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valoiseThis is a long post with lots of text under the cut for specific panels.
Saturday
Web Publishing and the Future of Magazines
Some examples of good web sites (for print publications). There were a few more mentioned that I didn’t manage to jot down.
Strange Horizons
Locus
Weird Tales
SFX
McSweeney’s (literary journal) excellent example of magazine app
Is there a future for magazines? Some said yes, some said it would become more of a boutique publication for niche enthusiasts. Also seems to be a trend toward novels & away from short fiction.
Definition of what a magazine is may shift. A lot of online content reflects what used to only be available in magazines. Digital works best for international readers, they don’t need to wait on slow overseas mail. Where do podcasts fit in? The panelists asked but didn’t answer this one and it’s an interesting question. One of the fanzines up for a Hugo is actually a podcast zine.
Money sources are elusive but crucial. Banner ads and Amazon sells bring in revenue. Web sites can be run as ads for the print version with reduced content and related merchandise sales. E-reader market still developing. There’s a difference between promoting a magazine online & publishing it online. Key is multiple revenue streams. Grants, donations, donated labor for Strange Horizons which is a 501(c). Locus is moving that direction.
Advantages to web: international distribution, multi-media, potentially reaching a much wider audience, immediacy, permanence with archived issues, brings you closer to readers. Downside to web: spam, trolls, flame wars, impermanence of content if site goes down, web site skill set requires a new set of staff, brings readers closer to you,
you need to design for multiple platforms and design for specific identity.
Return of the Killer Bs
Greg Bear, David Brin and Gregory Benford are writers I’ve enjoyed for many years. In this panel the three long-time friends talked about sf, their association, and writing in general. Just sat back & enjoyed it without taking notes. I kind of wish I had taken some notes. One thing I do remember them discussing is the decline and potential rise of hard sf. In their opinions the shift in sf seems to moving a bit away from fantasy right now.
I took in a concert while I ate lunch and enjoyed the singer and cellist Unwoman
Shibori
I’ve done a bit of dyeing in the past, both with chemical dyes and natural ones, so I was looking forward to learning some new techniques. The instructor was enthusiastic and not very organized. There were about five panels (out of more than 20) that I was interested in and since I hadn’t really done anything hands-on yet I took a gamble on this. I lost.
After the Shuttle: Our Next Spacecraft
Speculating on where space exploration is headed from an aerospace historian, an aeronautical engineer and an astrophysist/engineer.
Art Direction: What’s Involved
Like most sf readers, I’ve scratched my head over cover art; those covers are sometimes so different from the story inside. Plus, I’d enjoyed the Chesley Awards on Thursday night and the Art Show and was interested in how sf publishers worked with artists. It’s wasn’t surprising to find out that artists are not given a draft of the book to read.
The editor relates the tone & feel of the book and who the potential audience is to the art director who then chooses an artist that fits. The art director looks at portfolios, styles, etc and normally maintain a file of potential artists. Some art directors involve the writer in selecting cover art, at least in the beginning. Purpose of the cover is to connect with the reader, but it is not an illustration. Head buyer of Barnes and Noble is actually the real first buyer. Some artists are given something like a 60-page summary of the book. The assignment is given to the artist who produces preliminary sketches which the art director shows to the editor. A design is chosen and painting produced and sent on for cover design.
Numerous people in the audience were artists seeking to break into this market and they were given advice by the editors on the panel.
Hugo awards ceremony
This was interesting, but I was seated next to a guy who was extremely well dressed but had a distinctly unpleasant body order. I was glad when it was over. Many of the my first picks won, sometimes my second choices did, but that’s okay as the selection was close for me in most cases. I was a little bummed that my last choice of novel won. Definitely not the best written one, but it was popular with readers. My two favorites were:
The Dervish House
Feed
Best moments: Robert Silverberg was hilarious. I’d heard him speak several times this weekend but his at his finest during the Hugos. The editors of the Best Fanzine really were great, one had a fantastic meltdown on stage.
Sunday
The Superior Form: How Short Fiction Remains the Cutting Edge
Panelists: Paul Cornell, Nancy Kress, John Skillingstead
Azimov’s on the iPad was recommended for consistently carrying good short fiction. The anthology market has renewed & cleverly packaged offering an outlet for the best sf stories, fantasy has taken over the novel category so sf flourishes in short form. These seems to be an increased demand now among editors for sf instead of horror and fantasy, a real glut non-short fantasy right now.
