mid-Lunacon update

[lagilman]

Well, my apologies to those who came to my reading and found it disrupted by fans with absolutely no manners, who saw nothing wrong with walking into a room where a reading was going on and carrying on loud conversations despite the person obviously reading out loud to an audience.

However, the person who caused some of that disruption apologized publicly later that evening, so my minions (I now have minions!) are letting him live. For the moment. And the short story did seem to get some very positive responses (I read "Serpent's Rock," from the forthcoming YOUNG WARRIORS anthology.


Other than that, and despite hotel problems that seemed to be legion, the convention itself has not been bad. Friday night was spent visiting with friends whom I don't see anywhere near enough, which is always good fun. Acquired a mini-flask from a friend, and picked up a birthday gift for someone that may never make it to him (mine. mine. mine. mine.). Resisted the urge to buy evil put pretty ring, and evil books to add to my evil TBR pile.

The programming was not the best I've ever seen (understatement) but the fan fiction panel got off to a rollicking start with me taking the very unpopular position of "it's illegal. Stop trying to rationalize it, move on." Several people later said they had come just to see what kind of fireworks I was ging to be able to set off. Small but satisfyng ones,as it turned out. And there was a photographer and reporter there from the local (Star Ledger) paper, who made sure to get all our names spelled correctly. Figures, of all the panels they might focus on... oh well.

The "State of SF" panel was likewise interesting, with opening disagreement that evolved into some rather spirited discussion about genre boundries and labeling and marketing, etc. I finally said "screw it, I write stories. The publisher's job is to cast a wide enough net to catch readers, and the reader's job is to get caught in as many nets as they can." Got some applause for that.

I didn't make my evening panel because dinner ran late, which meant that I also missed paleologa's entry into the world of novice costuming -- and her triumphant ascension to Journeyman class by the end of the evening. Go, team Malibu, once again! And go, ninja trees!

Poker, late into the night with friends (does anyone remember who said that the new PC term for poker was now "take her to dinner and a movie?" I need to hit them again) and a stroll through the parking lot with kradical and terri_osborn to find my car, rounded out the day. Literally, as I didn't get home until a little after 2am.

And now, back into it, for a few more hours before I have to do some Familial Obligation things...

Comments

[david-chunn.livejournal.com]

Other than agreeing with you that fanfic is illegal, I just don't understand it. The whole concept boggles my mind. I mean, I can understand wanting to write in someone else's setting but not with someone else's characters and existing story situations. Why would you want to? And if that person doesn't want you to write stories in their setting, again, why would you?

[bill-leisner.livejournal.com]

I finally said "screw it, I write stories. The publisher's job is to cast a wide enough net to catch readers, and the reader's job is to get caught in as many nets as they can." Got some applause for that.

(*additional time-delayed clapping*) Well said.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Well, fan fic *is* illegal. It's just a crime that most writers and publishers don't prosecute if no serious profit isbeing made off it, like the IRS not chasing small time tax debtors. Morality is a bit different, I think, and I suspect that is where the rationalizations start. I'm still forming thoughts on the latter. Some writers have made it clear, like Marion Zimmer Bradley, that they like sharing their worlds. Maybe not their favorite characters, but their worlds. Some, like Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, have made it very clear that they don't. So that should have some impact too. In addition, there is a difference between writing something for your own pleasure that no one else will ever see and writing something for other people to read. I don't like to write fan fic a lot because I want to be working on my own stories and learning the skills for those, which are different from the skills for fan fic writing.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Congrats on resisting books and ring. Half Price Books was having a sale yesterday. I got out with 4 books, two for landscaping repairs.

It was close, though--very close....

[lagilman]

well, it can be fun, for one thing. Getting to set right storylines the official writers put wrong/didn't do. Fannish indulgence, but mostly harmless.

For the other, being able to write in shorthand -- no worldbuilding needed, since everyone knows all th set-up details already -- allows the writer to focus on voice and plot, if they so desire.

Same thing goes for people who want to use established worlds/characters as roleplaying foundations.

So long as everyone keeps it quiet and washes their hands afterward, it flies under the radar and copyright/trademark holders can pretend it's not happening. But that requires everyone to accept and acknowledge the need to keep it quiet -- and the right of said holders to crack down when it gets noisy -- and far too many of them don't. That's the part I've never been able to understand.

[lagilman]

I Enabled others to buy, instead. It seemed the least I could do for the economy...

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

As all writers should do...