Worldcon Day 2 (Belated).

It's actually incredible how much of a cliche the above titled post is but the truth of the matter is that but for my brother's sheer brilliance I'd still be an advertising copywriter wondering where my golden ticket to accolade lay (and let's not kid ourselves recognition is what most of us crave). Mind you Eytan would probably come close to saying the same thing to you about me. Namely, it's one thing to have a great idea, quite another to figure out how to breathe life into it (my forte). I was recently asked in an online interview where I get my ideas from and I said without any remorse, "from someone else." ( see: http://www.californiareaders.org/interviews/kollin_dani.php). Foresight is not my gift (at least not with regards to writing Science Fiction) world-building is. Mind you up until Day 2 I didn't really believe of word what I've just told you. Don't get me wrong I kept trying to convince myself (and anyone who asked) all of the above but it wasn't until I sat on the panel called, yes..., "writing in concert" with two other sets of collaborative writers that I finally made peace with my title. It happened for two reasons. 1) I saw with wonderful alacrity how similarly the other panelists worked together. I wasn't alone! 2) and perhaps more importantly I took a question from an audience member that forced me for the first time to lay myself bare on the issue. Though it may strike you as odd, given the fact that I'm an adman, lying does not sit well with me. And while I might have been able to fool myself, I couldn't, nor wouldn't attempt to fool her. The question? She: I won't put my name on any of the work I've done with my partner because I didn't come up with any of the ideas. Me: What do you do, then? Her: Make her stuff readable by editing it down, correcting continuity issues, pointing out conceptual flaws, making the dialogue less stilted and more believable, etc. etc. etc. Me: Would anyone read your partner's work if you hadn't taken a finely sharpened ax to it? Her: (Silence) Her Partner (sitting beside her): No way in hell. Me: Then put your damned name on the work.

It was perhaps the first time I'd ever said it and meant it. Not only because it was the first time I'd ever met other professionals who were in the same creative boat (the panelists) but because in attempting to relieve the "unassigned" author of her guilt I managed to finally let go of mine.

Nothing about this journey to authorhood has been typical. I know the Chinese have the curse that one should live in an interesting time. Well I do. And my choice is to revel in it.

Laters,

Dani