(no subject)
Jun. 4th, 2010 03:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pameladeanI did Wiscon all wrong. This is not to say that I didn't have a wonderful time.
I had originally planned to go to Wiscon 34 because I fondly expected that I would have a book out this year.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
arkuat went last year and had such a splendid time that he talked me into coming this year despite a lack of any pressing professional reason for doing so. I had already asked him to come with me as moral support when I did have a book published, after a lapse of so many years. He persuaded me to see this year as a kind of dry run. I decided not to be on any panels, but to do a reading. I don't regret those decisions. I have been buried in this book for so long that I don't have either the knowledge or the social skills to do well on Wiscon panels at the moment.
The last time I went to Wiscon, sometime in the late nineteen-nineties, I solved the basic dilemma of programming by simply followingwild_irises around, attending all her panels. In previous years I also followed elisem around. This approach worked very well. This time, however, I couldn't settle on whom to follow around, or even whether to repeat a previous success or try someone different. I ended up looking up all the panels that about twenty different people were on. Some, like oursin or truepenny or sdn, I know in person; some, like tithenai, I wanted to meet but felt too shy to introduce myself to; some, I just knew to be people who had interesting things to say. (I could multiply examples in each of those categories. I'm not listing more people because I am certain to leave someone out.) I highlighted all the panels any of these people were on and also a number in which the subject matter interested me regardless of who was on the panel.
This action, accomplished on the second floor while sitting next tolcohen, shortly before someone took a photo of us with our pocket programs on our heads, bestowed a feeling of accomplishment, but it did not survive contact with the enemy, which is to say, the actual program schedule. When it came time to decide what panels to attend, I found that even events that were several pages apart from one another in the pocket program were happening at the same time, and as a result suffered from choice paralysis for the entire weekend. My single programming item was itself scheduled against Nnedi Okorafor's reading. She had, alas, gotten stuck in traffic and been unable to read at Room of One's Own on Thursday. Her GoH speech was splendid, however, being funny, horrifying, and academic by turns or sometimes all at once; and I did get to hear Mary Anne Mohanraj read on Thursday, a sublime experience.
I remember from previous Wiscons that a couple I was acquainted with deliberately went to different panels and then compared notes, and that at one point we agreed that an entire extended poly family, all with good note-taking skills, would be necessary to really cover all the interesting programming. But I think matters have gotten even worse since then.
I need to make ruthless decisions much earlier next year.
The other mistake I made was not letting most people who might have been interested know that I was coming. I particularly regret this inoursin's case, but I also never so much as laid eyes on at least ten people from my LJ list whom I'd have loved to talk to.
Stamina for harsh partying conditions was also lacking. I was talking to a lovely group of people, including but not limited toboxofdelights and nineweaving, the latter of whom accurately pointed out that we had not seen one another "for yonks!" But I had to flee because it was so hot in the room that my brain was melting. I made three attempts to enter the Tor party, but it was too loud. I remember Tor parties as always being crowded and somewhat noisy, but I never had to flee before. And I viewed with huge pleasure the long line leading into the Haiku Earring Party, but did not manage to get into it until the bed was covered with poetry. That was all right, since I could read the haiku.
I did really enjoy the Broad Universe party (where I had a nice conversation withtanac), the Strange Horizons party (where I funked saying hi to people I know but not well and failed to introduce myself to tithenai, but had a fine, if occasionally despairing, conversation with naomikritzer), and the Beer and Marmalade party, which had brilliantly put up photocopies of the covers of books the group has read with plenty of blank space for scribbled comments. I annotated Molly Gloss's The Dazzle of Day very happily. I am also grateful to Piglet's party for providing soothing tea and almond milk to put into it, but failed to find the host and say hello. I often feel that I shouldn't be allowed out, even with an escort.
This is too long. I will put in the more cheerful bits in another entry. I enjoyed enormously everything that I actually did.
Pamela
I had originally planned to go to Wiscon 34 because I fondly expected that I would have a book out this year.
