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CONvergence and Dark Water Blues
I am busy preparing for CONvergence, which starts tomorrow. I still have several things I need to do before we leave (such as figuring out what I want to say on the panels I'm scheduled to be on), and while I'm feeling a little pressed, I know that if we should forget something, we live about 10 minutes from the hotel and can easily return home.
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careswen made a lovely flier for my reading and the book release at the convention. It will be hanging up in strategic places in the hopes of drawing a crowd.
One thing I think is: Maybe we should not have done two conventions so close together.careswen is currently snowed under at work and taking time off for both 4th Street Fantasy and CONvergence is not helping. And frankly, I'm still a little tired from 4th Street and all the real life catch-up I had to accomplish, and now we are heading into another convention. Both of us are going into CONvergence tired and behind on sleep, which is not a good way to start a con. I'm hoping caffeine and enthusiasm will carry us through.
Yesterday, I finally figured out why Dark Water Blues had stalled: The scene I was writing is not what comes next, and might not actually appear in the book at all. One thing I have learned to do is to trust those moments when things stall out. It usually means I'm heading off in the wrong direction, and there is a part of the writer-brain that knows this, but has not yet figured out what to do about the situation. Yesterday I cut the scene, saving it to a document for scenes and text I thought I needed, did not, but might want to cannibalize later. I reworked the narrative, heading in a different direction, and the novel seems to be back on track.
I do not know if I will have internet access while at the Convention this weekend, because the silly hotel charges for internet, and while it's not expensive as these things go, it's still $10 a day extra. I might go to the local Caribou Coffee one morning for free wifi and check my email and check in. Maybe. Or I might buy access for one day (probably Saturday, if I do).
All right, I'm off to pack and do other pre-con necessities!
Thursday July 3rd
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Where Do You Start?
What is the initial genesis or kernel idea of a book? Do you start with a character? A world? A cool scene? A plot?
Joel Arnold, Dana M. Baird, Garnet Gyre, Michael Merriam, Doug Texter
Friday July 4th
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Twin Cities Speculative Fiction Writers Network Meeting
Come learn about this resource for local aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers.
Michael Merriam, Hilary Moon Murphy
6:30pm - 7:30pm in Atrium 6
Getting Published 101
Looking to get famous and make lots of money writing? How about a more realistic view of the writing and publishing process? We'll cover subjects ranging from prepping a work for submission to coping with rejection.
Jerrod Balzer, Cynthia Booth, Roy C. Booth, Garnet Gyre, Philip Kaveny, Michael Merriam
Saturday July 5th
11:00am - 12:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from one of his works.
Except that I won't actually be there, so ignore this when you see it in the programming book. I'll be atcareswen's panel listed below. Instead we will be having a release party and reading in the Literary Lounge later in the day. It will not be on the schedule, but I will be placing fliers all over the hotel to remind people.
11:00am - 12:00pm in Atrium 6
Living with a Writer
Significant others of writers and artist trade stories and tips about the joys and challenges of living with a creative person.
Cynthia Booth, Jennifer Lynch, Sherry Merriam
12:30pm - 1:30pm in Atrium 6
Writing Business: Cover Letters, Manuscripts, and Rejections
Back to basics. There are books that handle this topic fairly well, but nothing substitutes for experience. Active pros and semi-pros in writing, editing and publishing talk about the dos and don'ts.
Roy C. Booth, Holly Day, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Adam Stemple, Anna Waltz
2:00pm - 3:00am in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading and Book Release Party
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from his new short story collection Shimmers and Shadows.
We will be hosting a release party for the short story collection at this time in the Lit Lounge upon on the 22nd floor of the hotel. This event will not be in the program guide or on the grid, since it is a last minute change and addition. I will post fliers around the hotel. I'm not sure what kind of refreshments we will have, but we will have something! I will have copies of Shimmers & Shadows for sale at the reading!
11:00pm - 11:59pm in Atrium 6
Urban Fantasy
The borders of faerie have moved from pastoral England to modern cities. What is the appeal of urban fantasy? Who writes the best stuff?
