World Fantasy Convention San Diego?

I'm going

Oh, I wish. It's not a long drive from Phoenix to San Diego. But I blew all my convention money earlier in the year, going to Discworld. Which was a riot, and I'm thrilled I went.

I really enjoyed the WFC I attended in Tucson years ago, but I don't have a professional reason to attend WFC right now. Maybe when I get an agent...

Erm. When is this? I didn't know there was a fantasy con in San Diego--and I'm in Los Angeles!

Jess Haines said:

Erm. When is this? I didn't know there was a fantasy con in San Diego--and I'm in Los Angeles!

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http://www.worldfantasy.org/ Annual con, mostly business-focused rather than fan-focused. Moves around every year.

Seriously not fan-oriented. No hall costumes, usually no masquerade, and writing/publishing panels dominate the programming. One hell of an art show, though, and a good way to mix with the powerhouse writers, agents, and editors of the genre.

So if you go, don't stalk them.

I was amazed at Discworld by the number of attendees who stalked Terry Pratchett, his agent Colin, and several other GoHs, when the program books specifically told people NOT to do this. Because I and my SO were in a hotel club because of a room upgrade, we got to hang out with many of the GoHs in the hotel's club bar. We didn't pounce on them and make pests of ourselves. When some other attendees noticed that we often appeared in the vicinity of Pratchett's friends, we were approached with requests to take manuscripts to the Great Man. And accused of being snotty when we explained that 'no, we can't actually help you at all, and did you READ the program book?'

AT WFC, there will probably be sign-up sheets for agent pitch sessions, if those haven't been assigned before the con. Play by the rules, and this can be a great way to meet people.

Filigree said:

AT WFC, there will probably be sign-up sheets for agent pitch sessions, if those haven't been assigned before the con.

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AFAIK there is no schedule yet, but I don't remember agent pitch-sessions ever being a thing there. However I've only gone to two so far, San Jose CA in 2009 and Columbus OH in 2010. Anyone else know?

Oh and speaking of schedule I guess I should say I'm going to be doing a reading Saturday evening >.> If anyone cares to go...

May your reading go well, and gain you new readers!

Filigree said:

May your reading go well, and gain you new readers!

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Thank you! It is my second-ever and I am quite nervous because I am reading two things

Oh, rock on! Thank you, I'll check it out. <3

This sounds quite awesome.

Alessandra Kelley said:

Good luck. Break a leg.

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Thank you! I am quite the wibbles

I'm going to be there, actually, and I'm rooming with another AW'er JeanneTGC. And our agent. I went last year in Columbus (yay! only a half hour away) and think I'll actually be able to enjoy this year's WFC more. So I'm looking forward to it.

Filigree said:

AT WFC, there will probably be sign-up sheets for agent pitch sessions, if those haven't been assigned before the con. Play by the rules, and this can be a great way to meet people.

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WFC is doing pitch sessions? Color me officially grossed out. If there's one SF convention that doesn't need to make a bigger deal out of the fan/pro divide, it's WFC.

As I said, it's been years since I attended, so I don't know what their programming will include.

Hapi, I have to agree with you on the fan-pro divide. Although I don't know if a lot of fans attend WFC. Or if they *should*. It's kept to low membership, it's expensive and usually in expensive hotels, and there's not much fan programming. It's a niche conference for professionals within the spec. fiction genres.

When I attended, it was more because an equally-naive friend and I had the money, and we were already within driving distance. It was a good experience. But I spent most of that weekend coming to grips with the fact that I wasn't a strong enough writer to make the most out of the panels being offered. I had no publishing credits, and no relationship to editors or professional writers.

These days, WFC is a convention I'll only attend when I have an agent and/or a book with a publisher.

I've gone for two years without ever having anything published. This year I made my first (pro) sale. I had a blast, though. I've made some pretty cool friends as a result. I think people who are seriously seeking to be pros (and can act professionally around people they fansquee over) can find this convention to be worthwhile.

But no, it is not a place to pitch.

I wish I could go this year. Unfortunately, it looks like it's taking place on dates where I'm already committed to other stuff. =/

Have fun, whichever AWers are going! And if any of you are going to pop up to Los Angeles while you're in town, give me a holler.

CheG said:

People kept asking what I did and I was ashamed to say comic books, (but hey, at least Tokyopop was still in existence then- this year I have NOTHING good to say about myself) - and probably will be again.

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Tcha! Don't do that! I swear, the comics field has the worst case of cultural cringe I ever saw. Relax, put your chin up, smile, and say "I'm cool -- I work in comics." Practice it in front of a mirror if you have to. People will take you at your own evaluation. Make it good. Modest, but good. And friendly.

I met one publisher? editor? from Nightshade Books.

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Jason or Jeremy?

but if I met anyone else important I don't know. I'm afraid I wouldn't recognize on sight most agents/editors because if I've seen their pictures it's just on the internet, on their websites and it's hard to have all these people I've never met in person memorized. But one of my dream agents will be there!! Not that that helps me... But squee anyway

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Here's the trick: they're all important. Seriously. Some of them will be more important in your life than all the rest. You don't know which ones they are. But none of them are unimportant.

Is this an uplifting moral lesson? Not in the slightest (unless you want it to be). The reason none of them are unimportant is that (1.) you can't possibly tell who in the SF community used to be so-and-so's college roommate, spouse, editor, fanzine coeditor, flamewar opponent, or primordial friend who got them into fandom in the first place. I've been hanging out there for decades, and I'm still surprised by all the weird connections. (2.) SF people are touchy and defensive about being treated like they don't matter, because they all got way too much of that growing up. (3.) The friends you make will introduce you to the people you desperately want to meet. Don't drop the friends when that happens. Trust me, they'll go on being important.

I admit I had hoped my novel would be querying before I went this year but it didn't work out. I'm just now on draft the second...

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Don't talk about it unless someone asks. If they do, be cool, be casual, keep it short, and don't mention any specifics. The way you described it here is just about right.

If anyone asks how you're doing, say it's your second convention, and it's hard to explain, but you're having the best time of your life.

I swear that everything I've just said is the gospel truth. Believe me or not as you see fit.

HapiSofi said:

Jason or Jeremy?

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I'd guess Jeremy. He's quire approachable, and he was there.

I was at San Jose and had a total blast -- got to meet and hang out with some of my heroes, like Garth Nix. I had lunch with Patricia McKillip, and acted like a total fan boy, I was so in awe of her. And a lovely person to boot.

But yeah, if I hadn't had a couple of books out I wouldn't have been in the same position. Still, i never saw anyone being dissed because they weren't published.

I can't make it to San Diego this year, but I wish I could.

Imma add that everything HapiSofi said is true.