Complex Numbers

Waltzing towards Bethlehem

PROMPT September 2nd

As you may or may not be aware, in the early days of Writing.Com, SM and SMs hosted in-person Conventions for members! From everything I’ve heard from the site’s veteran members, these get-togethers were beyond memorable and so inspirational. Take a trip to the past by reading this item advertising the 2006 WDC Convention: "Writing.Com Convention 2006" . Then, share your thoughts on what a Convention hosted today might look like. Where would it be hosted? How many members could attend? What activities would take place? Who would you want to meet in person? Have fun!

Oh, man... that's a blast from the past.

I just went over the 30DBC participants list this month, and realized that, if memory serves (and, increasingly, it doesn't) I'm the only one of us who was there.

That's right - I attended the 2006 Writing.Com Convention. In some ways, it seems so long ago; in others, it feels like just last month.

I was, if you can believe it, the newest member at the Convention. I even got an actual plaque confirming that. I still have it, displayed in my home office. At the time, I was a Preferred Author; I can't remember exactly when I got my blue suitcase, but it was shortly thereafter.

But you'll forgive me, I hope, if I don't visit the given link. I am, as you know if you've been following along, prone to depression - less so, these days, but still, a trip down memory lane involves tiptoeing through a minefield.

If you're interested, however, I still have my convention recap. The story is loaded with links to other author portfolios, some of which, sadly, are broken now, as some of the members are no longer with us. The title, by the way (which I blatantly stole from my younger self for the title of this entry), is a reference to the Convention's location in Bethlehem, PA, near WDC World Headquarters (aka The ScaryMaster's basement).

I solemnly swear that every word in this is true.

Waltzing towards Bethlehem  (18+) And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Waltzes towards Bethlehem to be born? #1135858 by Robert Waltz

There was a recap contest, and that item took second place. But since the first-place winning entry is no longer available, what you have there is, objectively, the best recap of the 2006 Writing.Com Convention that you will ever lay eyes on. If that doesn't fill you with existential dread, nothing will.

As for a Convention today... well, one can only dream. PA is a nice place, and Bethlehem is certainly convenient for Staff, but I feel like it could be better-attended if it were near a major hub. For selfish reasons, I'd pick DC or the New York area. At one point, Staff tried to host a mini-convention in Newark, but sadly, that turned out to be a bust - except that I got to spend the day with two of my good friends: one who got me to sign up here in the first place, and another whom I met at the 2006 Convention. We went to a comedy club, and we drank quite a bit.

In terms of what activities I'd like to see, well, drinking of course. Okay, maybe the prompt meant official activities. All I can say there is what worked in 2006 could still work today: writing workshops, naturally; Open Mic Night; a disco (hey, maybe we could combine the two and have some karaoke - wait, where are you all going? Come back!); auction; etc.

There have been so many new people joining us since 2006. I've met a few, but would love to meet everyone else.

Just... no zombies this time, okay? Deal? Deal.