All Aboard the BABSCon Train · 4:02pm Mar 26th, 2015
I've been staying away from Fimfiction for a while due to burnout, but I figured I'd better get on to talk about BABSCon. Good thing, too. Looks like horizon was taking the minotaur by the horns.
To bring us all up to speed, here's what's going on:
BABSCon looks like it's having a whopping total of four fanfiction panels, so one less than last year, I believe. From what I'm seeing, the panels are something to do with Humanized/Anthro fics ("Why Do I Have Two Legs"), a panel about how to harness creativity ("Inspiration Manifestation"), A bad-fic reading ("Read It and Weep"), and a how-to on writing original stories ("How to Make a Story Original"). Not sure I trust the writers on that last one. "How to Make a Story Original" isn't exactly great phrasing, but what the hell? I understand what they mean, so it's good enough, I suppose.
So... not really an overwhelming amount of fanfiction stuff. Good thing I booked us a lounge, eh?
Here's the deal:
-- I have as much space as I could get for us. I'm also bringing a cooler for drinks to get thrown into. Hopefully I'll be grabbing some snacks and beverages, but my budget for this whole thing is coming in quite a bit higher than expected. We will see what I can do. I'll also have my truck, so I can cart around seven other people if we want to do something off hotel grounds. Additionally, I'll be spiffed up. I'll either look great or like an idiot. I'm not sure which because my stuff is getting tailored. Either is fine with me, though. I'm good with whatever as long as it's fun.
-- BronyWriter is bringing a whole bunch of movies. I figure that can sustain us in lulls or just for background.
-- RazgrizS57 is armed with a copy of Cards Against Humanity.
-- Bradel, Statoose, and Themaskedferret have spurred us. 
So if people want to grab a bottle of booze, a bag of chips, can bring an extra chair, etc., it'd be great if you'd let me know. I was originally going to pick up drink for cocktails based on the Mane Six, but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it. I'm still going to grab the Twilight Sparkle (Champagne and Chambord). I'll see about the others. Here's my thoughts on such things.
Pinkie Pie - Cosmopolitan
Applejack - Either a Tequila Sunrise (kinda looks like her) or an Appletini
Rainbow Dash - (Blue Curocao Hurricane)
Fluttershy - Yellow Bird
Rarity - White Chocolatini
It's simple: to write an original story, all you need to do is make sure the story you're writing is different from other stories. Many novice writers will make the mistake of writing a story which is the same as other stories, but that never works.
And I already wondered where you have been the whole time.
By the way, I saw that you seem to be at a hiatus for quite a while now, at least when it's about released stories. The latest thing you wrote, from my perspective, was the last chapter for "Cheerilee's Thousand" and that was two months ago.
Do you suffer from writer's block lately?
One more reason why I would love it so much to go to BABSCon. The Legends of Equestria panel on Friday, the live Season 5 Premiere on Saturday and now this.
I thirst for going to a Pony Convention since mid-2013 already and I was already interested at BABSCon last year (but wouldn't have went to the first one, because of the OSW of Legends of Equestria that was on this weekend), but this year I just want to be there so terribly!
But I guess I wouldn't be welcome anyway in that elitarian round of great writers with being a beginner's writer myself.
2913747 I don't really have writer's block. I have a million ideas. It's more like depression, but not exactly that. I just don't feel like writing due to a pervasive negativity. My life is really busy and stressful at the moment, and writing just isn't near the top of my priority list.
The truth is that the longer I've been on Fimfiction, the more I've felt like I just don't belong here. I watch fics that were obviously pumped out with little time or consideration shoot to the top while watching my friends release stories that they slaved over for months, stories that are pretty good by my estimation, and they get maybe fifty views and ten upvotes before dropping off into oblivion.
The audience likes what it likes, and I have no problem with that. If the audience here as a general mass likes shitty clops stories, crackfics, and by-the-book shipping, then that's fine. It just leaves me wondering why anyone bothers to try and makes something better than that.
I think once my outside life has calmed down, that negative feeling will go away. I've never really cared all that strongly about it before, but that's because I was writing anyway. Now I don't feel like writing, so if I did sit down to bang out a story, I'd be really annoyed if no one read it.
As for being welcome, I'm hardly in the elite myself, and I'm not discriminating. I'd love for novice and veterans alike to come. I sincerely hope that a bunch of people come that are just readers. It would be nice to see them perhaps have a panel experience with so many authors.
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I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon. Especially now that Season 5 and all the fanfic opportunities that will come with it is right around the corner.
What you describe is something that I have never experienced here.
I'm checking the new fics here for a while now and if already the description sounds choppy, if it's a crack shipping or generally just a weird idea, the views stay low. Except for, as you said, clopfics, but they are the only exception from that rule.
