This weekend I attended a science fiction convention, which, instead of being based around talks by TV & movie actors, autograph signing sessions, and huge gaming and dealers rooms, was centered on the writers and writing of SF. Some names of note who were on panels and who presented their work: Nancy Kress, Daniel A. Rabuzzi, David DeGraff, and Robert J. Sawyer, best known for writing FlashForward, which is now a hit ABC TV series (he's now working as consultant on the series, and will be penning at least one episode.). A sampling of panel topics included writing for YA (Young Adults), podcasting, writing alternate realities, routes to publication, and "Twitter My Jetpack," about future technologies that didn't come to pass, and ones that have blindsided us.
I wasn't sure what I would get out of a convention aimed at writing and publishing fiction, as opposed to writing the screenplay or teleplay, but the gem for me was meeting and hearing Rob Sawyer speak about his career track (from television to publishing, and back to television). I was a bit embarrassed to say I hadn't yet watched more than 10 minutes of FlashForward, but now that I have a feeling for it, I'm going to give it a shot and dig the groove.
I was very pleased to meet Daniel A. Rabuzzi, author and champion of cross-genre writing (and many other things), as well as David DeGraff, professor of astronomy researching science in science fiction. Both wonderful people, very warm, genuine and completely fascinating.
So what did I get out of this convention? The discussion on writing for YA has helped me think about "Beauty Is..." (1950s coming of age piece), particularly around the darker aspects of the story I'm telling. I kept holding back on different characters and elements of the story, afraid it was getting too edgy and dark. I'm more inclined at this point to throw all caution to the wind, and just write the story that's inside me, that wants to see the light of day. It will be what it will be. I am grateful to all the panels and especially to Dan for helping me get to this point.
Another topic that warmed me to a potential story I want to tell is the concept of alternate histories/realities. In fact, one of my screenwriting students this semester is working on an alternate history piece, and I feel more informed now going into this with him. For my own writing, I've had an idea involving alternative reality-jumping germinating in the mold way down in the cellar of my brain. I think it's time that's brought up to the sun porch as well, to bask in the light and decide what kind of thing it is to become.
I am blown away by the networks of these SF writers, and now that I see how many places and times they have created for intersection (regional cons like this one and Eeriecon in Niagara Falls, and much larger ones such as Worldcon and Readercon), I am going to have to start plugging myself in. Screenwriting is screenwriting - it isn't like writing a short story or a novel - but creating the concepts and characters of SF require a healthy diet of reading, meeting, and writing no matter what the format.
Such is the writing life.
This Wednesday I have a phone meeting with a manager and, as such, I am putting things like grading aside for a few days to get myself ready for that. This con has given me some much-needed insight to get a couple things up to speed for that meeting.
Next order of business, however, will be getting a night of good, solid sleep. I am rather weary at the moment. Weary, but happy, inspired, and extremely motivated.
No comments:
Post a Comment