Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:13:00 -0400
From: Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Great Con Redux...(DMZ Version)
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Mike B. wrote:

>  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.

Harlan Ellison is the only person I can think of who can write for a
live audience (he wrote "Daniel White For The Greater Good" in my
Greenwich Village apartment while a party swirled around him, reading
his latest to us every three or so pages -- and of course he's written
stories in shop windows).  For most of us more solitude -- no
distractions -- is required.  Writers are not trained monkeys and should
not be treated as though they are.

--Ted White