While, if a story sounds really promising, the views shoot up quite fast.
I've also read a lot of really good stories here that got the views that they deserve.
I also saw that happen just recently with my own latest fanfic:
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/254971/picking-up-the-pieces
I uploaded it on Sunday morning and it got 100 views not even 24 hours after I uploaded it, which is, considering that I haven't wrote something for months after the NaPoWriMo ended and that it was not in any way featured on Equestria Daily (like with the WTG during S4), a lot of views for that short amount of time.
And it's, while slowing down now, still getting views and has 162 views as of now when I write this comment, which is more than I thought it would get after being inactive for months again. It has surpassed my expectations by far.
I'm not saying that my story is as good as your's and especially not as good as the stories of the legendary authors, like Pen Stroke, as I'm still a beginner as I said, but I put a lot of effort and thoughts into it as well and even had to solve a problem with the plot at the end that gave me so much headaches that I couldn't write anymore on this day and had to continue and finish it on the next one after I've found a solution.
And it really paid off, so, my experience in that regards is a whole different one than your's or the authors you're friends with.
What stories and friends are you talking about specifically?
Maybe it's a matter of perception by them, they have certain expectations in their stories and are disappointed when they don't see them fulfilled (immediately) or they just don't put out stories regularly enough to gather round a loyal and returning readerbase?
I am genuinely envious. Most I can remember at a UK con is two, including one that was just a reading of a contest winner. (This one.) I think what you're doing with the lounge is a wonderful thing, and I really hope it works out.
I'm sorry.
Hope you guys have a blast, though! Like I said, take pictures of your epic Pinkie cosplay for me!
CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKERS! Once again I will try and fail to get drunk. Y'alls mission is to try and get me drunk.
Yeah, I'll probably be parking in your fanfic lounge for most of the weekend.
I can swing by a Costco or a Bevmo on the way to the con. What alcohols and/or mixers do you need for the various mane-six drinks you list?
2917411 I was already thinking down the same lines. I'm not local, flying in from Oregon, but I am in the novel position of having a job that pays me a pretty damn good wage, especially compared to last year, when I was unemployed for over a year. So what better time to go all Rarity on this, and buy booze (and/or snacks) for fellow fanfic fanatics?!
That said, they don't exactly let you bring liquor through TSA checkpoints, so someone else would have to acquire it. Sounds to me like Horizon just volunteered for the physical pick-up. That means all I can really do to help is throw some money at the problem. I can probably contribute a couple hundred bucks, on the condition that it's for stuff that we'll actually use/want/need. I don't want it to be a waste, where someone ends up trucking home $100 worth of liquor no one wanted to drink, or a pallet of Cheetos no one ate (Costco IS temping that way.)
xjuggarnautx, sounds like you're in nominal charge of this shindig, and you've already fronted the money to provide us the space, so I'd suggest that maybe Horizon and I (and whoever else) try to pick up the remaining costs. That said, if you could make an actual list/budget of what you think will actually be useful/wanted for a hangout room, that'd be awesome, and then we can talk and see what we can actually afford. I'll be happy to send money in advance to whoever needs to physically buy and bring stuff.
I would say, "Let's make this the best party at BABS" but... well, John DeLancie has apparently brought The Black Hole and FurtherConfusion had an awesome suite as well last year. So, like Snapple, I say we aim for third!
Now, as for drinks...
Applejack: She's the only pony literally named for hard alcohol! We just need some applejack! Well, good applejack, which is hard to find, and technically, in the US, more often sold as "Apple Brandy." Most stuff sold as "Applejack" is actually grain neutral spirits (everclear) mixed with actual apple brandy. Get the apple brandy. It's the stuff distilled from cider. You can't have a more purely pony drink than that. For not doing shots, it mixes great with ginger ale.
Pinkie Pie: Cosmos are okay, but for a properly pink, and properly sugar-loving-pony, you need cotton candy vodka to mix it with. If you're going Cosmopolitan, do it all the way with http://www.cottoncandyliqueur.com/recipes.php
Rainbow Dash: I'm okay with this one. We need a rum drink, and Dash is half pirate in my mind. Hurricanes and pirate rum... woot! My only request is that it's a decent, drinkable rum, not floor cleaner. 10 Cane does a good job for a light rum if you want to try and make sure the blue shows through. Other option would be a Blue Hawaiian.
Fluttershy: Yellowbird sounds pretty good (I love rum!) Though on purely aesthetic grounds, I think it's too acidic to be "Fluttershy." Needs to be something smoother. I'd say something banana liquor and Amarula based.
