For some reason I find it impossible to post a con report anywhere within a week of returning from one. Odd.

Anyways, this was my first time to WisCon. I’d heard SO MANY GOOD THINGS about this convention I figured I had to go. The fact that so many friends and super cool people were going had nothing to do with me attending. Seriously. Ha.

And wow, what a fantastic time this convention turned out to be. Besides the fact that I was on 5–yes, 5!–panels, which kept me moving and shaking for 2 of the 5 days, the entire long weekend was a blur. The panels I was on ran the gamut from The Craft of Writing YA (which was fun except for the rather large amount of topic drift) to Your Writing Process is Ridiculous (which was, in fact, a rather ridiculous panel).

My favourite panel was Lets Build a World, which I got to play as a god with Benjamin Rosenbaum, Yoon Ha Lee, and David Levine. We created the Planet of Lolcats! Yes, it really is that silly, which was presented in the form of a musical called I Can Haz Musical, The Musical! This panel was a seriously crazy amount of fun and I hope I get to play in that sandbox again in a subsequent year. You can check out details on the Planet of Lolcats over here: Wiscon Panel Notes: Build a World.

Besides the panels, it was great to see old friends as always…as well as meet some new people I’ve only known via the interwebs. Now, according to the pics I posted (and others), it looks like there was a lot of drinking going on. Well, we’re writers. There was. I cannot tell a lie. But there were also a lot of super fun parties and dinner outings as well–including one fun night at a cool little Tibetan restaurant. That’s one thing that impressed me about Madison. The restaurants! They were good, tasty, and cheap. I mean cheap unless you order $100 of sushi like Sara McClung and I did–between THE TWO OF US. Yeah, nothing quite like getting a sushi boat for two. Remember this kids: don’t drink on an empty stomach and then order food. Things can get crazy!

See, now things got a little silly during one of the parties. It seems that Sara and Amber van Dyk think I do this thing called “The Chin” in photos. Where I tilt my head down slightly at an angle and vogue or pose or whatever. In fact, they think it’s so funny they started mimicking me throughout the evening (ha ha ha!). I’m sure alcohol did not influence them into this obviously futile pursuit. But did they tire of it? Did they stop? No. Not until they passed out. Oh yes, it was a marvelous evening of them doing “The Chin” and me denying it.

Here’s Sara, thinking she’s all that–doing “The Chin”.

Pretty funny, eh? Yeah, I think so. Especially since I don’t do that. (Okay, maybe a little, but that’s it!)

I shot a quick little video at one of the parties to illustrate that I do not, in fact, do “The Chin.” Sara and Amber do their very best to try–key word being try–and make fun of me and my “posing”.

So… take a look.

Do I really do “The Chin” or did they consume way too much alcohol and raw, mercury-laced fish over the weekend?

I have to say, WisCon was a total blast and I will definitely be keeping this con on my radar for next year. In fact, maybe I will go register now…

…this post is just to say that after a numerous delays, cancelled flights, and a quick jaunt to Milwaukee, I’m back. Was very busy with day jobbery yesterday, will be today and for the rest of the week, but the post will be coming. I promise.

With pics. Including The Chin™.

But wow, what an amazing time. Missing everyone like mad already.

Wow. May disappeared in a blink, and now I find myself departing for WisCon34 bright and early tomorrow morning.

So I guess I better post my schedule. There are some great panels this year and I’ve been lucky to find myself on some of them.

Here is where I’m scheduled to be. Other than the below, I will be here (bar), there (bar), and everywhere (bar).

The Craft of Writing YA

6 Feet Long With Spikes: What Makes a Good Writer’s Group?

Treatment of Aging in Science Fiction and Fantasy Redux

Let’s Build a World

Your Writing Process Is Ridiculous!

Where is the time going? I can’t believe we’re already exactly 1-month away from WisCon34.

Which means, it’s also roll call time!

Now, most of the people I know who are going, well, I know that they’re going already–but that doesn’t mean they (you!) don’t have to chime in! Drop a comment and let me know what you’re looking forward to at WisCon (and yes, drinking with me is a viable answer–haha ). And if I don’t know you already and somehow you’ve stumbled onto this entry and are going to WisCon34, then please leave a comment and say hello.

Schedule and panels are still being finalized, but it looks like there are going to be some amazing panels this year. I will post my schedule as soon as it’s concrete.

Looking forward to the con–and hopefully seeing some or all of you there.

I’ll be at the bar.

With the Canadian dollar doing so well against the USD right now, I thought what a great time to purchase my WisCon 34 membership. The only thing I need to take care of is flights, as my hotel rooming situation is already taken care of.

Really looking forward to this convention as it’ll be my first time attending–and I’ve heard so many great things.

I hope to see some of you there in May.