Arrant Nonsense

My house is now (relatively) clean.
I have packed the books I want to have signed.
I have packed everything else, except for my computer and my deodorant, both of which will go in when I'm done using them tomorrow.
I have printed out two copies of the story I collaborated on with my RP partner.
I have made and printed my "Writer at Work" sign, which amuses me because I am easily entertained.
I have printed out the part of the RoboBunny story I'm going to read at my reading.

All I have left is:

• Turn off Facebook notifs (because I really do not want to have to keep track of a couple hundred of those per day while I'm at a convention, or come home to "AOL: 800" in my X-notifier).
  
• Check the airline loads again, which I should do a bit later today to get a more accurate idea of whether I'll be able to get a seat on tomorrow's flight.
  
• Finish the workshop crits. I'm mostly done with those, but I'd like to poke them a bit more.

I still feel like I'm forgetting something, and I no doubt have, because I always do. But I'm as ready (at this point) as I will ever be.

Join us at MisCon 30, Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30), in Missoula, MT, at the downtown Holiday Inn. Guests will include Jim Butcher, Patrick Rothfuss, Kevin J. Anderson, Carol Berg, CJ Cherryh, Steve Diamond, Todd Lockwood, Peter Orullian, Christopher Paolini, Jeff Sturgeon, Robin Hobb and many many others.

MisCon is one of my very favorite conventions. I've been twice and plan on making it a regular thing. I'll be arriving (assuming plans work out and the flights don't close up on me) around 1pm-ish on Friday, staying at the hotel (and I could use a roomie who doesn't mind someone who snores), and leaving on Tuesday.

My schedule (so far, subject to change) is as follows:

Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM, Beyond The Fangs, Ballroom B
Moderator: Diana Pharaoh Francis (Di); Panelists: Jim Butcher, Diana Pharaoh Francis (Di), Julie Frost, Rhiannon Held, Randy Henderson
Urban Fantasy encompasses more than just vampires and werewolves, yet it seems that the fanged creatures of the night have captured the limelight. What other creatures, dangerous and ghastly, lurk around dark city corners?

Sat 11:00 - 11:50 AM, What I Learned at Writers of the Future, Jefferson
Moderator: James Glass; Panelists: Kevin J Anderson, Julie Frost, James Glass, Randy Henderson
Join Writers of the Future Contest judge Kevin J Anderson and past winners and as they teach you what they learned at the WoF contest. Learn the tips and tricks that will propel you forward in your career.

Sat 1:00 - 1:50 PM, World Building 101, Ballroom C
Panelists: Kent Davis, Deby Fredericks, Julie Frost, Hugh S. Gregory
Let's talk about world building. Is it better to start with a fully fleshed out world or one that evolves as you write? Setting is still world building. How do you make it a living, breathing entity within your book? What elements do you need? Religions, cultures, races, diseases, economics?

Sat 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Fiction Slam Readings, Tent By the Trees
Moderator: Rhiannon Held; Panelists: Julie Frost, Rhiannon Held, Frog Jones
Come hear your favorite pro read a selection of their work.
1500: Rhiannon Held
1520: Julia Frost
1540: Frog Jones

Sat 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Meet & Greet/Signing: Randy Henderson/Julie Frost, Hotel Lobby of Doom
Panelists: Julie Frost, Randy Henderson
Meet a few of our authors, get signatures, and see what they're up to these days.

Sat 5:00 - 5:50 PM, Keeping the Momentum, Glacier
Moderator: Randy Henderson; Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis (Di), Julie Frost, Ann Gimpel, Randy Henderson
Maybe you're receiving some really great rejections, or perhaps you've got a couple short stories published--now what? How do you maintain that momentum? What's the next step? This is for those writers who are on the cusp of professionalism and those who want to learn what it's like.

Sun Noon - 12:50 PM, Flaws: a Double-Edged Sword, Ballroom B
Moderator: Julie Frost; Panelists: Julie Frost, Randy Henderson, Robin Hobb, J.A. Pitts
Many of our flaws can have beneficial features as well. Take Scarlett O'Hara, for example: she's manipulative...which makes her clever. She ambitious...which makes her tenacious and persistent. Join us as we talk about the dual nature of our weaknesses.

Mon 11:00 - 11:50 AM, Writing Part-Time, Glacier
Moderator: James Glass; Panelists: Spencer G. Ellsworth, Julie Frost, James Glass, Dean Wells
We often dream of becoming full-time writers, but what if you can’t? What if you don’t want to? In this panel we’ll discuss the pros and cons of writing part time, and more importantly, making time for your writing while still doing your day job.

I'm doing a workshop as well, Sunday from 10:00-11:00 in Room 218. The participants for this are pre-arranged.

JOIN US. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.