SF readers are skilled at reading the genre, there are distinct elements, fantasy is a bit too diverse. Novellas are perfect length: long enough to create alternate existence but short enough for a single plot line. Books that grew out of short form are often better in the short. As a reader it's nice to know that what yo're reading is slef contained an not part of some huge series.
Some writers are just better in the short form. Lucius Shepherd, Harlan Ellison, Ted Chiang, for example. Too bad you can't make a living at it.
A themed short story collection is often better at defining a genre than a group of novels.
The new small presses are moving the published short fiction alive after the magazines.
You should write for your passion, not for what sells, not for what will advance your career to the next level. “Everything you write is informed by how you spend your days."
At this point I had accidentally deleted some the remainder of my notes, this was the portion of the panel where they were giving advice on about how short fiction is the best way to break into sf writing.
History of Masquerade
Inspired by the Masquerade on Friday I decided to check out the history of them. One of the oldest traditions in Worldcon history. The panelists include one woman who entered in 1952 when there was just a short platform for people to parade across and perhaps 4 or 5 awards, made up on the spot.
Recreation costuming was at first resisted, but the Costumers Guild finally recognized them. History of early masquerades is poorly documented, often only in pictures taken by fans. Once Rosslers Rules and the separate divisions were created it was more organized. Things that changed for the better with: 'no custume is no costume’, categories, separate judging of workmanship. Large group costumes have been a good change.
Concept of the division system: some regarded it as elitist, but it enabled newbies to participate without going head to head with experienced costumers. In fact, only the lower divions are protected-any one can participate in master division. First established in 1981 in division. Young fan or juniors came later, generally every kid gets a prize, older kids are hip to this and sometimes resent it,
Rise of Costume Con has drained the numbers of Worldcon entries.
International Costumer's Guild has a link to the Kennedy Memorial Archives the official archives of Worldcon masquerade and and other costume events and there's also a area for subscribers to post photos relating to costuming.
Rest of the afternoon spent at Art auction and waiting in the UPS line to ship home a painting, Doorway in the Sand by Jeff Fennel . It was only $100, which is kind of a steal, but, hey, it was the end of the auction and no one was bidding against me. He’s one of the artists whose works really caught my eye at the Art Show and I’m very, very happy to have it.
Closing ceremonies wound things up and I’m contemplating doing this all over again next year at Chicon 7 in Chicago
Saturday
Web Publishing and the Future of Magazines
Some examples of good web sites (for print publications). There were a few more mentioned that I didn’t manage to jot down.
Strange Horizons
Locus
Weird Tales
SFX
McSweeney’s (literary journal) excellent example of magazine app
Is there a future for magazines? Some said yes, some said it would become more of a boutique publication for niche enthusiasts. Also seems to be a trend toward novels & away from short fiction.
Definition of what a magazine is may shift. A lot of online content reflects what used to only be available in magazines. Digital works best for international readers, they don’t need to wait on slow overseas mail. Where do podcasts fit in? The panelists asked but didn’t answer this one and it’s an interesting question. One of the fanzines up for a Hugo is actually a podcast zine.
Money sources are elusive but crucial. Banner ads and Amazon sells bring in revenue. Web sites can be run as ads for the print version with reduced content and related merchandise sales. E-reader market still developing. There’s a difference between promoting a magazine online & publishing it online. Key is multiple revenue streams. Grants, donations, donated labor for Strange Horizons which is a 501(c). Locus is moving that direction.
Advantages to web: international distribution, multi-media, potentially reaching a much wider audience, immediacy, permanence with archived issues, brings you closer to readers. Downside to web: spam, trolls, flame wars, impermanence of content if site goes down, web site skill set requires a new set of staff, brings readers closer to you,
you need to design for multiple platforms and design for specific identity.
Return of the Killer Bs
Greg Bear, David Brin and Gregory Benford are writers I’ve enjoyed for many years. In this panel the three long-time friends talked about sf, their association, and writing in general. Just sat back & enjoyed it without taking notes. I kind of wish I had taken some notes. One thing I do remember them discussing is the decline and potential rise of hard sf. In their opinions the shift in sf seems to moving a bit away from fantasy right now.
I took in a concert while I ate lunch and enjoyed the singer and cellist Unwoman
Shibori
I’ve done a bit of dyeing in the past, both with chemical dyes and natural ones, so I was looking forward to learning some new techniques. The instructor was enthusiastic and not very organized. There were about five panels (out of more than 20) that I was interested in and since I hadn’t really done anything hands-on yet I took a gamble on this. I lost.
