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Wit & Travesty

4 Perks Writers Can Get Out of Comic Con

WRITER'S LIFE ADVICE

writers comic con

A few weeks ago, I was telling my coworkers about our plans to attend Salt Lake Comic Con. While most of them are nerdy about movies, music, books, and TV shows, some didn’t seem that enthralled with the idea of paying to attend a comic con. It mainly boiled down to “Whatever you do or see at comic con can be done on the internet.” Sure sure, you can buy whatever you like online, but there’s nothing like the experience of being in a convention center bursting at the seams with geeky people.

I think we got so much more out of comic con because we’re both writers. If you’re thinking about going to a local comic con, here are some major perks you can glean as a writer-attendee.

Whitney: Opportunity to Meet Local Writers

One of my favorite parts about comic con was meeting local writers and creators. Comic cons will often have booths where local publishing companies can sell their recent published works, and authors will often come (dressed up even!) to represent their books. You can ask them to sign their books, or take pictures with said author.

Another great opportunity is book signings. I went to a few signings and got to meet Margaret Stohl and E. K. Johnston. Look them up if you haven’t already! Both were very gracious and every inch the fangirl I thought they’d be.

So what’s the takeaway for writers? You get two big benefits: geek out over your favorite authors and their latest works, and you get to observe what authors in your genre are doing to promote themselves.

If you’ve ever considered traditionally or self-publishing, it seems like a glimpse into the future. Depending on how close you are to publishing, you can interview these writers to learn what it takes to reserve booths, get people to stop and check out their books, and so on. It’s like getting a free marketing class.

If you get the chance to meet local authors, take the time to chat with them and buy their books if you’re truly interested. The good you do for local writers could translate into good karma for when it’s your turn to shine.

Travis: Valuable Writing Panels

I talked to a number of people at and about comic con during the week it took place who were surprised to learn that there was more to do there than get costumed up and hang out with other nerds. In fact, one of the most valuable parts of comic con is all the other stuff that goes on, which often includes panels for writers! Whether you write comic books, screenplays, short stories or novels, chances are high that there’s a panel devoted to it. Some are run by fans, and many are filled by authors. Some panels even have editors and agents on them!

Writing panels offer immensely valuable advice for writers in just about any stage of their careers. Most panels will be targeted at a specific group of writers, such as those who write in certain genres, or those interested in a certain type of publishing. It’s just a matter of choosing which ones appeal to you—though you may have to prioritize, as it’s common for panels to overlap.

Very often, the moderator will open the floor to questions from the audience, meaning if there’s some particular issue you’re having with your writing, you can bring that question to a few panels and get personal feedback from a wide variety of professionals. On top of that, many of the authors who sit on panels make themselves available to a few one-on-one questions after panels end.

Even if you don’t have specific issue, writing panels can be fantastic wells of inspiration for your work, not only from the people sitting on the panel, but the audience as well. Sometimes they’re even formatted to allow time for writing, right there in the panel! If you do nothing else at Con, this is what I recommend.

Whitney: Exposure to More Novels

As I mentioned earlier, there are booths on booths for books—of the novel variety, not just comics! Throughout comic con, you can hear a lot about new and upcoming books or changes in the industry. If you come with open ears, you can learn a lot about new genres, new authors, and recently released novels that might be outside of your usual scope.

At comic con, there will generally be a focus on fantasy and fiction novels, so you might not find what you’re looking for in the way of nonfiction. As I attended panels and weaved through the aisles, I came into contact with a lot of interesting titles and book ideas that were interesting and a bit out of my normal TBR list.

For example, as much as I’m a Star Wars fan, I had no idea there were so many recent Star Wars canon novels out there—and a lot of them written by women! Since I usually don’t delve into science fiction, this was like a revelation, and you can bet that Travis and I filled our arms with as many books as we could afford.

Travis: New Writer Friends

An important thing to understand about comic con before going, is that it’s a social scene. From beginning to end, its endless hustle and bustle (the fun kind), and there are people everywhere. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, and other writers in particular. It’s easy if you go to the panels; you can get whole bunches in one room!

Take that opportunity. Get to know some new people in genres you write in or are interested. Network with the other writers and panelists. Take the chance to geek out with the people cosplaying from your favorite fandom. Exercise some of the social muscles you didn’t know you had. Getting out and meeting some new people is part of having a full comic con experience!

time key
Whitney (aka hip hop Rey) holding Time Key by Melanie Bateman

So that’s just a bit of our shared experiences we had as writers and comic con participants. Have you been to a comic con before, and what was it like? We definitely want to hear about your cosplay, too!

