If you’re not familiar with ConQuest, it’s Kansas City’s annual genre convention. Put together by the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, the con brings together science fiction and fantasy fiction, art, gaming and more. This is the third year I’ve attended and each year brings something a bit different to me personally.
In large part, this year’s convention felt like the most social — I spent at least two-thirds of my time eating or drinking at the bar with friends or holding conversations with authors and editors. Not surprising, considering I’ve become more involved in the community and I’ve made friends along the way.
Drinks with Michael Swanwick
What is surprising is that no sooner did I arrive at ConQuest, I was having drinks with several friends and … Guest of Honor Michael Swanwick. Of all the times I wanted to have my recorder on, it wish it could have been now (though first, not cool, and I wouldn’t have been able to post).
Michael shared some great advice and stories about unpublished writers submitting their work. One particular story included legendary editor Frederik Pohl and writer Gene Wolfe. I’ll butcher it if I try to recount the details, but the morals were simple: 1.) Have an envelope ready for your next submission if you receive a rejection; and 2.) Editors are human, hence they have good days and bad, so if you get a rejection, it’s possible that you hit them on a bad day. He didn’t say THAT IT WAS the reason, just a possibility.
In fact, if you’re sending stories out now, you need to read fellow Viable Paradise classmate Ferrett Steinmetz’s post on the steps for story submission.
Michael also talked about the maturation of the writer and how you’ll hate the stories, even if they’re published, from early in your career. He offered this advice, in particular, to my writers’ group friend Karin Rita Gastreich, who will have her novel Eolyn published next year by Hadley Rille Books.
Hadley Rille Books panel
In fact, my next stop was the Hadley Rille Book reading. The reading featured an intro from Hadley Rille Books owner Eric T. Reynolds and then readings from four authors featured in its collection, including Michael Swanwick (left), Chris McKitterick, Hadley Rille Books owner Eric T. Reynolds, M. C. Chambers and my writing group friend Karin Rita Gastreich.
You can listen to a full recording of the reading.
Over the next several days, I’ll post overviews of Day 2 & Day 3 activities, including some video of George R. R. Martin and Howard Waldrop reminiscing about the Wild Cards series.
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