Fourth Street

[vgqn]

We had a great time at Fourth Street. Like Potlatch, Fourth Street has single track programming with a high level of discourse, both from panelists and from the audience. Smart people having smart conversations, in panels, at dinners, at parties. This is the height of SF cons, imho.

Granted, the panel topics this year were mostly focused on the process of writing, unlike earlier Fourth Streets. It's an interesting topic, but this wasn't supposed to be a writing workshop. Still the panelists often managed to make the discussion of interest to readers as well as writers, especially since they mostly avoided the "In MY book..." trap. Given that the panelists reportedly only found out on Thursday what their panels were, it was just as well that the panels weren't ones where it would have been necessary to re-familiarize themselves with books to be discussed or do any other sort of preparation. But I do hope that next year they'll get back to having a broader range of topics.

They also reverted to the earliest incarnations of Fourth Streets when all the panels were populated with basically the same people in various combinations. I totally understand how this happens: Steve Brust, wanting to make sure that the panels are filled with smart, well-spoken people, populates them with people he knows will fit the bill, i.e., friends like Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Elizabeth Bear, etc. And they certainly are smart well-spoken people who even manage mostly not to repeat themselves despite being on 4-7 panels out of 11. But there are other smart, well-spoken people out there too. Hopefully Fourth Street will get this ironed out next year, as they did before.

The panel I found most thought-provoking was "Writing in the Negative Space". While I know that what is not said can be as important as what is said, I hadn't thought about storytelling in quite these terms before. Again, one of those topics that can be interesting for both writers and readers.

If you're interested in more details, many people are posting links much more elaborate reports at 4th_st_fantasy.

Comments

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Like Potlatch, Fourth Street has single track programming with a high level of discourse, both from panelists and from the audience. Smart people having smart conversations, in panels, at dinners, at parties. This is the height of SF cons, imho.

I agree, especially with this part of your post.

It was good to see you, albeit briefly.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry we didn't talk more than just in passing. Odd how that can happen, even at small cons.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Yes, it would be so much easier if we didn't already know so many people there! I don't think that'll keep me from going, though.

[pameladean]

Next year, if you come, let's arrange to have tea or something. I figured that Fourth Street is so small I would always be able to find people, but that never worked before and it didn't work this time either.

I really enjoyed your joining in the singing on Saturday.

P.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be lovely. It's odd how even at small cons it's easy to miss talking to people. Although three nights of music parties, fun though they were, did take a big bite out of conversation time!

And thank you. What I love most about singing is creating harmonies, and singing with Emma & Elise on "Early" (alliteration accidental!) was just heavenly.