So 4th Street Fantasy Con. That’s a thing that happened this past weekend.
I had a really good convention, in general. I didn’t make it to all the panels (panel fatigue hit late on Saturday), but the ones I attended were special. I am sad that I missed the “Advice From New Writers” panel on Sunday morning. I had been on that same panel some years ago and was keen to hear what today’s new writers had to say, but we were out late Saturday, and sleep was thing that we needed, desperately needed. I think my two favorite panels where “The Influence of Anxiety” and “The Revision Process” (which was our “But That’s A Different Panel” winner).
As a panelist, I wasn’t at my best this year. I was too slow witted and had trouble sometimes following the various lines of high-level, rapid fire conversation. I attribute part of this to being low level sick all weekend (allergies and migraines) and my meds slowing me down, but I admit that sometimes 4th Street Panels and audience members leave me in the dust with their academic gymnastics and brilliant, deep questions and thoughts. I felt like I handled myself better during the after-panel and dinner discussions, where I had more time to marshal my thoughts and give them coherent form.
I was talking about this with a couple of other writers on Saturday night and we came to the conclusion that there needs to be a panel that is something like “Imposter Syndrome: 4th Street Edition” next year. 4th Street always makes me feel like I’m playing way out of my league and weight-class, but at the same time I always feel like I leave the convention with my game and abilities lifted and improved just a little.
That aside, it was a wonderful convention and gave me a change to reconnect with folks I only see at this convention. One of my favorite things about 4th Street is the ongoing conversation and the chance to have that conversation with friends old and new very June. I look forward to being part of the 4th Street Fantasy Conversation for many years to come.