Plans

Why is it that when one highlights one's hair, it always seems like there will be broad swaths of highlighting, but in truth there are almost no highlights at all when one's finished?

(I don't really expect an answer.)

Con plans for 2009:
Conestoga 13, April 24-26, Tulsa
This is definite, hotel already booked. Hope to be a panelist again, but haven't talked to EB yet. Must do.

Wiscon 33, May 22-25, Madison, WI
This is definite, hotel booked thanks to the help of the wonderful jess_ka. Not sure about doing any panels, because I'll be a small fry there, but hope to do the BU RFR, at least. Codex breakfast? Fantasy Magazine breakfast?

SoonerCon, June 5-7, OKC
Home con, a lot of media and gaming. I will probably do this one, primarily to see writer friends. ;o)

Campbell Conference, July 9-12, Lawrence, KS
I will probably do this, although I haven't booked any time in the dorm yet. I suspect that I won't go to the two-week workshop, but perhaps come up early for the writers' retreat. That depends on schedule and money. Would be wonderful to see the greatly awesome James Gunn again, along with all the other usual suspects.

ArmadilloCon 31, August 14-16, Austin, TX
My FAVORITE!! con of all time. I actually did consider not going to the WOTF workshop last year because it fell on the same week-end as Armadillo. What were they thinking? I've already purchased my registration for 2009, but haven't gotten the room yet.

Fencon, Sept 18-20, DFW (Addison, really)
Haven't made up my mind, but will probably do this one. The hotel is, BTW, very nice.

So, lots of conning this year. No WFC or WorldCon, though. Quiet.

Youch!

When do we develop thick skin?

When I get a rejection that I know has been held, it always stings far worse than when I get 15-day rejection. When it's been held for months, it's even worse.

A part of me always thinks....Ooh! I might get into ___________ magazine, which would be awesomely cool, and then I would have _______ stories in print and _____________ might read it! Ooh! Ooh!

And while I try to train myself not to get all optomistic and attached to certain sales, I still do at times. Some more than others. I don't have an algorithm that can tell which sale I want the worst, but I suspect it's something like:

Publication + Editor + Fit + Pay - OpportunityCost + TimeInvested = Desire-to-Sell

Heaven help me if I get a 500+ day rejection soon. I'll be super grumpy.