arkuat went last year and had such a splendid time that he talked me into coming this year despite a lack of any pressing professional reason for doing so. I had already asked him to come with me as moral support when I did have a book published, after a lapse of so many years. He persuaded me to see this year as a kind of dry run. I decided not to be on any panels, but to do a reading. I don't regret those decisions. I have been buried in this book for so long that I don't have either the knowledge or the social skills to do well on Wiscon panels at the moment.The last time I went to Wiscon, sometime in the late nineteen-nineties, I solved the basic dilemma of programming by simply following
wild_irises around, attending all her panels. In previous years I also followed elisem around. This approach worked very well. This time, however, I couldn't settle on whom to follow around, or even whether to repeat a previous success or try someone different. I ended up looking up all the panels that about twenty different people were on. Some, like oursin or truepenny or sdn, I know in person; some, like tithenai, I wanted to meet but felt too shy to introduce myself to; some, I just knew to be people who had interesting things to say. (I could multiply examples in each of those categories. I'm not listing more people because I am certain to leave someone out.) I highlighted all the panels any of these people were on and also a number in which the subject matter interested me regardless of who was on the panel.This action, accomplished on the second floor while sitting next to
lcohen, shortly before someone took a photo of us with our pocket programs on our heads, bestowed a feeling of accomplishment, but it did not survive contact with the enemy, which is to say, the actual program schedule. When it came time to decide what panels to attend, I found that even events that were several pages apart from one another in the pocket program were happening at the same time, and as a result suffered from choice paralysis for the entire weekend. My single programming item was itself scheduled against Nnedi Okorafor's reading. She had, alas, gotten stuck in traffic and been unable to read at Room of One's Own on Thursday. Her GoH speech was splendid, however, being funny, horrifying, and academic by turns or sometimes all at once; and I did get to hear Mary Anne Mohanraj read on Thursday, a sublime experience.I remember from previous Wiscons that a couple I was acquainted with deliberately went to different panels and then compared notes, and that at one point we agreed that an entire extended poly family, all with good note-taking skills, would be necessary to really cover all the interesting programming. But I think matters have gotten even worse since then.
I need to make ruthless decisions much earlier next year.
The other mistake I made was not letting most people who might have been interested know that I was coming. I particularly regret this in
oursin's case, but I also never so much as laid eyes on at least ten people from my LJ list whom I'd have loved to talk to. Stamina for harsh partying conditions was also lacking. I was talking to a lovely group of people, including but not limited to
boxofdelights and nineweaving, the latter of whom accurately pointed out that we had not seen one another "for yonks!" But I had to flee because it was so hot in the room that my brain was melting. I made three attempts to enter the Tor party, but it was too loud. I remember Tor parties as always being crowded and somewhat noisy, but I never had to flee before. And I viewed with huge pleasure the long line leading into the Haiku Earring Party, but did not manage to get into it until the bed was covered with poetry. That was all right, since I could read the haiku.I did really enjoy the Broad Universe party (where I had a nice conversation with
tanac), the Strange Horizons party (where I funked saying hi to people I know but not well and failed to introduce myself to tithenai, but had a fine, if occasionally despairing, conversation with naomikritzer), and the Beer and Marmalade party, which had brilliantly put up photocopies of the covers of books the group has read with plenty of blank space for scribbled comments. I annotated Molly Gloss's The Dazzle of Day very happily. I am also grateful to Piglet's party for providing soothing tea and almond milk to put into it, but failed to find the host and say hello. I often feel that I shouldn't be allowed out, even with an escort.This is too long. I will put in the more cheerful bits in another entry. I enjoyed enormously everything that I actually did.
Pamela
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: when money falls from the sky
Date: 2010-06-05 06:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-06 04:41 am (UTC)I have slipped into an alternate reality, one where authors I've fangirled over for years profess shyness at meeting me. And here I was thinking I'd finally gotten home, but no, it's all lilac skin and magenta skies and rivers made of apple flesh!
I wish I'd known you'd be there -- I would have descended upon you with LEGIONS of copies of Tam Lin and Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary, mine and all my friends', and my Firebirds Rising anthology, and whatever else with your name on it I could find! Also, I felt so shy at the SH party -- I thought
I too totally sympathise with the plethora of panel choices; what made it easy for me this year was having Saturday full of back-to-back programs in which I was a participant, so I could just focus on trying to be the best panelist I could be rather than trying to choose between all the awesome-sounding ones. But I really, really hope I can meet you soon! Is there any chance you'll be at Readercon?
no subject
Date: 2010-06-06 09:49 pm (UTC)I too found programming more manageable when I was actually on some. I'll have to bear that in mind.
Alas, I won't be at Readercon. But I'll be sure to at least mention where I will be. If all else fails, I'll be at Wiscon next year.
P.
P.S. I want river made of apple flesh!
no subject
Date: 2010-06-06 09:51 pm (UTC)You are right about the folding covers, but the system does require that on recall which panels one is interested in and why (subject, panelists, both) at the last minute. I guess I could color-code them.
P.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-06 09:53 pm (UTC)I wish I (and David, and Lydy) were coming to Farthing Party. But I am so glad you are coming to Fourth Street again.
P.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-06 09:54 pm (UTC)P.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 01:54 am (UTC)Where do I submit my application? My note-taking skills are legendary. Really.
I'm almost certain that your behavior is not at all as dreadful as you seem to think. You're neat. Go with that.
Glad you had a good con. I've been meaning to get back to WisCon. After this grad school gig is done.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 01:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 04:15 am (UTC)P.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 04:17 am (UTC)What about the rest of your family? Can they take notes? Inquiring minds want to know.
P.