Rarity: Yes, though I think she'd also drink something a little harder, like a white Russian (or Russian Qualude.) Though, sophisticate she is, I think something really "tricky" (for the bartender) would be good here. I'm thinking a layered shot similar to an Alien Brain Hemorrhage. If you did it with a blue-dyed simple syrup instead of grenadine, it'd be her colors too.
Twilight Sparkle (Best Pony): Chambord and Champagne sounds fine, but... for some reason, in my head, Twilight is too practical for Champagne. I imagine that, if she drinks, she does it to get drunk, and optimizes for alcohol content. Something more like LA Water Or she'd go for something relaxing on vacation. [url=http://www.completecocktails.com/Drinks/CocoBerryBliss.aspxCocoBerryBliss.
Also, you forgot Spike: Purple Dragon!
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2920761 I'm actually not a big drinker, so if you want be in charge of that department, that suits me fine. I can find out where the closest BevMo is and hopefully someone will have a car. I mean, I'll have mine, but I probably need to stay in the room. I guess the other option would be to meet up when I get to the hotel and we could make a food and drinks run then. That way, we could set everything up before we open the room up.
For food, it kind of depends on if we are thinking that this is going to be a long term stop for lots of people, or if it's more likely that people are going to come for twenty minutes and move on. If people are going to be there for a while, a more substantial menu is probably in order. Maybe a large deli tray, or maybe a couple of catered-style options with... man, I'm blanking on the name. Those tureen things with the little fires under them. Man, it's too early apparently. Chafing dishes! There we go. There's probably someplace around that would supply food that way.
Alternately, I would probably whip up some chili or beef stew or something in a crock pot and bring it along. The danger there is that it's specific. If you aren't into my chili, then it's not very useful.
If people are going to be drifting in and out with great frequency, then snack foods are probably more in order. Chips. Cookies. Mix nuts. Pretzels. Those sorts of things. They would probably be a lot easier, but it's going to leave people hungry after a while. You probably have more experience with what the crowd is going to be like from your time with Everfree.
We could also just get snacks, but plan on an outing to a restaurant. I'd have to close the lounge for a while, but if enough people want to go, I think it'd be a fun option.
2920937 I'm actually flying in Thursday night, but won't land until 10:30pm or so. I'd be happy to go make a run with someone to buy stuff either late at night or the next morning. Might be a good time to eat an actual meal away from the hotel too.
I think chafing dishes and catering are probably a bit much. A party/deli tray might not be amiss, but otherwise I'd say keep it to snacks, not meals. People's tastes in food vary widely, and we can always pool some money and order pizza or sandwiches or whatever if enough of us decide we want actual meals there. Personally, I'd enjoy the chance to get out somewhere else for a meal or two at some point.
I don't actually have as much experience with the food/snack side of things, but the one thing I have seen is that a lot of food tends to go to waste if it's perishable and isn't single-serving type snacks. For drinks, I think as cool as the idea of "theme" drinks are, maybe it'd be more practical to just get some more basic liquors, beer, and of course sodas. Let's also not forget plastic cups!
I think the main thing we need is a rough headcount, and and idea what percentage of those will be drinking as well. Last year, I think we had about 25 people comes through the party in my room, and probably 18 people or so that were pretty solid about hanging out. From the threads I've seen on this so far this year, it sounds like a solid ten people or so, but I imagine that'll at least double once people start inviting friends and such.
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I have little to add in the face of Xepher's excellent ideas. The nearest BevMo is only about two miles away, at 1462 Burlingame Ave in downtown Burlingame, and it opens at 10 AM Friday (Thursday night hours aren't late enough to go after Xepher's arrival). My own schedule should get me to the con at a reasonable time Friday morning — I still will have to drive in, but only from the North Bay as I'm staying overnight with the brony who's rooming at the con with me. I'm not going to get up early enough to fight commute traffic, especially through downtown San Francisco, but if one or both of you don't mind missing Opening Ceremonies and/or the first set of panels, we can most likely pick everything up Friday morning and be back for lunchtime.
For food, let's decide in advance how ambitious we want to be. (I'm on board with the "light snacks and maybe order pizza for a single shared meal" idea; there will be a con suite and other parties if guests need to fill up beyond what we can provide, and there are a few good restaurants in walking distance of the hotel.) Then I can just swing by Costco on my way in to the con. (There's one up north of the airport, which is within range of resupply runs but less convenient than the Bevmo, and anyway leaving the site during the con cuts down on the party time.) It would be easy enough to pick up three cheese/veggie trays (one per day) and a big container of pub snacks and some mixed nuts and chips, and that's more than enough to supplement the alcohol and keep people fueled between meals for the weekend.
