BronyCon and Halcyon Days · 4:23am Jul 30th, 2018
I had the best time at BronyCon this year that I’ve ever had at a con. This post is partially about that.
When I got home, I found out that BronyCon 2019, next year, will be the last BronyCon. This post is partially about that.
This post is also about the song that spoils every story I’ve ever written or will write.
Let’s start there.
I can tell by the way you're walking
You don't want company
I'll let you alone and I'll let you walk on
And in your own good time you'll be
Back where the sun can find you
Under the wise wishing tree
And with all of them made we'll lie under the shade
And call it a jubilee
Music is important to me in terms of stories, but I don’t listen to music when I write. I listen to music when I’m working out ideas, or to keep myself focused on a story I don’t have time to write right now, or as “writer playtime,” as I imagine the soundtrack to the movie version of my book, or characters stopping my fic to do a musical number.
The playlists vary depending on the fic, but I have a few songs that just suit my style so well that I often come back to them. Sophia by Cruxshadows for adventure stories, Rest Stop by Matchbox Twenty for relationship problems, and for endings, this song:
I was listening to this song on the ride home, and wondering why it fits with so many of my stories. If figured out that what it comes down to is that this song summarizes what a happy ending is to me.
And I can tell by the way you're talking
That the past isn't letting you go
But there's only so long you can take it all on
And then the wrong's gotta be on its own
And when you're ready to leave it behind you
You'll look back and all that you'll see
Is the wreckage and rust that you left in the dust
On your way to the jubilee
I’ve gone to every BronyCon in Baltimore except for the year that Trixie was born (to be fair, she was born two weeks before BronyCon.) Over those years, I’ve gotten to meet and talk to some awesome people, and one of my favorite things about the con is a chance to sit down and catch up with them.
My absolute hero this con was Axis of Rotation. We really met last year, and we’ve been talking all year, but when it came time for this con he went all Twilight Sparkle on me. He arranged dinner on Friday, made sure I actually went to some con events this year (rather than thinking about going until I missed them,) picked the place for dinner on Saturday night, and organized an escape room group that was exactly smart enough to almost lose (We made it with 34 seconds left on the clock! No one does dramatic tension like writers!)
Among that group was Bad Horse, who might have just been observing us as research for future cells. Of course, his cover is as the sweetest, nicest guy you’ll ever meet, and I gave him several hugs on behalf of both myself and others who couldn’t make it.
I also got my yearly chance to talk to Applejinx. Jinx invited me to my first BronyCon, and was the point person for my first panel, along with being liason to the writers track every year before this. I always kind of feel like Jinx is my BronyCon rock: I never know who might be there or what might be going on, but if I see Jinx he probably knows and will make sure I don’t make an ass of myself. He wasn’t on con staff this year, so he wasn’t around Quills and Sofas quite as much, but I still got to have a few long conversations with him.
I also got time, even more than previous years, with Midnight Dancer. It was so nice getting to sit down and chat with another mom/pony fan/writer. And she looked fantastic as always, in both cosplay and her normal clothes. (BTW, Dancer, I meant to tell you: that eye shadow was glorious.)
Morning Sun was busy, as one might expect, being Madam Vice-Chair and all, and I was thrilled that she still made time to hang out with me. Though she did bail on me to go do very important schmoozing.
I also got to catch up with JakeTheArmyGuy, who’s always a joy to talk to. And I got to hug Zyrian, who was one of the very first people I met at my very first BronyCon, and will always be special to me because of that.
And I can tell by the way you're listening
That you're still expecting to hear
Your name being called like a summons to all
Who have failed to account for their doubts and their fears
They can't add up to much without you
And so if it were up to me, I'd take hold of your hand
Saying come hear the band
Play your song at the jubilee
Despite the small audience, I thought the Flash Fiction writing panel went very well; I’m normally a mess at panels, either tripping over my own ideas or sitting silently to avoid that, but I wasn’t totally out of it for once. I credit a ton of that to Pascoite, who had this whole panel thing under control. It’s the first panel I can say flat out, “I feel good about that.” So, a huge thanks to him, and it was a pleasure talking to him when we got the chance.
