LA I could not be happier to have met you in person after our magical blip of a phone call not so long ago--you and the other Sarabandistas made AWP this beautiful experience for me, too, and I am very grateful!
Oh man, it's so funny---I wanted to go to the women/religion/sex panel but accidentally ended up in short story one. And then I also attended the Nightboat books panel, intending to see the one in the hall next door. Moral of the story is that I suck at finding the right rooms, but in my defense, the LA convention center was one of the worst designed spaces I've ever been in.
My struggle was managing exhaustion. I wanted to be everywhere, do everything, and yet somehow I'd end up back in my hotel room at the end of the day, trying to give myself a pep talk in the shower (you can do this, you can get back out there, no, your bed is not the most amazing thing to ever exist.)
The book fair was the most disorienting, overwhelming space, and I usually love book fairs. The organization didn't make much sense to me. And you're totally right, it would have been great to search for certain genres or imprints and be able to find them. And the table quality...spot on. I loved being behind the table at Sarabande; I have decades of retail experience and it felt easy. But put me on the other side and I scuttled around, avoiding eye contact.
This was my first AWP, and I have so many thoughts about it, I need to write them down before I forget everything. I also volunteered for AWP itself, and that was a whole other wild and wacky set of adventures.
It was so lovely to meet you! I love your vibe and presence. It inspires me to cultivate my weird.
oh i would LOVE to read your unvarnished experience of the AWP volunteer experience! I used to volunteer at festivals a lot and I was always annoyed by how inefficient they felt behind the scenes. but as an attendee it seemed immaculate. thank you for your bright energy and enthusiasm, it is so heartening <3
Oh my gosh! I love this little AWP review run-down. + you have some amazing suggestions on how to improve things for the future—I hope they see this and take you up on some of them! A little book nook and some training to create a more cozy and welcoming environment could be great additions.
LA I could not be happier to have met you in person after our magical blip of a phone call not so long ago--you and the other Sarabandistas made AWP this beautiful experience for me, too, and I am very grateful!
Eric!!! Can't stop thinking about your pearl industrial and your adorable smiling energy <3 more very soon xo
Oh man, it's so funny---I wanted to go to the women/religion/sex panel but accidentally ended up in short story one. And then I also attended the Nightboat books panel, intending to see the one in the hall next door. Moral of the story is that I suck at finding the right rooms, but in my defense, the LA convention center was one of the worst designed spaces I've ever been in.
My struggle was managing exhaustion. I wanted to be everywhere, do everything, and yet somehow I'd end up back in my hotel room at the end of the day, trying to give myself a pep talk in the shower (you can do this, you can get back out there, no, your bed is not the most amazing thing to ever exist.)
The book fair was the most disorienting, overwhelming space, and I usually love book fairs. The organization didn't make much sense to me. And you're totally right, it would have been great to search for certain genres or imprints and be able to find them. And the table quality...spot on. I loved being behind the table at Sarabande; I have decades of retail experience and it felt easy. But put me on the other side and I scuttled around, avoiding eye contact.
This was my first AWP, and I have so many thoughts about it, I need to write them down before I forget everything. I also volunteered for AWP itself, and that was a whole other wild and wacky set of adventures.
It was so lovely to meet you! I love your vibe and presence. It inspires me to cultivate my weird.
oh i would LOVE to read your unvarnished experience of the AWP volunteer experience! I used to volunteer at festivals a lot and I was always annoyed by how inefficient they felt behind the scenes. but as an attendee it seemed immaculate. thank you for your bright energy and enthusiasm, it is so heartening <3
Oh my gosh! I love this little AWP review run-down. + you have some amazing suggestions on how to improve things for the future—I hope they see this and take you up on some of them! A little book nook and some training to create a more cozy and welcoming environment could be great additions.
Thank you! I hope my unsolicited feedback is received with its highest intent: to improve something that is already commendable and excellent
I think it will be! There's always room for things to improve—even when they're already great (^: