#atomacon

[daystarvoyage]

💖THE WAIT IS OVER 💖

MY COMIC-CON LINUP IS HERE,

thank the heavens I’m making it through with my personal life, hopefully I meet new artists, vibe out with cosplayers, network with safes-Spaces involve meeting celebrities, & GREAT VAS.

Wish us all comic-con goers luck

Also momocon review coming up soon,

Ok thanks and I have my YouTube in case you like to check it out

Also here’s my cosplay of X-men jubilee hellfire gala fall look as you see from my face hella excited how this photo shoot came out

[unclevladscorner]

The argument for attending genre fiction conventions as a Writer and Creative

The Internet is full of things. There's a lot of helpful information for free, loads of bigger and smaller online communities, and self publishing happens almost exclusively online. With the arrival of Covid, many people feel safer at home, sticking to online spaces over in-person events.

I have not done particularly well online. I got serious about writing during the pandemic, and I haven't found it easy to build relationships in the quickly changing Social Media landscape. After leaving the site formerly known as Twitter; and never being established on Instagram, I've lost virtually all connections to my previous creative circles.

The one place I've continued to make connections and learn a lot is genre fiction conventions. For those concerned about safety- I have attended multiple events where I and others have opted to wear a mask and forgo unnecessary touching with no issues. Comfort and safety varies for everyone these days, so your own mileage may vary.

Genre fiction conventions also tend to be smaller- typically less than 2,000 attendees, many between 500-1,000. Not only does this make them relatively easy to get around, this means you generally have more panels where you can ask questions. It also affords attendees more time to talk to authors working the event as vendors and guests. Which leads to my biggest selling point-

NETWORKING

Real, honest-to-goodness networking. You may run into other writers or artists in your area online by chance, but convention spaces give you an opportunity to meet people from your area in real time. You can grab drinks, a meal, or just hang out in the convention space together. Many creatives use the spaces to network and get to know new people, learn about new events they may not have heard of, and have a community they are more than happy to invite new people into.

I have learned so much from my time at genre fiction conventions; and met so many writers local to me, that I consider it a vital resource to my writing future. Many convention runners in my area are also very conscious of their diversity gaps and are working hard to improve the mix of guests.

I know not everyone is going to feel comfortable doing in person events like these, but I still hope that more people will take the opportunity to go to at least one small genre fiction convention in their area- especially minority writers. We are drastically under represented at these events, and many do want us there! They want to see the diversity in online publishing reflected in their events.

In my area alone, there is:

Ret-Con (disclaimer- my husband is the con chair!)

Con Carolinas- (It has become more lgbtqia+ friendly under new leadership)... Their website seems to be down. It can usually be found at ConCarolinas.org

ConGregate- ConGregate 10 and SAGA Genre fiction writer's conference will be sharing space in 2024. you attend SAGA, you will also have access to ConGregate.

Atomacon is down in SC, and is also a multi discipline geeky convention-

[lianabrooks]

The Ongoing Ita Bag Saga

It's story time!

Back in the Before Times when people could do things like attend cons I became enamored with enamel pins at Emerald City Con (Seattle) and just as quickly found I could lose them easily. After losing one of my favorite pins at DragonCon in 2019 I decided drastic measures must be taken.

I needed a way to save my pins!

In January 2020 I found the perfect, most beautiful, most wonderful cloud-shaped ita bag on a Kickstarter and I backed it in a heartbeat.

And then COVID hit... factories closed. The production kept getting pushed back and as people got vaccinated and cons are slowly reopening in 2021 I found myself still bereft of a bag.

It was time for drastic measures! Or at least going to Etsy and resigning myself to a less-pretty bag. Not an ugly one. Not a ridiculously expensive one. Not one that was still in production. Not one shipping from overseas (because the mail has been absolutely awful ... this is a local problem not anyone else's, but I needed the bag this year).

At the end of March I finally found one seller with two bags left from there earlier kickstarter and I ordered my bag 1-April.

... it never shipped.

Well, according to the seller it shipped, but must have been stolen.

According to the postal service and the shipping label it was never dropped off at the post office ever.

So I suppose it could have been stolen if the seller was using a courier service to get things to the post office. Or if they scheduled pick-up from their house. Anything is possible.