“And That’s How Equestria Was Made” was… a bit rougher, though that was mostly due con-mandated bumps. We were put in the (very noisy) game room, with no presentation space, so we were around a large table. I’ve mentioned before that I have trouble hearing in noisy spaces, which is not a great situation for an improv game, and that combined with my nerves to make me jump at the first chance to let other people play and hide for most of the panel. Apologies to Super Trampoline for that much. But several people really came through, especially JMac, Admiral Biscuit, and GAPJaxie. It was a fun time.
I got to see the Advanced Writer’s Panel, consisting of WandererD, GAPJaxie, and Bad Horse, which was really good. Everything they went over was interesting, and WandererD’s latin lover routine wins hands down for “sexiest panelist on the writing track.” (Note: This is not a hotly contested title.)
And I can tell by the way you're searching
For something you can't even name
That you haven't been able to come to the table
Simply glad that you came
When you feel like this try to imagine
That we're all like frail boats on the sea
Just scanning the night for that great guiding light
Announcing the jubilee
I’m not a social person. I think a lot of us aren’t social people in real life. But being in a place where you know that, and you know everyone is at least somewhat interested in the same things as you, and has the same reference points, and is surrounded by not-very-social people is socialization on easy mode. It’s easy to compliment people, to strike up conversations or comment on ones going on and maybe find yourself in the middle of them. As always, I came away from BronyCon with a number of new friends, and chances to learn more about people I’d mostly recognized by name and reputation.
This year one of the highlights of my con was getting to meet and spend time with Sharp Spark, who I’ve loved as an author for a long time. Axis organized a smaller dinner opposite the main writers dinner, which I jumped at because I had a 9:30 panel, and getting through the authors dinner on a time limit makes me nervous. So I got to meet her, HazeyHooves, and Exuno, and wound up having many chances to hang out with them all weekend.
Another highlight of my con was getting to thank Obabscribbler for the stories of mine she’s recorded, and learning that my stories are more appreciated than I ever thought.
And I can’t not mention ClockworkMage, whose sprawling conversations amused me more than maybe anyone I’ve ever met. I know I’d seen him around previous years, he’s hard to miss, but I’d never gotten a chance to talk to him. That was a very big mistake. (And if he sees this: I totally owe you readthrough of a story.)
I also got time to talk to Admiral Biscuit, JMac, Georg, Mitch H, GaryOak, Horse Voice, Super Trampoline, GAPJaxie, Distaff Pope, Wanderer D, and Trick Question. I’d like more time to talk to each of them. And I had a too short but sweet conversation with Regidar, which is something I never thought I’d say four years ago.
I intentionally went and found MagpiePony, whom I’ve never interacted with at all, but whose Pinkie Tales youtube videos (ponified fairy tales that are generally funny and in character for the mane six) are among the quietest things that Trixie will watch, making her more important to my life right now than anyone else at the con.
And I got to see Aragon, and tease him about his accent. He was the guy who looked like a well-dressed high school student. I credit MrNumbers.
And I can tell by the way you're standing
With your eyes filling with tears
That it's habit alone that keeps you turning for home
Even though your home is right here
Where the people who love you are gathered
Under the wise wishing tree
May we all be considered then straight on delivered
Down to the jubilee
I’ll be at BronyCon next year. I’m going to try to get all the time I can there; I’ve been talking for years about getting a hotel room (I usually stay with family 20 minutes away,) and I’m going to do my damndest to do that. I’ve been wanting to bring Trixie, and I’m going to try to do that too, at least for a day or two. I’m going to try to do some of the stuff I’ve missed: I’ve never actually made opening or closing ceremonies, or done any of the late night programming. I always miss a good ¾ of the panels I mean to go to.
I’m worried. I’m worried I’m going to expect too much, to put too much pressure on it.
