Here it is Saturday morning and day 2 of Readercon.

One of my favorite panels was "Generation Dark." The primary focus of the discussion tried to answer the question "Are kids today seeking out darker literature than kids in past generations?" There was a general consensus that kids are focusing more on dark fantasy or dark romance rather than horror. This can primarily be seen through the examination of standard horror characters such as vampires, zombies, and werewolves that have been romanticized with increasing frequency over the last decade. Now, instead of taking on horror roles, these once reviled and dangerous beings present themselves in dark fantasy and romance stories as saviors, lovers, or protectors of young women or girls in trouble. The conversation covered more examples than this, but most of the panelists agreed that horror fiction is continuing to be a troubled genre while its tropes are given new life (or perhaps half-life) in dark fiction or dark romance.

Another panel that I enjoyed was "F&SF + MFA >0." The crowd was pretty big, much bigger than I expected. The panelist included Jim Kelly, John Kessel, and four graduates from Carolina State Univ and Stonecoast. Unfortunately, the audience had more questions than the panelists could answer due to time constraints. I don't think they planned on such an energetic crowd, but there seemed to be a clear indication that SF&F writers are interested in the idea of getting an MFA in their field. The long and short of the discussion is that no writing program can make you a better writer or guarantee you a job or publication upon graduation. Only you can make yourself a better writer through the practical and continued use of the knowledge and skills you acquire through the study and habit of writing. MFA programs, when chosen to fit the student's needs, can be extremely useful. However, receiving an MFA is not a quick fix or a ticket to publishing. You still have to put in the writing time because there are no shortcuts to success. As for getting a job with your MFA, the most important thing is to get your work published.

Overall, it was a positive session with a realistic take on the benefits associated with entering an MFA program. The key benefits to an MFA program were highlighted as (not listed in order of importance) a) getting a credential on your resume, b) establishing yourself within the writing community, c) learning how to read as a writer, d) having 2+ years to work 1-on-1 with a published and successful writer, e) exposing yourself to new writing techniques, f) learning about literature and trends in and out of your field, g) exposing yourself to different forms of writing, h) identifying a variety of ways to make a living with your writing, etc. I could go on and on. Can you tell I loved the panel? But above all, the panelists stressed that receiving an MFA isn't necessary to becoming a published writer.

Now, it's time for breakfast.