FenCon Loometh Nigh
What does “FenCon Loometh Nigh” mean for me as a writer? With the convention starting in less than 48 hours, it means my writing time is greatly diminished. In fact, I wrote out parts of this article while waiting for my car to go through the car wash, and I’m typing it as I’m “holding down the fort” in the room we have available in the hotel (others are unloading and the room needs securing). So, forgive the lack of “witty” or “pithy”. But hey, Lexus Luthor is all shiny, pretty, and dog hair free (as much as that is possible) for his treks around town to pick up and deliver guests.
What has that got to do with anything remotely writerly? Nothing, except as an example of how to use your time wisely when you have little or none. And yes, this is another “why conventions” are important posts . It’s what I think about this time of year, especially with FenCon – which is my “home convention”. It’s also the convention that’s hammered home the importance of being involved in local fandom as a professional writer. A lesson I probably should’ve learned earlier in my career – but hey, I had a Sinatra-complex going on there for a while. I’m over it.
I think to some writers, the fans are a means to an end. They’re the buyers of the books. The readers, but that’s a sales number and a quantity. These writers don’t want to be “part of them”. That’s where a boat is missed. Seriously. When you – a writer – are involved in the local fandom on a personal level – as well as on a larger, professional scale – and are making a contribution to that local fandom, you have a solid fan base for your work. They’ll be the first people to support you and the last people to give up on you when the fair weather turns. You want that. All writers want that. All writers NEED that.
There’s also another benefit. The exposure – and not the ‘write stuff for free’ exposure, but good kinds of exposure. By being on the Convention Committee of a fandom that runs a convention or puts on some kind of party, you have access to the guests (many of whom are higher up the professional food chain than the rest of us). If we behave professionally with the convention and these guests, it makes an impression. A good impression. It tells these guests that 1) you’re a cool person, not one in need of a restraining order; 2) that you’re capable of doing a job well, on time, and under pressure – regardless of the fact that it’s not a “writing” job. By being willing to help out, go the extra mile, do a good job, you tell these Bigger Name Authors, Editors, etc, that you’re capable, willing, and able to do that for their project, publishing house, etc. That’s just as important as selling books, and speaking intelligently on panels.
So, even though many conventions are over for the year, start looking to 2011 and what you want to accomplish and ask yourself – to paraphrase JFK – Ask Not What Fandom Can Do For You; Ask What You Can Do For Fandom. You’ll be surprised where that might take you. And if you’re Dallas this weekend, come to FenCon. You will have a great time.