Cons - Where is the Value?
Making it Real
Sometimes when you’re caught in the cycle of your everyday life, it’s hard to realize that there are actually people who write fiction for a living. Meeting people who have made it and buying them a beer makes it much more clear that it is possible. There is a whole industry here, and there are people behind it--real people. They aren’t mythical or magical, they’re just people, and if you work hard enough you could be one of them. That moment of realization can be the most motivating thing of all.
A Place to Learn
If you like the podcast Writing Excuses, you’ll love attending panels. Panels focus on a specific topic and gather groups of experts to discuss them. Many panels will be on the art of writing, discussing different aspects of a genre, or commiserating about what it’s like to be a professional author. Often conventions will schedule panels for people with specialized knowledge outside of writing. Take an hour and learn the basics of what it’s like to sail across an ocean. Hear from representatives of a specific marginalized group and get their perspective on how they would like to be represented in fiction. Sit back and watch a demonstration on medieval sword fighting. On top of panels, there may also be opportunities to attend workshops, where you will actively participate in creating something yourself.
Demonstration on sword fighting techniques at Ad Astra in Toronto, 2018
Industry Contacts
Agents, editors, and publishers all attend cons. Conventions represent a great opportunity to meet the people who could work with you to get your writing out there. As an unpublished author, the odds of striking a deal at a convention are low, but I’ve found that even getting an agent’s card can be a huge confidence boost and motivator. With a card, you have someone you’ve met in person. You suddenly have something to open your query letter with when you’re trying to pitch your book. You put a face to a name, they put a face to yours, and the industry feels a little less scary.
The Experience
Conventions are fun! They give you a reason to travel to new places or revisit old ones. They put you in rooms with people who are passionate about the same stuff you are: stories. The programming is catered to you. Some cons have viewing rooms to watch beloved movies or shows. Others have karaoke night, where attendees grab a mic and brave the stage. Many cons have dance nights or cosplay parades. One of my favorite experiences at a con has been a chocolate, wine, and cheese tasting. Almost all cons have a hotel bar. Fun!
Meeting Other Writers
For me, the most valuable thing to come out of conventions are the friends I’ve made. The people who attend conventions are writers, editors, agents, and fans. These are all people you’ll have something in common with--the love of great stories. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone seated beside you at a panel (before it starts or after it’s over). Ask them what they’re reading or watching. Ask them if they’re a writer and what they write. One of the best ways to learn how to improve your writing is by having someone else read it and give you feedback, and some of the best people to provide feedback are other writers. You might even meet someone a few steps ahead of you in the process who has already gone pro and is willing to give you edits or advice. (Thanks to Mike and Jenn Lyons for all their advice and guidance! Check out The Ruin of Kings here.).
Is it worth it?
Cons can come at a high price, but they have a lot to offer. The payoff comes in the form of motivation, industry contacts, experiences, and new friends. If the above sounds appealing to you, I highly recommend putting some money aside and checking one out.
In my next post on cons, I’ll start to delve into specific cons I’ve attended and discuss cost and why I would recommend them (or why I would not).
Starting with: The Nebula Conference
