Dayton's Blog: You really should be reading my LiveJournal instead.: Comic-con Report #3

Sunday. The last day of the con. Things are winding down. The crowd is smaller, maybe even a little more mellow.

Sure. As mellow as 80,000 people in a contained space can be.

Our first activity of the day was our book signing on behalf of the California Browncoats, a Firefly/Serenity fan organization hosting a charity fundraiser, with proceeds from the book sales going to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. This is a fantastic group of folks, and the plethora of Browncoats coming past the table were generous with their donations as well as their tolerance for a couple of Trek hacks encroaching on their turf.

Highlight of the Day: None other than Kevin J. Anderson hanging out at the table for a few minutes, pimping us to passers by. Yeah, that's right...that Kevin J. Anderson. You know what? Run out and buy one of everything he's ever written. Go on, do it right now. I'll wait.

The signing was followed by a panel about Pocket Books' Star Trek publishing program. Moderated by Andy Mangels and featuring Pocket editors Marco Palmieri and Margaret Clark as well as fellow authors Jeff Ayers, Kirsten Beyer, Peter David, Mike Sussman, Kevin and me, and David R. George III, the panel was well attended and the audience lively. Lots of great questions and interaction made for a fun hour that passed all too quickly.

Last panel of the day was "How to Break Into Sci-Fi Writing." Moderated by Dr. Joseph Di Lella, I sat alongside fellow Strange New Worlds alums Cathy Pike, Frederick Kim, Geoff Thorne and David Schibi, we hosted a packed room and spent the hour answering all manner of questions from folks looking to make that first pro sale. I have to admit that I'm always a bit nervous during panels like this, as I'm still rather gun shy about my status as a "professional" writer. The last thing I want to do is offer a piece of bum advice, or present myself as some sort of expert on this stuff. I just try to offer the best info that's been passed to me by more-experienced writers who took the time to answer my questions. Otherwise, my outlook on this whole thing is pretty simple: If I can sell a story, anybody should be able to do so, as well. Just takes the necessary amount of time and work to do it, is all.

That, along with far too much money spent on stuff and far too much swag stuffed into my suitcase for the trip home, ended my first Comic-con. What a friggin' blast.

posted by Dayton Ward # 2:19 AM

Comments:

Dude! You were still conscious enough to post at 2:19 a.m.? Wow. I was snoozing by then. It was grand to meet you, and I hope to see you again soon!

Cathy

# posted by

Anonymous : 7/24/2006 5:53 PM

I've got a baby on the way...I'm training myself to go without sleep. :)

Enjoyed meeting you and everyone else as well. Hope we can do it again soon!

# posted by

Dayton Ward : 7/25/2006 10:56 AM

geoff thorne here.

It was great finally meeting you guys. I really can't say when I've had more fun in public.

And I feel TOTALLY cheated having had to run out and handle other crap instead og hanging out.

Next time it won't be like that.

(and how about the audience for that panel? I thought we'd get a few bleary-eyed stragglers in battered Klingon gear at best (last day of the convention. last panel for grown-ups? come on.) That was amazing.

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

# posted by

Geoff Thorne : 7/26/2006 9:55 AM

It was indeed a fun time. I was stunned by the turnout at that point in the con. I only hope we didn't waste their time.

# posted by

Dayton Ward : 7/26/2006 10:17 AM

Hmm.

I don't think so. I mean, ultimately the questions determine how effective the advice will be. Generally I just pass on the things you or Dean have said to me as those are the bits of advice that have actually worked. And also showing by example that, even after "getting the brass ring" there are still a lot of things to learn and overcome (my crappy outlining, for instance) is a good thing.

Seeing a bunch of regular folks who managed to do what you want to do always goes a long way to boosting confidence. I know it did for me. Your help early on was pivotal, however much you downplay it.

We could have been more cut and dried, I suppose, but who wants a dry lecture when you can just grill freindly people about what to expect?

We did okay, man. Really.

# posted by

Geoff Thorne : 7/26/2006 11:13 AM

Comic-con Report #3

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