Guess i should at least mention how it was to go down to Writers of the Future, right?
It was cool and crazy and sleepless. Met some really cool people, made some new friends… awesome.
If you’re a writer, and you aren’t yet eligible for SFWA, you should be submitting to this every quarter. Some people have concerns about the organization behind the contest. I’ll let Frederik Pohl address that. Writers of the Future gave me more money for a single story than i’ll ever likely see again.
They put me up in a hip, swank hotel.
My fellow students were talented, funny and just great to be around.
They made me write an entire story in 24 hours.
And while the first half of the ceremony was imperfect. The second half was amazing and touching.
Notice Hercules in the lower left corner. 😛
That's Eric Kotani on my right. He was full of rule.
Before the ceremony, they unveiled our story art. I was blessed to have mine done by Ryan Behrens. You should watch for this guy’s name and/or hire him. He’s immensely talented.
Me with my artist, Ryan Behrens
The signings they arranged had their problems, but i generally had a great time and it was good practice for doing signings at cons.
I cut a rubber stamp specially for this book and stamped every book i signed. Whew. It was so many books that i used up an entire ink pad!
So, let’s sum up, class. It’s surreal, a decent little boost for your career, pays well and is a lot of fun.
Do it!
but… they made you wear a tux!
Mel
"Made me" my foot. I *loved* that tux! Was steampunk!
Grá Linnaea
might have been steampunk with purple hair…
Are you able to post a better view of your story art?
Mel
Hmmm… i'll see if i can get one. Hafta asked the artist.
Grá Linnaea
but… they made you wear a tux!
Mel
"That's Eric Kotani on my right." Hm. I don't know if someone named "Eric" should be wearing an off-the-shoulder dress.
Seriously, I'm glad you had a good time. I watched live as you accepted your award – that was cool.
Dave Raines
Glad you stayed through *ahem* opening stuff. Thanks for watching!
Grá Linnaea
I'm really happy for you, and glad you had a good time. Your writing certainly deserves all the recognition in the world.
I was hoping I would find something in the Fred Pohl link that would change my opinion, because the money would be nice. "No better or worse than other religions" doesn't really cut it for me, though. Author Services is still a branch of CoS, and I wouldn't feel okay with my work being to the financial gain of an organization I would try to talk a friend out of being a part of, or whose products I would in other circumstance vote with my dollar against. I suppose that the same might apply with other religious organizations too, though I'm not fully convinced by the claim that its foibles are on par with any other religion's either.
If you have your own argument in favor of participation that is distinct from Pohl's, I would like to hear it, though.
E. J.
Nah, i totally respect yer concerns.
Grá Linnaea
I've got a story in for this quarter, or rather last quarter. My reasoning is, getting money out of their hands and into mine would be a good thing. Plus I know there are firewalls between CoS and WottF, and that serious faithful folks like Tim Powers are involved. So I submit.
After watching the awards ceremony, I'm going to rethink. I know a service of worship when I see one, and the awards ceremony was one. I'd be really uncomfortable there if, by some stroke, I should win. That's just me. It was still really cool to watch you get your award and make your speech (which I thought avoided the Prayers of Adoration re L. Ron), and I'm glad you won.
Dave Raines
Hey Dave,
I'd hoped to chat with you about this at Kate's BBQ, but …
I know what you mean. The whole event definitely exists in an uncomfortable tension between what they probably wish they could do and what they reasonably can get away with. It was a crazy interesting uncomfortable experience for sure.
RE: getting money out of their hands and into yours – I do note that attendance at the awards ceremony is not mandatory and saying no thank you to attending wouldn't effect your winnings. You know?
I appreciate your take on this stuff, thanks. 🙂
Grá Linnaea
Hey Gra, i just saw what you wrote about my art, thank you! whats new? this is Ryan the artist for your story.
ryan