Suzzanne Myers

So, OryCon is now done. I met a few really awesome writers, including Mary Robinette Kowal, Ken Scholes and Nisi Shawl. These guys were part of some awesome panels like Writing the Other, Ken’s Writing Workshop and panels on selling your work and world-building.  There was a lot of great advice from everyone on these panels, but I felt these three particularly contributed valuable information I can use in my own writing.  I also got great feedback on my story from participating in the Writer’s Workshop and I highly recommend the Open Read & Critique sessions.

The Writing the Other panel was an incredibly valuable experience.  I will definitely buy Nisi’s book of the same title. For me, writing is always a process of learning, and what I like to learn about most is the human condition.  I write the story because the idea is interesting to me, but through the course of the story’s journey I learn a lot about how I perceive (or want to perceive) the world and its people.  Nisi Shawl brought up an excellent point though: it seems writers are afraid to tackle existing cultures in their stories.  It’s not that the majority of Speculative fiction is told from a white perspective; it’s that the majority of these stories simply gloss over who or where their characters come from.  Yet one of the most interesting aspects of Speculative fiction is the exploration of vastly different places, peoples, ways of living, ideas and problems.  Shouldn’t we explore these things with more sincerity?  If it’s important to tie world-building to real life in a way readers can identify with, then I think  it is equally important to tie the characters to real world peoples and cultures.

Another thing this panel did was give me encouragement.  While I’ve been writing Brokenworld I’ve had lingering doubts that anyone would ever buy it, let alone like it, because I’m white and writing about a Lakota girl.  But this panel encouraged me to continue researching the Lakota perspective and to be humble – yes, to understand that I am an outsider asking another culture to let me tell stories about them and that I need to approach the idea from a perspective of humility and respect.  This means talking to Lakota people and asking them to read my story to give me a real world perspective on it.  It means reading Lakota literature from both the past and present so I can understand what issues socially, culturally and politically are important to them.  Maybe I won’t get it 100% right, but I will certainly try my best. I’m a sincere writer who is interested in stories about people and without the people, there are no stories!

Nisi also directed me to the Carl Brandon Society, which I intend to join.

This was my first convention.  Here are some thoughts I had about the experience as a whole:

1. Networking is not as hard as it seems.  Have a ready smile and prepare some questions.  If you can’t think of questions before hand, make notes during the panels and take a moment to talk with the authors afterward.
2. I came away with a more humble perspective on myself as a writer. So I have one story published. So what?  I need to get writing and sell more stories!
3. Going to conventions and attending the writing panels is a MOTIVATING experience.  Meeting authors and other aspiring writers, participating in writing discussions and learning from the pros is extremely encouraging.  If you don’t have anything published, this is probably the most valuable aspect of the convention experience.
4. Do the writing workshops or open read & critiques.  Getting face to face feedback is extremely valuable.
5. I need to get writing!

I’m looking forward to attending OryCon next year. Hopefully I’ll also be able to go to one or two other conventions in between.