I suspect it is an industry standard: the 250, 150, and 50 word synopsis. It may be that some authors, occupying celestial strata I can only dream of, have a publisher’s marketing department write these. I don’t know, I have to do it myself.
Some might consider that I wasted a three-day pass to Rose City Comic Con by only attending Friday night. But downtown Portland is a bit of a trek from my house, and I only needed to be there Friday for my panel. I took a few trips through the maze of the convention floor, seeing the merchandise and the artist and writer tables. Friday is the evening for it, if, like me, you don’t care much for crowds.
It is self-evident, of course, that if no one hears of your work, no one will purchase it. I understand that, I acknowledge and accept it. That doesn’t mean I have to like the necessary corollary: publicity.
I finished my last panel for MALCon 2019. Here it is noon, Mountain Time, and I have ten hours until my flight home. So, I suppose I’ll sit here in the lobby, write up this week’s web log, and watch the usual colorful con suspects go by.
Only a brief note this web log, I’m afraid. MBW, the HA, and I were in Washington State this weekend, visiting a couple places we’ve not been to before. A late arrival home, added to necessary chores, squeezed out the time required to scribble my usual nonsense.
Despite my turtlelike preferences, I do appear in public from time-to-time, in the hopes of shilling my wares. This year, it seems, I’ll be poking my head out at three conventions.
I received invitations recently to serve as a panelist on two conventions, MALCon in August and Orycon in November. I suppose I will accept and attend. However, I have been considering whether or not I should.
It ought to be clear by this point that I will not have a book out in January. We can all agree on that, right? So, how do matters stand on the writing front? Let me tell you.
Orycon approaches. Time to mingle, share from my meager store of knowledge, and roam from room party to room party.
I received my schedule the other day. If you are in Portland during the convention, pick up a membership and come say hello.
| Fri Nov 9 4:00:pm | Fri Nov 9 5:00:pm | Story Pacing: Hurry Up, and Wait |
| Pettygrove | Speed the story up, raise the stakes, increase the tension — But not too much. Readers, like runners, want to keep moving fast but can’t go at a breakneck pace all the time. What are the techniques, large and small, to make you story roller-coaster a fun, exciting ride? | |
| David D. Levine Diana Pharaoh Francis Ken Lizzi Richard A. Lovett Wendy N. Wagner | ||
| Fri Nov 9 5:00:pm | Fri Nov 9 6:00:pm | Autograph Session: Friday 5pm |
| Dealers: Autographs | Authors and artists sign things | |
| Alma Alexander Ken Lizzi | ||
| Sat Nov 10 5:00:pm | Sat Nov 10 6:00:pm | Building an Extended Series |
| Pettygrove | Some readers want to immerse themselves into a series, rather than just a single book. They want to binge. And once your trilogy is done, then what? How to expand your literary universe instead of walking away from your book or short series forever. | |
| Joseph Brassey Ken Lizzi Mike Shepherd Moscoe Seanan McGuire Steve Perry | ||
| Sun Nov 11 10:00:am | Sun Nov 11 10:30:am | Ken Lizzi Reading |
| 152 Readings | Ken Lizzi reads from his works. | |
| Ken Lizzi | ||
| Sun Nov 11 2:00:pm | Sun Nov 11 3:00:pm | Consequences of Violence |
| Overton | Random groups wandering the countryside and slaying evil-doers are less likely to be seen as heroes than as murder hoboes. Our panel will discuss the mechanisms that real societies (and realistic fiction) use to limit violent actors. | |
| Crystal Connor Ken Lizzi Rory Miller S. B. Sebrick | ||
How is the writing coming along? Well, notional interlocutor, I’ll tell you.