I have just visited MFF for the first time. I’ll write a full report on my Dreamwidth over the coming days. I found it incredibly stimulating to attend a large number of writing panels and meet some furry writers too.

I don’t think I have ever been to a con with such a large writing track. Indeed, there was a panel pretty much all day every day, nearly all of which were conveniently in the same room. I learned a great deal from them, particularly on things like self-publishing, marketing/networking, and making stories more furry, which are three areas where I need most help. I tried to get to as many as I could – hitting about 15 in total – but sadly I couldn’t get to all of them.

Before the con, I contributed to Shiloh Skye’s ‘Furry Fiction Showcase’ event, which was an overview of some of the main novels and anthologies published this year. A team of us had done something similar at ConFuzzled back in May. I was one of his seven ‘Online Writers to Check Out’ and it was a real honour to be included in his handout alongside some of the most illustrious names in furry publishing. I also enjoyed meeting Utunu for the first time, having loved ‘Rafts’, as well as Slip Wolf and Kit Silver, who both were a pleasure to talk to. Being reacquainted with the likes of Kyell Gold and NightEyes DaySpring in the Dealers’ Den was great too. I ended up buying 10 books there though, it was quite rough on my wallet.

The other major event I attended was Edwin’s ‘Job Searching 101’ panel. This was over at the main convention centre and was very engaging, largely due to his excellence as a public speaker. I contributed three stories to his Work “Fur” Hire anthology and it was great to meet him in person, particularly during the week of the book’s launch. Due to my flight out of Berlin being delayed by five hours (delaying my arrival into Chicago by a day), I read the book in the airport and I was very impressed. It certainly is something a little bit different and I encourage you to go and buy it.

I have returned from MFF feeling both rejuvenated regarding my own writing and with a sense that maybe I am good enough to make a success of it. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but the encouragement and support of the community this weekend has boosted my confidence significantly.

I also feel it may be time to start on one of my novel ideas as I found out novels are more popular than anthologies. Let’s see how this goes…