Stepping Down

[mmerriam]

Effective today, I am no longer reading slush for Fantasy Magazine. It was a great experience, very educational and eye-opening, but I need to refocus on my own writing.

Also, I am stepping down as the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers Convention Liaison and Programming Coordinator, effective 12:01 am on 2 August 2010 (the end of Diversicon).

Comments

[ckastens.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the writing!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jdawson001.livejournal.com]

So tell me: how hard were these decisions? I'm having to make huge decisions on the heels on finding out I'm moving overseas next year, and it's hard to know what to give up.

Jenn

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Leaving Fantasy Magazine was not terribly hard. I loved reading slush, loved finding those little gems that are great stories, but I've only been with them about a year, and I knew going in that it was a limited time gig. Granted, I thought I'd be there longer than one year, but I can happily move on, proud of what I did at that magazine.

Dropping the MNSpec position was a harder choice. I'm one of the groups founding members from six years ago, and I've held this position for something like four years. This position has allowed me to get to know everyone in local fandom, especially the convention runners of the various SF cons in the area.

I've done a lot of really good work with both the local cons and the MNSpec group, but it was time. I'm tired of the position and need to refocus my energy. I'm still with the group of course, as an organizer emeritus, but I needed to set aside my responsibilities for now. It was hard, though. On some levels I feel like I'm letting the group down, since I've always been one of the driving forces and one of the group's public faces.