Luke Keioskie writes:
Hey gang
Yes, I returned relatively unscathed from Gencon. What a place! I had to dodge the Klingon jailer (a rather busty faux alien intent on eliciting a gold coin donation before she’d let unsuspecting Trekkies out of a less than plush jail cell), received wads of ‘cash’ from a guy looking like Jack Sparrow if he was dressed by Queer Eye (the cash in question was cards for a new game called Men at Sea, though what sort of men, I didn’t ask…), and tried my hand at Guitar Hero 3 (I sucked). We got there on the first day, so it was pretty quiet. I wish I’d had more time, because there were acres and acres of tables set up for roleplay, card, board and computer games. I was expecting something more like Supernova – I was wrong. Next year, I’m planning an overnight stay and I’m definately going to register for a game or two. Killer Bunnies sounded interesting…
I caught up with Marianne. She looked well, if a little frazzled after a month of conventions. She had some tips for my manuscript, which was good – the main one being TAKE YOUR TIME. She told me the last thing you want to do is to send it to Bernadette or Deonie if it’s not 100% perfect. I agree. I’ve finished the first draft of my zombie novel, but it needs a lot more care, a lot more attention and about 10,000 more words. I tend to skip everything but plot and action, so backstory and characterisation are two things I have to work on in my second drafting stage.
Anyway, Gencon was totally worth it. A place to wear your geekdom with pride. Too often I feel suspicious hiring Star Wars from my local Civic Video, thinking I have some sort of disease. At conventions, normal people are the disease. And chicks dressed as Klingons are the cure!
Keep writing, writers, and I’ll see you on the shelves.
Sounds like a trippy trip, I now consider myself well-prepared for when I go. Last games convention I went to was a trade event in 2001 – it was like a mausoleum with a handful of games companies and animators competing for attention from the trickle of geeks. Didn’t even fill the space so once you stepped beyond the last booths, you found yourself in a dimly lit space surrounded by ceiling to floor velvet blackout drapes, with the back wall invisible through the gloom. Now that I think of it, actually pretty atmospheric!
I’m so comforted by Marianne’s comment – reminds me that I, too, have way too much to do to my ms to be ready yet. And the importance for me not to rush it. Just wish I had a bit more plot and character… hmmmm…
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for the fab and very entertaining report!
Hmmm. Klingon chicks have never been that appealing. Except maybe that once on NG when everyone’s fantasies were coming to life and Worf dreamed up this big, feral…
Still, I’m sure the games and the off-piste conversations were far more interesting.
No. Really.
Hey there, bit of respect – these guys could be your biggest fans one day.
Never underestimate the power of an enthusiastic costumed groupie. Just ask Joss Whedan how important his mad fans were in keeping the Firefly / Serenity dream alive.
Though I confess a rabid Klingon of either gender is a scary prospect. Give me an Ewok any day (hahahahaha, JUST KIDDING folks)
Oh no, quick update – Luke we only have 26 days to get our manuscripts finished!!! The Large Hadron Collider in Europe is due to be activated in 27 days and some people think it’s going to end the world by creating black holes…
But happily Graham says it’s okay because they will be tiny and disappear before they can destroy us. Right Graham?
I hope.
Way to go, Luke, I agree about next year. Let’s go! i’m afraid after my long service leave being spent on the MS I’m not sure what else to do with it. I feel I could always go back and tweak but where do you stop. For better or worse i have sent Bernadette and email tonight (!) saying its finished. I rang Kate at QWC and she recommended the intital email to bernadette in case she wants it sent vis email. Marianne’s comments are haunting me now.
As a friend of mine once said, and I think I have this right- Poo, bum, tit, fart, enema!
terry
Hi Guys,
when to send your manuscript is the ‘how long is a piece of string’ thing. But be brutally honest with yourself. If you are, you’ll know whether you can do better.
When you’ve got to the stage where you’re just shuffling words around – there’s a good chance you’re done.
MDP
I sent mine to Bernadette on 10th June and since then have been chewing my nails, my hands, and my desk, waiting for a reply. So I emailed Bernadette a few days ago and she tells me she hasn’t even received it!!
Aaaaaaarrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!
All that agony for nothing. And now it has to start all over again!!
Is it any wonder I’m using so many exclamation marks ?
Somebody shoot me, please.
good luck with the manuscript, graham, and well done on submitting it. i look forward to hearing how you go, and to reading it in print one day.
If you sent it on the 10th of June and she hadn’t received it – that seems an awfully long time. Are you sure it hasn’t got lost?
Marianne, I’m absolutely certain it got lost. Bernadette now has an electronic copy and has written to confirm that it arrived (bless her!)
I can only think there’s a Bernard Fowler of Hatchet Street, Sydney who had a really nice surprise in the post last month!
good thing you followed up.
Fingers and toes crossed.