In college, I took several elective creative writing classes. When I asked what steps I should take to further my craft, my professor suggested I should look into writing conferences to make connections in the industry. It took years, but, I finally followed that advice (even if it was basically by chance.)
What is Capclave?
Capclave is “a small relaxed literary convention with a program that usually focuses on the short fiction form.” It is hosted by the Washington (D.C.) Science Fiction Association (WSFA), which is the oldest science fiction club in the greater Washington D.C. area. Its members cover facets of all types of science fiction and fantasy.
Capclave has existed since 2001, and its predecessor convention was Disclave, which WSFA hosted as well from 1950 to 1997. All that is to say: as long as I’ve been an avid science fiction and fantasy reader in the northeast, it is astounding I never head of WSFA or its sister organization, the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS), until early this year.
And I never would have attended Capclave if it wasn’t for placing first in BSFS’s Amateur Writing Contest. This was my first writing convention, I look forward to attending many more in the future!
Because of the coronavirus, Capclave was all virtual this year. Here are the panels and events I attended:
Day 1: 17 October 2020, Saturday
- Breaking the Genre Boundaries
- Ask Me Anything – Editor Edition
- Magic – Obvious or Mysterious?
- WSFA Small Press Awards Ceremony
- Catherynne Valente and Seanan McGuire Discussion
As the day went on, it became clear, this convention might be on the smaller side, but it features a powerhouse of writing professionals in the literary world. The guest of honor this year was Troy L. Wiggins, who is a co-editor of Fiyah Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, and has been published in almost too many SFWA-qualifying markets to count!
Several panels I attended also had guests like Neil Clarke, editor of Clarkesworld Magazine, and author of October Daye series Seanan McGuire. Overall, I found the Zoom environment incredibly accessible; I’m never a person who asks questions at conventions. (But I usually have them.) Especially in an environment like this, surrounded by professionals in the field I want to break into, being able to ask questions in a low-pressure environment like a Zoom Q&A tab was revelatory.
The biggest moment of day one, for me, though was the WSFA Small Press Awards, where the Amateur Writing Contest winners were also announced. Since this was the topic of last week’s post, I’ll abstain from waxing poetic again.
Day 2: 18 October 2020, Sunday
- Authorial Friendships
- Fran Wilde Reading
- Sarah Beth Durst and Friends
- Don’t Self Reject!
- Developing a Fantasy Series
- GRRM Junior Edition – YA Dark Fantasy
Day 2’s schedule was packed with panels I was interested in. Most notably, “Don’t Self-Reject”, and “Sarah Beth Durst and Friends” were at the same time, so, achievement unlocked, I had two panels going at the same time. I do miss in-person conventions: but, it was great to not have to worry about transportation time, or carving out time to go find food.
The other surprise of day 2 for me was Rebecca F. Kuang, author of the Poppy War trilogy, dropping in for the “Developing a Fantasy Series” panel!
Final Thoughts
One of the biggest epiphanies over the course of this weekend, for me, was: the gap between myself and the authors I met this weekend, is not as vast as I’ve been thinking.
I don’t mean that in an arrogant way: I know I have tons of work ahead of me, and everything to learn, about writing, storytelling, and the publishing industry. But these authors whose books I fawn over are not idols, they are humans like me. They were in my shoes once. I can talk to them (respectfully), I can learn from them. We are a community. My first Capclave was encouraging and empowering, something sorely needed in this, the longest year.
Unrelated non-sequitur: make your plan to VOTE!
Until next time,
-M