"Dark Fantasy/Horror Newsletter Vol." - читать интересную книгу автора

DARK FICTION/HORROR WRITERS WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
03.28.96
Vol. 3, Issue 13
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IN THIS ISSUE: Into the Darkness, White Pines Quarterly Fold - Dead of Night
delays publication - White Wolf Goes to Television - Deathrealm Banned -
Reviews - More Witchery!
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:::THE PROS OF CONS:::

There are those who contend that conventions are a waste of money and time
and that instead of going to them the latter could be better spent pursuing
about any venture that might bring in the former. Or maybe you would get more
out of changing the oil in your car. Either pursuit, they contend, would
insure that you avoid the bloated egos of self-anointed genre messiahs and
the slimy pandering of besotted fans.

Far be it from me to doubt the validity of that contention. I'll agree that
any event that involves scores of people who really enjoy learning to speak
Klingon and wearing fake pointed ears may, if you do not have similar
interests, not be for you.

But I am not really discussing the hundreds of SF-oriented fan cons big and
small. They have their place and those that cater somewhat to the horror
crowd do have merit at least as a market place. (One does have to deal with
the masses if one wishes to sell one's books/magazines/t-shirts/etc.) To an
extent even these cons have some of the attributes I deal with below, so
don't negate them completely -- especially if 1) someone else will pay your
way or 2) they are local enough to be cheap and accessible.

Our topic is more attuned to those gatherings that are primarily considered
"pro cons." The premiere event in this category for horrorists is the yearly
World Horror Convention. This year it's slated for Eugene, Oregon, May 9-12.
As an example, by the time you pay for airfare, membership and a room for
WHC, most of us are looking at an expenditure of at least $500 and most
likely closer to $1000 Is it worth it?

WHC, since it is the only real con exclusively for horror, tends to attract
just about everybody who can justify it as a tax write-off. That means that
there is a good chance there will be plenty of people you respect or loath
that will show up. Contact value is high. The panels are usually fairly
worthwhile for at least beginning writers and often provide a great deal of
useful information. Informal gatherings are even more informative and more
fun. If you already have friends in the field (or cybercontacts you haven't
met in the flesh) this is one chance to have fun and network, too.

If you can only get to one -- WHC should be it.

The Horror Writers Association Meeting and Awards Banquet is certainly NOT a
con, but it is a gathering of semi-pros and pros that's worth attending