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Fantasycon UK - next weekend

Started by Dan, September 15, 2006, 04:55:16 AM

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Dan

Geoff - are you still going to this? If so we should meet up on the Saturday. PM me and we'll swap details...

Anyone else going to this?
www.HellInside.com - welcome to Hell!

Geoff_N

Dan, I'll be there on the Saturday. I'm picking up Terry Jackman - who runs the writing crit group I am in at the BSFA - called Orbiters. I'll PM you my mobile number, and to anyone else who might come. Nottingham folks not another planet!

Geoff

Ed

Just too far for me, otherwise I'd go along just to see you two in your Star Trek outfits :azn:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Geoff_N

I had a blast at Fantasy Con and came face to face in 3D with efriends as well as Neil Gaimon, Juliet McKenna; Terry Jackman from the British Science Fiction Association Orbiters critique group, which she masterminds, and I'm a member; Dan Malach from this here Cafe Doom -- aargh he was so young, exuberant and clever! And many more.

The members aparallel were interesting too - more in my blog at
http://geoffnelder.wordpress.com/

and no doubt a lotlotlot more from Dan who'd spent mucho more time there than I.
Very worthwhile going even for the Saturday.

Geoff

Ed

Sounds good :afro:  Any pics of strange men wearing deeleeboppers?
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Geoff_N

Quote from: blunt on September 24, 2006, 09:00:05 AM
Sounds good :afro:  Any pics of strange men wearing deeleeboppers?

Blast! I forgot to take a photo of Dan!

Dan

Was i still wearing those on Saturday? I knew i drank too much on the Friday night!
Sorry never got a chance to say goodbye but ended up going for an afternoon 'nap' and most of the day people had left by the time i got up.

All in all a good convention, met plenty of authors, including Clive Barker, which was quite a buzz. Saw some interview panels as well, one about small trade publications and one about the changing face of British horror, both very informative. Drank too much, way too much.

Will definately be going back next year though (hope you can make it then too Geoff), the point was repeatedly made about how networking played a big part in success and some publishers openly (Peter Crowther included) said that you could solicit them to look at your manuscripts during the convention. On the down said it was also repeated about how even a successful novelist earns peanuts and if you're doing it for the money then you should give up now...
www.HellInside.com - welcome to Hell!

Ed

Quote from: Dan on September 24, 2006, 03:36:37 PM
On the down said it was also repeated about how even a successful novelist earns peanuts and if you're doing it for the money then you should give up now...

You hear that a lot, so I guess it's true.  I think you stand a better chance of earning a few quid if you're an American author, though.  Annoying, isn't it?  Especially when you consider just how difficult it is and how much practise it takes to write well.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Geoff_N

#8
I wrote a long reply last night and it disappeared into the void.

I forget what I wrote but it seemed important at the time. Adding to Dan's observations from listening to the editors' panel comments on there being only a handful of writers who make a living from books. I thought it interesting that Piers Brofeld from Headline talked himself into a circle over unsolicited submissions. No they don't accept them. Then actually they employ a reader to read them all. But Piers himself only reads agented subs - and he has a huge pile waiting for him. But the unsolicted reader can send him those worthy of consideration. But none has made it for him to ask for more. But he's only been in the job for 10 months so...

I kinda deliberately bumped into him later. His 10 months into the job changed to over a year. Would he look at my Left Luggage if I sent it to him directly - after this personal approach? Yes, maybe  I can't promise.  OK - so how can I label the envelope (no email subs from unagented subs - the website says none at all email or otherwise) so it won't end up as a door stop. By his vaguer answer I realised that the free bar (you missed that, Dan - hah) was affecting his synapses, so I gave up.

I have a funny story about Peter Crowther at PS Publishing from a friendly encounter I had with him last year. I wrote this out in detail in my vanished post last night - so I'll have to generate time and steam to rewrite it later.

One of the more interesting OTT people wandering around the place was Anne Sudworth the artist. Moody, sultry and scary. Were you put under her spell, Dan? She appears at Fantasy cons every year apparently - often with interestingly dressed entourage. Her picture is here
http://www.annesudworth.co.uk/anne.html

Yes, I'll probably be there next year.

Geoff

Ed

Funny, isn't it?  That big haired goth look seems quite exotic on a young woman, but over a certain age, it just makes them look witchy :grin:  The pics weren't close up enough to tell which applies in this case, but her garb is certainly unusual.

Geoff - I would go ahead and send that submission if I was you.  He may not remember anything other than the fact he was out of his tree drunk, and he may well make allowances for that.  Just send a synopsis and the first couple of chapters - don't bother sending the whole thing, though.  I'm pretty sure I remember reading a success story that began in much the same way, only that author blagged the whole thing.  Good luck :afro:

Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Dan

Definately on the witchy side!

Though to be fair there were one or two, ahem, odd looking people there...
www.HellInside.com - welcome to Hell!

Geoff_N

Quote from: blunt on September 25, 2006, 04:28:24 AM
Geoff - I would go ahead and send that submission if I was you.  He may not remember anything other than the fact he was out of his tree drunk, and he may well make allowances for that.  Just send a synopsis and the first couple of chapters - don't bother sending the whole thing, though.  I'm pretty sure I remember reading a success story that began in much the same way, only that author blagged the whole thing.  Good luck :afro:

Good advice, but I'll wait until next week. It is with John Jarrold at the moment. He's a sci fi specialist agent, and well known in the genre. He liked my pitch and asked for synopsis and first six chaps. If-when-if he rejects then I'll throw it Piers, while looking for other agents. I wouldn't be surprised if the turn round time for Piers is 6 months to a year or more if it doesn't come from an agent.

By the way, Piers was one of the few wearing dark suit pinstripe shirt and with a tie! He did slip off the jacket and tie eventrually - hah! These big publisher types...

Geoff

canadian

Wow. Interesting backstory here, guys, about Fantasycon. I'm sucking it all in 'cause I'm thinking of attending next year's gathering. I've had a piece accepted for an anthology that's being launched then.

Guess I better start working on my 'witchy' wardrobe.

Geoff ... you've met me. Any suggestions?  :bleh:

At least I know I can keep up with the free bar!
If people stand in a circle long enough, they will eventually begin to dance. -- George Carlin