But it didn't change the fact that it was mid-April and I was still ita bag-less.

I emailed the seller who explained their theory and who said they'd send another.

I've been tracking it all week and it finally - FINALLY - got here.

... minus the insert which was supposed to come with it. I don't know if the seller forgot, or if they sold out, or if they shipped the insert separate, or what happened. But I really don't have time to wait.

Next weekend is ATOMACON. It's a (very) small local convention in South Carolina where we were able to practice social distancing even before the plague because South Carolina is not a hotspot of geekdom (or anything, honestly, the economy here is dire... but that's a post for another day). I'm fully vaxxed (yeah for being high-risk?). The other attendees I've spoken with are vaxxed. We'll be wearing masks. And I want to bring my pins.

Because pins are fun and shiny and I need a bag to carry my dice in (for the D&D game I'm playing Saturday night).

So!

I went to the garage where I have a ridiculous number of cardboard boxes. 1) Because we move a lot and this gives me box-hoarding tendencies. 2) I haven't visited the cardboard recycling center in awhile.

But that's okay! Because I found a piece of cardboard the same size as my bag and cut out an insert. An ugly, cardboard insert. That just wasn't going to do.

I was going to use some holographic duct (duck) tape but my youngest child insisted the bag was hers and so she got to pick what the insert looked like.

And, look, I fully understand I should put my foot down, set boundaries, and do the Proper Parent thing where I show my kid whose boss but - honestly - arguing with my child is not worth all that. It would make the whole experience unfun. Plus, as important as boundaries are, there's something to be said for letting a kid do crafts with you.

We are a family big on sharing everything. We pool our resources. We work together. We share most the bags.

Heck, my older girls borrow my shoes and everyone but my spouse has borrowed my wellies (rainboots) at one time or another.

So I figured I'd let kiddo help me with deciding what to do.

I admit, I was very tempted by the idea of an acrylic pour. Mostly because I just really like acrylic pours and I thought it might look good (although that paint is notoriously hard to get good cells with and I really don't love it like I wanted to).

But I worried the pour would take too much time to dry and be - ultimately - too thick for the pins. So we picked the purple spray paint I had on hand from another project, and then watered down some silver and painted over.

It's still drying, but the final effect should look like a moon with silvery clouds.

Once it's dry I can pick out pins to take with me for the con!

[their-vi]

My bakugo is leaving me for a few days! I hope you have a safe flight and I’ll take great care of the doggo. You will be missed the entire time! 💥🖤💥🖤💥🖤💥🖤💥🖤💥🖤 #atomacon #uraraka #myheroacademia #cosplaygirl #bakugoukatsuki #angryboy #plusultra https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq9zoz0g8Mk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iz1na98dmmtd

[kelpiedovasary]

Back from a bit of a haitus with posting, getting back into the swing of it! You can catch me at the upcoming ColossalCon in Ohio June 1-5th! I'll be debuting 2 original characters to my partner's One Piece cosplays. I'll also be Eri from MHA and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle that weekend! . . . . . . . . . #atomacon #atomacon2022 #cosplayers #cosplay #cosplayfun #cosplayersofinstagram #cosplaywomen #sccosplayer #womenofcosplay #charlestoncosplayer #sophiehatter #sophiehattercosplay #howlsmovingcastle #howlsmovingcastlecosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd_1CUQLLg6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[garrettshadow]

Birth of a Sith took home best regional short film!!! Great time at @atomacon.sw we'll be back next year thanks for the honor!! #StarWars #BirthOfASith #AtomaCon #ShortFilmFestival #BestRegionalFilm #2019 #WalkWithGod #KeepLivingForward (at Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5QlCyChDni/?igshid=19v3hub6f3v8o

[saltysculptress]

The count down is on to my next Event. In November, Charleston, South Carolina is host to AtomaCon a Multi-Genre Convention with a heavy Sci-Fi flavor.  I’m very excited to be going! I have a fun line up of Sculptures and Art I am bringing. A whole flock of Owls, and an  Army of Tech Support Octos will be coming with me. 

I am trying to get a book or 2 read by some of the authors that will be in attendance. Myke Cole has several books that look right up my alley. 

[octopunkmedia]

Heyyy! We now have a merch store!

Click the link here. 

