I’ve wondered about Readercon, because the program looks so good and it seemed more writer oriented than fan focused. Now I’ve read Pat Esden’s report, and feel gently tinged with green.
However, I’ve been thinking about the whole con experience and the writer’s benefits from a con and came up with a list of what I’d want out of a con and when I feel a con would be worth the time and effort I would expend getting there. Understand that with limited resources and many other travel commitments, travelling to a con is no lightly undertaken endeavor. Add to the mix my kids, which are not old enough to be left alone for an outing, let alone a weekend, and you’ll see why I’m going through this careful con evaluation.
So here’s what I’d want out of a con:
- Good panels and writer discussion that will help me build the craft.
- Serious writers to spend time with, get to know, and generally network with.
- A sense for where the field is going, what editors are looking for. General update on the professional writing scene.
- Agents and editors open to approach.
Not a long list, but even this short list is not likely to be fully satisfied by any one con. The last item, especially, may not really exist. 😉
Different cons may meet my needs by different routes, too. Readercon would provide all of the first three items admirably, but it might be best if I wait until I’ve gotten a book already out on the agent circuit, in order to get the most out of Readercon. Lesser cons wouldn’t provide as intense a program, but then again I will feel confident approaching lesser-known cons for a panel spot much sooner than I would dare approach the Readercon folks.
You’ll notice that nowhere on my list are costume shows, gaming, parties, or getting autographs from media people. That means that cons which have a focus on those things will be lower priority, so even a big con like DragonCon may not make my list for the next few years. All a matter of balancing the possiblities, and in the meantime I’ll try to avoid going green with envy.
