Nothing helps being at a conference like having some of your fellow local writers there. The obvious benefit is having somebody you know to talk to. Since you can’t get to every session, it also gives you somebody to share knowledge with. What’s even better is somebody who has seen, or talked with, an agent you’re going to pitch. It’s all good.

What was great was seeing Don Helin, our long time critique group leader, take his place at the signing table with the rest of the published authors. It was tough to see the look in Tina’s eyes when her pitch got shot down. No matter how many times it happens to each one of us, it’s still hard to deal with. Then there was George’s perennial effervescence, especially when some of the agents wanted to see some of his work. And who can forget about Chas’s and Tina’s arguement over the amount of heat dispensed at the event horizon of a black hole. Apparently, discussions like these are expressions of the Theory of Relativity - meaning that both of these folks had relatively enough liquor in them to theorize about the amount of heat dispensed at the event horizon of a black hole during a writers’ convention. I wonder if this is how the Sci Fri Channel conceives scripts.

It’s also a wonder watching our group network with the other writers. We swapped introductions, made new friends, and got the skinny on all things writing. So, to all of the Area 5 folks that attended - thanks for being there! It made a good time great!!!