Got back from WisCon ("The world's foremost feminist science fiction convention" in Madison, Wisconsin) Monday afternoon and crashed, then spent all day today working on DucKon's program book, so this is the first chance I've had to write about it. WisCon was a great Con. I was interested to note how many pro-writers were there, several of which are mid-west locals and I invited to next year's DucKon... we'll see who comes.

On Friday morning, I attended the Writer's Workshop. Their comments verified other people's critique that this story needs world-building, which I knew, but they helped bunches in giving me some really good ideas as to where to do that world-building. While that was helpful, the best part came from talking to another aspiring-author, then trying to analyze where I thought his manuscript problems were, and how to fix them. Of course, my analysis really had nothing to do with his stuff (though he was kind enough to listen to my thoughts) but what it really did was clarify to me another aspect of the problem I'm having with 'A Happy Medium'... lack of energy. In picking his stuff apart, I was able to see my flaws, and in trying to help him fix his stuff, I was able to verbalize ways to fix mine... worth every minute. :-)

The panels I went to were good, but lacking something in some vague way I can't define although I've tried... and I'm quite willing to admit the lack is my expectation. A couple of the panels were too beginning for me, others didn't go the way I expected them to, thereby not answering my specific question, but in all of the panels I took a bunch of notes, so I may change my mind as to their usefulness when I go back and read the notes. The good things that came out of the panels, were a couple very specific questions answered which should really help, and the email address of a professor of epidemiology. For one of my waiting-to-be-written stories I need to build a virus to do something specific, now I have the resource. Way cool! :-)

Beyond that, WisCon was held in a very nice hotel, nicely sized for the number of people there (~800), and the area around the hotel was full of fun shops and great places to eat... unlike most Con-hotels that are usually set out in the middle of nowhere, at least as far as food and shopping are concerned. All-in-all, I had a good time, but not sure I'll go back next year... but can't really define why not. Maybe the reason will come to me as I process it further.

As for DucKon... <sigh> all I can say is the program book is finally done and off to the printer. My perfectionistic-streak is screaming at me that it needed a whole bunch more proof reading, but it's off to the printer and too late now... one of those good-news/bad-news things. Tomorrow I email all my participants and check for the last time that they're all set. Then I need to finalize the things I'm going to say in the workshop I'm giving. Then comes the pocket program. And then I'm sure they'll find other stuff for me to do. :-) But, I'm really looking forward to this year's DucKon. Oh, besides everything else, I need to get a stained glass piece done so I can have it ready for the art show. I tried to talk my way out of it this year, but art show folks wanted my stuff for diversity, so I'll drag it along, and who knows, somebody may buy something, wouldn't that be nice.

And tomorrow I start the edit of "A Happy Medium"... I hope. After putting it off so long, I'm hoping that this is finally it, that I can finally start... especially considering Thursday is my kids' last day of school... HELP!! :-) Well, I've made it through the last two summers so I can make it through this one.