Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:35:32 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>, "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Great Con Redux...(DMZ Version)
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 03:03 PM 10/17/2005 -0400, Lawhorn, William - BLS wrote:
>Speaking of interesting con things.  I thought I heard talk of a reviewers
>workshop for next year.  That could be a great addition to the programming.
>We all love to read Science Fiction, some even write it, but it would be
>even better if we could all write about it.  That would improve the work of
>current and future reviewers and hopefully create a pool of people and
>material to use in the WSFA journal.

I'd love to see someone *write* something too.  Either a single author
going through whatever it takes to create a short story, perhaps with
audience interaction, or a panel of them creating a group work.  From idea,
through planning, to actual first draft...or even second (being able to
edit your own stuff is critical).  Seeing the sorts of decisions that are
made, and why, would be really helpful to lots of wannabes, and perhaps
even some active writers.

It could be done as a single program item, or broken up into a couple of
them (idea and planning/first draft and edit).  Let people see what it
takes to create the things they love to read...and those who are interested
in writing can see how it's done, or see other ways of doing things.

Perhaps the results could be handed to the reveiewers panel for an
at-the-con review?

Then it could be auctioned off and the proceeds given to the authors, the
con, or some worthy charity?  What, exactly, would be auctioned off could
be worked out with the authors involved...manuscript, first publication
rights, or whatever.  There are others who know more about that stuff than
I do here.

I realize it would take a special sort of author(s) to do this...that most
are very internal in how they work and might have difficulty externalizing
it enough to be entertaining and educational to an audience.  Those that
have taught writing might be good candidates though.

-- Mike B.
--

"One of the joys of travel is visiting new towns and
 meeting new people."
                              -- Genghis Khan