Kenneth Hite, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Juanita Nesbitt, Adam Stemple, Jody Wurl
careswen made a lovely flier for my reading and the book release at the convention. It will be hanging up in strategic places in the hopes of drawing a crowd.One thing I think is: Maybe we should not have done two conventions so close together.
careswen is currently snowed under at work and taking time off for both 4th Street Fantasy and CONvergence is not helping. And frankly, I'm still a little tired from 4th Street and all the real life catch-up I had to accomplish, and now we are heading into another convention. Both of us are going into CONvergence tired and behind on sleep, which is not a good way to start a con. I'm hoping caffeine and enthusiasm will carry us through.Yesterday, I finally figured out why Dark Water Blues had stalled: The scene I was writing is not what comes next, and might not actually appear in the book at all. One thing I have learned to do is to trust those moments when things stall out. It usually means I'm heading off in the wrong direction, and there is a part of the writer-brain that knows this, but has not yet figured out what to do about the situation. Yesterday I cut the scene, saving it to a document for scenes and text I thought I needed, did not, but might want to cannibalize later. I reworked the narrative, heading in a different direction, and the novel seems to be back on track.
I do not know if I will have internet access while at the Convention this weekend, because the silly hotel charges for internet, and while it's not expensive as these things go, it's still $10 a day extra. I might go to the local Caribou Coffee one morning for free wifi and check my email and check in. Maybe. Or I might buy access for one day (probably Saturday, if I do).
All right, I'm off to pack and do other pre-con necessities!
Thursday July 3rd
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Where Do You Start?
What is the initial genesis or kernel idea of a book? Do you start with a character? A world? A cool scene? A plot?
Joel Arnold, Dana M. Baird, Garnet Gyre, Michael Merriam, Doug Texter
Friday July 4th
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Twin Cities Speculative Fiction Writers Network Meeting
Come learn about this resource for local aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers.
Michael Merriam, Hilary Moon Murphy
6:30pm - 7:30pm in Atrium 6
Getting Published 101
Looking to get famous and make lots of money writing? How about a more realistic view of the writing and publishing process? We'll cover subjects ranging from prepping a work for submission to coping with rejection.
Jerrod Balzer, Cynthia Booth, Roy C. Booth, Garnet Gyre, Philip Kaveny, Michael Merriam
Saturday July 5th
11:00am - 12:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from one of his works.
Except that I won't actually be there, so ignore this when you see it in the programming book. I'll be at
careswen's panel listed below. Instead we will be having a release party and reading in the Literary Lounge later in the day. It will not be on the schedule, but I will be placing fliers all over the hotel to remind people.11:00am - 12:00pm in Atrium 6
Living with a Writer
Significant others of writers and artist trade stories and tips about the joys and challenges of living with a creative person.
Cynthia Booth, Jennifer Lynch, Sherry Merriam
12:30pm - 1:30pm in Atrium 6
Writing Business: Cover Letters, Manuscripts, and Rejections
Back to basics. There are books that handle this topic fairly well, but nothing substitutes for experience. Active pros and semi-pros in writing, editing and publishing talk about the dos and don'ts.
Roy C. Booth, Holly Day, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Adam Stemple, Anna Waltz
2:00pm - 3:00am in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading and Book Release Party
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from his new short story collection Shimmers and Shadows.
We will be hosting a release party for the short story collection at this time in the Lit Lounge upon on the 22nd floor of the hotel. This event will not be in the program guide or on the grid, since it is a last minute change and addition. I will post fliers around the hotel. I'm not sure what kind of refreshments we will have, but we will have something! I will have copies of Shimmers & Shadows for sale at the reading!
11:00pm - 11:59pm in Atrium 6
Urban Fantasy
The borders of faerie have moved from pastoral England to modern cities. What is the appeal of urban fantasy? Who writes the best stuff?
Kenneth Hite, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Juanita Nesbitt, Adam Stemple, Jody Wurl