To ballpark the drink math ... if we assume 20 dedicated hangers-out at 3 drinks/day[1]/each, and another 20 people briefly passing through (0.5 drink each), that gives us about 150 total mixed drinks served, which is a total of 10 750ml bottles of alcohol plus um ... about 18 gallons total of whatever mixers go into it, mostly club soda and fruit juice. At $20/bottle of alcohol and $5/gallon of mixer, the rough alcohol budget is about $400. Add in about the same volume of soda/nonalcoholic bevs., and snacks, and we're up to about $500. This is why convention room parties that serve alcohol put a donations jar on the table.
If you think that's high, we can cut it not quite in half (get one bottle each of the alcohol that goes into the seven drinks we plan to serve?), and then plan a supplemental supply run Saturday AM based on the Friday consumption. If you think that's low, we should get two bottles of each up front and enough soda/mixers to kill a small horse.
I actually really like the idea of theme drinks, but if the Mane Seven sounds like overplanning, maybe we could do the four princesses. Something clear and light and fruity and tropical-beach for Celestia, something dark and possibly chocolatey for Luna, something pink (steal Pinkie's Cosmo?) for Cadance, and the drink-to-get-drunk thing for Twilight, maybe? That significantly simplifies the shopping, makes each of our offerings distinctive, and will give us something new to offer (I've seen Mane Six drinks at a number of cons now but never princess drinks).
Edit: Okay, "little to add" is apparently a lot.
--
[1] Friday and Saturday; Sunday is gonna pack up before anyone digs into the booze.
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2923367 Oh, I guess I never defined my time. I'm only going to be there on Saturday and Sunday. I don't have Friday off. Check in time for my room is 3:00, so it'll be open shortly after that. That should give you guys a day to work out the logistics of snacks and beverages, though.
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Oh man, that actually makes it much easier logistically. Basically that means we're planning a one-night room party (Saturday afternoon until you kick everyone out; Sunday is gonna be dead and/or full of people getting last-minute socialization and/or shopping/paneling in).
My convention roomie Jesse — who I know you met last year, Xepher — would like to extend a standing offer of bringing drinks, and to run a shift bartending/ID-checking (I can do so as well, so if we get a third volunteer, each of us just has to put in a few hours and can spend most of the night circulating and/or hitting dances/parties/etc).
Jesse was already planning on making 3-4 princess drinks in pitcher quantities (premix and bring as pint or quart jars, undiluted, so they go quite a bit farther than that). He adds that we should definitely run a donation jar for the alcohol — he'd love a cut for the stuff he brings but our room host deserves a lot of it too. But if we're only doing one night of drinks and splitting the food/beverage costs three ways, it should be quite reasonable already.
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Let's chat (you and me and Jesse, if practical, though XJX and others are welcome to chip in ideas as well) at some near-term point to pin down the drink list, since that seems like the most complex part of the prep. Probably best to ping me on IM tomorrow day or evening.
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2922215 I'm all for the princess cocktails. That seems like it includes the fun aspect of the theme drinks, but eliminates the need to get a billion different kinds of alcohol.
As for donations for the room, it's not necessary. I'm just doing it so that fellow writers and readers can have a good time. If donations happen, they can be used to cover the food and beverages.
I was also thinking about writing. Whenever authors get together, it always seems like someone starts up a story and then people add to it. It becomes a mess and never gets completed, which is fun and all, but doesn't really make for a quality product. I was thinking that it might be fun to do something that required just a little bit of time for any author that wanted to participate. I was thinking of making up a randomizer of some kind. It could be a Pony Verbs a Noun kind of thing, or maybe just flavor ideas. For example, someone might pull out Rainbow Dash, forest, and cloud top from the randomizing system.
The idea would be to write something very short. Limit of one hundred words or something like that. Something that a writer could finish in ten minutes. That way, the little stories actually get done and are coherent. Not sure if people would be into it, but it might be fun. Could even do a thing where the author then leaves the next three prompts. Dunno if that would be more fun than drawing them out of cups.
2923571 Actually, I do this weekly "Fanfic Spotlight" newletter for Everfree on Sunday mornings (aka, late Saturday nights for me) and was thinking to hijack anyone in the room to contribute to a "super issue." Basically, I wanted to get anyone sober enough to type to write like two paragraphs recommending their absolute favorite story, and just pile it all in one big issue.
That aside, I'm all for some sort of creative writing exercise as well, depending on how sober we are or aren't. The collaborative thing doesn't work well, as it's too slow to pass around a story in a few hours, but a random, drunken "Iron Author" hour could be pretty fun.
2923527 Okay, so... if it's only one night, then that is definitely simpler. For those of us there friday night though, we might still want a few things for a "core" group of us.
Horizon, I'll try and IM sometime tomorrow when I get the chance, and we can sort details and a drink list maybe, then plan on a run Friday sometime when panels are boring, or maybe around lunchtime, as we can get non-hotel-local food at the same time.