After the Shuttle: Our Next Spacecraft
Speculating on where space exploration is headed from an aerospace historian, an aeronautical engineer and an astrophysist/engineer.
Art Direction: What’s Involved
Like most sf readers, I’ve scratched my head over cover art; those covers are sometimes so different from the story inside. Plus, I’d enjoyed the Chesley Awards on Thursday night and the Art Show and was interested in how sf publishers worked with artists. It’s wasn’t surprising to find out that artists are not given a draft of the book to read.
The editor relates the tone & feel of the book and who the potential audience is to the art director who then chooses an artist that fits. The art director looks at portfolios, styles, etc and normally maintain a file of potential artists. Some art directors involve the writer in selecting cover art, at least in the beginning. Purpose of the cover is to connect with the reader, but it is not an illustration. Head buyer of Barnes and Noble is actually the real first buyer. Some artists are given something like a 60-page summary of the book. The assignment is given to the artist who produces preliminary sketches which the art director shows to the editor. A design is chosen and painting produced and sent on for cover design.
Numerous people in the audience were artists seeking to break into this market and they were given advice by the editors on the panel.
Hugo awards ceremony
This was interesting, but I was seated next to a guy who was extremely well dressed but had a distinctly unpleasant body order. I was glad when it was over. Many of the my first picks won, sometimes my second choices did, but that’s okay as the selection was close for me in most cases. I was a little bummed that my last choice of novel won. Definitely not the best written one, but it was popular with readers. My two favorites were:
The Dervish House
Feed
Best moments: Robert Silverberg was hilarious. I’d heard him speak several times this weekend but his at his finest during the Hugos. The editors of the Best Fanzine really were great, one had a fantastic meltdown on stage.
Sunday
The Superior Form: How Short Fiction Remains the Cutting Edge
Panelists: Paul Cornell, Nancy Kress, John Skillingstead
Azimov’s on the iPad was recommended for consistently carrying good short fiction. The anthology market has renewed & cleverly packaged offering an outlet for the best sf stories, fantasy has taken over the novel category so sf flourishes in short form. These seems to be an increased demand now among editors for sf instead of horror and fantasy, a real glut non-short fantasy right now.
SF readers are skilled at reading the genre, there are distinct elements, fantasy is a bit too diverse. Novellas are perfect length: long enough to create alternate existence but short enough for a single plot line. Books that grew out of short form are often better in the short. As a reader it's nice to know that what yo're reading is slef contained an not part of some huge series.
Some writers are just better in the short form. Lucius Shepherd, Harlan Ellison, Ted Chiang, for example. Too bad you can't make a living at it.
A themed short story collection is often better at defining a genre than a group of novels.
The new small presses are moving the published short fiction alive after the magazines.
You should write for your passion, not for what sells, not for what will advance your career to the next level. “Everything you write is informed by how you spend your days."
At this point I had accidentally deleted some the remainder of my notes, this was the portion of the panel where they were giving advice on about how short fiction is the best way to break into sf writing.
History of Masquerade
Inspired by the Masquerade on Friday I decided to check out the history of them. One of the oldest traditions in Worldcon history. The panelists include one woman who entered in 1952 when there was just a short platform for people to parade across and perhaps 4 or 5 awards, made up on the spot.
Recreation costuming was at first resisted, but the Costumers Guild finally recognized them. History of early masquerades is poorly documented, often only in pictures taken by fans. Once Rosslers Rules and the separate divisions were created it was more organized. Things that changed for the better with: 'no custume is no costume’, categories, separate judging of workmanship. Large group costumes have been a good change.
Concept of the division system: some regarded it as elitist, but it enabled newbies to participate without going head to head with experienced costumers. In fact, only the lower divions are protected-any one can participate in master division. First established in 1981 in division. Young fan or juniors came later, generally every kid gets a prize, older kids are hip to this and sometimes resent it,
Rise of Costume Con has drained the numbers of Worldcon entries.
International Costumer's Guild has a link to the Kennedy Memorial Archives the official archives of Worldcon masquerade and and other costume events and there's also a area for subscribers to post photos relating to costuming.
Rest of the afternoon spent at Art auction and waiting in the UPS line to ship home a painting, Doorway in the Sand by Jeff Fennel . It was only $100, which is kind of a steal, but, hey, it was the end of the auction and no one was bidding against me. He’s one of the artists whose works really caught my eye at the Art Show and I’m very, very happy to have it.
Closing ceremonies wound things up and I’m contemplating doing this all over again next year at Chicon 7 in Chicago