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cosplay, indie authors, local authors, novels, Salt Lake Comic Con, SLCC, traditional publishing
4 Comments on 4 Perks Writers Can Get Out of Comic Con

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4 comments on “4 Perks Writers Can Get Out of Comic Con”

  1. Mariah Kaercher says:
    September 15, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    I agree with all of this! I went to a Comic Con in May of this year and I met so many people. I also was able to follow more artists and being able to support them is pretty cool.

    ― Reply
    • Whitney says:
      September 16, 2016 at 8:27 am

      Which comic con did you attend? Local artists are also the best; it’s amazing the kind of underground talent you see at these conventions. <3

      ― Reply
  2. Nyanla says:
    September 17, 2016 at 6:05 am

    There is so much more to conventions than just buying or watching stuff! I go mostly for the awesome geeky vibe, cosplays, meeting new people, meeting authors, discovering things that I would never have the chance to stumble upon online… Happy to see that you both had a great time 🙂

    ― Reply
    • Whitney says:
      September 20, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      I agree! It’s the same reason why people go to Disney World or travel abroad–being in such a unique environment is hard to describe but so worth the time and money! Have you ever cosplayed before, or what’s some of your favorite costumes you seen at con?

      ― Reply

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Brittany Olsen
Whitney helped me with two short projects written for children, and she was very pleasant to work with. She has an eye for detail, helping me with small grammar errors as well as insights about adding scenes that would enhance my story. Her turnaround time was extremely quick, which I really appreciated when on a deadline!
Tori Nix
Working with Whitney was a breath of fresh air! I enjoyed every minute of my experience with bringing my book to life! Whitney not only did an exceptional job, she is also a very kind, patient, and I hope to continue to do business in the future!
Jessica Thompson
Whitney was great to work with. The whole experience was professional, yet flexible. Helpful, yet kind. My manuscript improved so much through Whitney's guidance that I received my first book deal!
Jonathan Baker
Whitney and I worked together in a writing feedback group some years ago and have remained in touch since then. From the beginning, I was struck by her absolute responsibility as an editor. Even in the capacity of a group member, not even being employed or contracted by me to edit my work, Whitney was unerringly punctual, thorough, and accurate with her feedback. Her advice is genuinely insightful and I believe the marketability of my work was noticeably increased due to her guidance. I so value her skills that I still turn to her as a resource after three years of working with her in-person have passed.
Rachel Barnard
I won a contest via Wit & Travesty in the summer of 2017. The prize was a professional edit of the first 100 pages of a WIP. My middle grade fantasy was only 90 pages, so she read the entire manuscript. She was communicative and positive about the project. Her edits markedly polished up my manuscript and were easy to understand.
Angelika Offenwanger
Whitney did a copy-edit on my third novel, Checkmate. She was a pleasure to work with, and helped me give my novel that final polish that it needed before publication. Put her on your list for editors that help your work shine!
Jessica Frazier
Whitney McGruder has created a vast and imaginative world in Destiny Seeker with surprises to delight the reader at every turn. Readers can settle in to devour the diverse and ingenious magic Destiny Seeker has to offer. I highly recommend it.
Remember how I said I wanted to help more authors this year? I started 2023 by accepting a role at @swordandsilkbooks, a small, fierce publisher. I'm now their marketing manager. As you can tell by this graphic, we have very similar taste in vibes. I can't wait to help the authors of Sword & Silk reach wider audiences and meet some major author goals. It's a tulle skirt. Finally, I have a pink layered tulle skirt. And y'all, I got the most dramatic one yet. Join me on my quest to visit every locally-owned bookstore in my state. Let’s visit @kingsenglishbookshop. Which bookstore should I visit next? #utahbookstore #utahauthor #indiebookstore #shoplocal #shopsmall #localbookstore #localbookstorelove #thekingsenglishbookshop #thekingsenglish A weekend selfie to remind myself that sometimes my bangs do what I ask. 😂🥰 Most of my selfies include a big “American smile”—so here are photos of my other expressions.😚 We regularly work with ✨incredible✨ authors. So when do we get to work with you? Thank you so much to the authors who've already booked with us through early May. Wer're excited to see who we can work with over the summer and the rest of 2023. Last Saturday, I went to a grand opening event for @jessakae and had a ball! You know I love a beautiful dress—I can’t wait to show off what’s in my bag. Join me on my quest to visit every locally-owned bookstore in my state.😍 We’re here at @undertheumbrellabookstore ! Which bookstores should I add to my list? #undertheumbrellabookstore #undertheumbrella #utahbookstore #utahauthor #indiebookstore #shoplocal #shopsmall #localbookstore #localbookstorelove Yesterday, I stopped by @poppybookssf to see my books in person! They have this corner dedicated to local authors.😍 All my books are signed!