoyed the event and the discussions, it's just that they got mediocre writers.

(yeah, I have a tendency to write like I speak: completely devoid of intelligence)

[MsFish]

Well, it *is* an academic symposium and not a real con.  So that might have something to do with it.  

However, I do have to say that Kevin's guest lecture on alien cultures--buying alcohol in Utah--was completely awesome.  

[jeffday]

My only problem with that particular address was how much he talked about hangovers. It wasn't a pleasant topic of conversation for me at the time.

[MsFish]

I'm thinking I should refrain from asking further questions about that.  

[Hepcatkip]

I'm still Upset that I got sick and missed the main day of Ltue.  

[Rosencrantz]

I missed KJA talking about hangovers?  Dangit all.

[jeffday]

Talking about how a poor, naive mormon girl at BYU thought that he'd have a hangover after 1 beer. It was awesome.

[precious-jules]

Thank you for the "A Geek Girl's Guide to Lectures on Writing"

I loved it and  completely agree.  At that same conference, I started a short story (which is weird since i haven't written a short since college) The panels were more of the same and I wasn't learning anything . . .  so I wrote.  I still plan on going to these writer's workshops and conferences, because I get to meet like-minded people and that's always valuable. I got to meet Stacer at the conference in question

But I just wanted to say thanks for the insight! I enjoyed reading your guide.