It is only about $3 to ship anywhere in the United States, and it’s about $13 to ship anywhere internationally. Which is....a lot, I know, but unfortunately international shipping is a bitch and that’s the cheapest we can go. If you happen to be going to Raleigh Supercon/GalaxyCon, Congregate, Genreblast Film Festival, or AtomaCon, I can put one on hold for you until we see each other in person! 

[sodacityart]

Soda City Art back at it again for Atomacon! #atomacon #northcharleston #conventionartist #sodacityart #artistofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #stickers (at Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq0YK4clG3G/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mafkqq3xewou

[amyandthe505]

‘A new Star Wars movie comes out at midnight. You're waiting for your best friend Jude to show up, so you can honor your tradition of seeing the new Star Wars together. But there's one problem: your friend got the day wrong, and can't join you tonight. But never fear! Because Jude is about to call in backup. Lots of backup. Frankie and Jude Star Wars: Situation Normal is a delightful meta film about the power of fandom to bring friends together.’ — AtomaCon Festival Directed by/starring Lauren Myers and written by/starring me! We’re screening in the Short Films For Fans block at 9PM this Saturday at the AtomaCon Festival in North Charleston, South Carolina. Don't miss it! Thanks so much Michelle Iannantuono and Atoma Con! We are so honored and excited to be a part of your wonderful festival 🙂 . #atomacon #southcarolina #charleston #starwars #fanfilm #womeninfilm #indiefilm #indiefilmmaker #womeninfilmandtv #filmmaking #thelastjedi #fan #filmfestival #comedy #friends #makingmovies #frankiesfreakingout #fanculture #fandom #filmmaker (at Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqu_6pfApsL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ivmaat5565kq

[woodling]

Hey everyone! Hope y’all had a great Thanksgiving! Remember all those videos? Here’s the final! Better yet, I’m going to to have #prints of my new #artbook Woodlings Art! Which have all of current pieces plus #digitalartprocess! Which will be sold at #Atomacon! Along with my #indiecomic Shurale! And of course my #artprints. Atomacon is November 30-December 2. Don’t miss it! #art #artist #artistic #artists #arte #dibujo #myart #artwork #illustration #color #colour #colorful #painting #drawing #drawings #paintings #creative #ink #sketch #photoshop #beautiful #illustagram #creature #originalcharacter #characterdesign #ilovefantasyart https://www.instagram.com/p/BqiBVGQjCd6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rg789seg5bqd

[brian06872]

First custom for #Atomacon #sgtsasquatch #glenpaulrichardson the creator requested him. It was great meeting him and working on this piece. Woodenageofcomics.com (at Atomacon2017)

[arieann-pentagon-art]

Did a sketch a while ago, so I decided to do lineless! FunShine Bear is the cutest! Also come down to #Atomacon2018 I’m selling here! It will be a blast! #APen #TransgenderCartoonist #FunshineBear #Carebears #cute #pink #blue #yellow #pastel #tired #happy #bloop #sweater #fanart #adorable #bandaid #cartoon #lineless #hasbro #sketch #medibang #procreate #apple #applepencil #appleptoduct #ipadpro (at Atomacon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq20FqBHeT9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vuwo78dxnueq

[their-vi]

I will be your hero 💖 . ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ #uraraka #atomacon #myheroacademia #plusultra #cosplaygirl https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7RMPlA7n2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gsaja1yil2az

[sleepybluekitty]

My favorite, favorite, favorite is Dina Barron's @hooksntoggles stand at ATOMACon. Chainmalle has been a favorite of mine for many years and I finally found an artisan ❣ #atomacon2017 #traveler #travel #travelblogger #travelingram #explore #youarehere #exploresc #explorer #letsgo #letsgosomewhere #freedom #letsgoanywhere #wanderlust #letswanderhere #summerville #thirdthursday #notallwhowanderarelost #fall #introvertedtravelers #droidturbo

[garrettshadow]

The Birth of a Sith screening went great @atomacon.sw Short Film Festival is pretty cool. Noting like watching your film with true Star Wars Fans! #AtomaCon #StarWars #BirthofASith #FilmFestival #ShortFilm #FanFilm #GoodTimes #WalkWithGod #KeepLivingForward (at Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5O3HYChGJF/?igshid=e1k25e2up0by