On top of that, people who have never come or don’t normally come are making noises about making it to the last hurrah. Which they totally should do, because how else am I going to meet them?
And that’s not even counting “Interesting people I don’t know who I will inevitably meet.”
I have no idea how I’m going to do it. But I’m going to do it, and it will be amazing and I will spend time with friends. So it will be totally worth it.
Because the people who love you are waiting
And they'll wait just as long as need be
When we look back and say those were halcyon days
We're talking about jubilee
What I love about this song is that a happy ending doesn’t right wrongs, and it isn't an ending at all. It's a rest. Every person and pony is a big ball of doubt, worry, guilt, frustration, and despair. That never changes. But when you find people who understand, and empathize, and love you anyway, and you set all that aside for a while… magic happens.
I know people will be talking over the next year and more about post BronyCon plans: other conventions where we can gather, maybe some smaller meet-ups or weekend get togethers. I’m interested in those conversations; I might even start some. They won’t be BronyCon, but they might be the next jubilee. And we should all keep an eye out for that.
It was super cool to meet you! And don’t worry about bowing out of “ATHEWM” early; in the end the panel worked perfectly given the format.
Glad to have met you again. The Flash Fiction panel definitely went better than I feared and about as well as I'd hoped. Sorry I didn't spend much time with you beyond that; between panels, typewriting, and card games, I kind of didn't make much time for face-to-face socializing.
Here's hoping Bronycon goes out with a bang next year.
I can't wait!
4910331
I may end up actually going next year, given I'll regret the opportunity lost otherwise.
This is a really nice blog and I’m really glad you had a great time this year (and sorry I only got to make eye contact with you once), but has anyone else thought about how much of a deadly emotional minefield FIMFic will be in 2019 between the end of BronyCon and the (presumed) end of G4?
Because I did. Just now.
Christ.
4910376
That's totally true, and all the more reason for us to stick together as much as we can/feel we need to.
4910383
Definitely. I’ve got a community project pitch I’m workshopping at the moment that’ll hopefully help that happen at BC 2019.
Thanks for the write-up. I'm grateful to be able to experience the con vicariously.
And I'll definitely make plans for next year.
I just heard about next year being the last Bronycon. I feel like I've let too many of these slip past, having only ever gone to one.
Next year I will have to make it two.
4910376
I've known it has been coming for a while, and I feel bad about it. I feel like I've not been nearly as active as I should have been, as you guys are awesome, and what have I been doing that has been better than spending time around you people?
Not much comes to mind.
I'll have to attend mext year's.
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.
'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here:'
Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.'
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
'Who made the eyes but I?'
--George Herbert
Glad you had fun.
So glad you had a nice time. It's a little sad reading these posts, since I wasn't able to make it this year, but I'll definitely be there next year! The last year of BronyCAN was one of the best years of that con, and I have no doubt the same will be true for BronyCon.
I had a great time hanging out with you book! Organizing dinner for 5 or 8 was simple compared to what Wanderer D had to do haha--and you guys made it easy. You were all chill with anything. Yes, news about the end of bronycon made the usual con-end depression even worse D: lots of reflection today.
4910949 You are still an angel for doing all of that, and I'm glad you were around to do so! Next time, let's coordinate early on
I'm honored I didn't get a frown and a shaking head when I was doing the spiel that started with "Romance" in the title tho!
4911040
Agreed ^.^
Whatever happens, we can't let next time be the last.
It's...interesting to see this all out there now, because while I knew people would be sad...oof. It's hard to read all of this, knowing so many don't want it to end as-is even if I still know why we have to do what we're doing.
I do wish we could have hung more! I need a mirror pool :(
I implied it before, and I'll say it now: It was great to have you on the escape room team, because you solved a lot more puzzles than I did. I actually feel kind of guilty about that.
I have the same problem, and OleGreyMane suggested getting a pair of these. They apparently work quite well, the only real drawback being the price tag.