I Think It's A Dangerous Sign For Me And HP Fandom....

[teddy_radiator]

...when the MISTI-Con organisers announce that the hotel where Con is taking place next year is almost sold out for Con week and I think, "Meh."

I feel faintly alarmed by this. Not the fact that it's almost sold out, but that I can't bring myself to care much. That makes me sad.

*Update* Just called the Hotel and Friday and Saturday are sold out, so that's us out now. We should have booked earlier, but I thought we would have lots of time. Our mistake. They do have another hotel but it's ten minutes away, which means we'd have to stay at the Margate all the time. Oh, well, that's made up my mind for me, hasn't it?

Comments

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

I've never been to a con! Have you pretty active in them in the past?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I went to the last one, and TheHubs™ and I have plans to go to this one. It was great fun and I loved it. I'm just a little frustrated right now about things in SSHG land, and it's hard for me to get past it right now and looking forward to Con in May. But it's wicked awesome!

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

Awww, man, that sucks. :( I hope things look up for you soon. I know how you feel. I'm counting down the days until the Dirtywrong Comment Fest because it seems like everything else I see right now is "no hard kinks" and "nothing over an R rating" etc. Total muse kill!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yes. Well, I've just checked with the hotel and they are sold out, so that means we won't be going either. I'm sad, really. And I'll miss it because last year was so much fun. But it won't be happening for us next year, I'm afraid. I feel bad for TheHubs™ as it was his first and I think he would have loved it.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

ARGH. I wouldn't give up hope just yet. Sometimes windows open, after all.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

This is very true. I'm a believer in 'if it's meant to be, a way will be found.'

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know about the Muse kill thing. Believe me, I know.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

it seems like everything else I see right now is "no hard kinks" and "nothing over an R rating" etc.

Geez, HP fandom, what happened to you, man?

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

[minaharker87.livejournal.com]

I really hope that you'll come to enjoy SSHG fandom again soon.For me, fandom wouldn't be the same without you, your stories, your excitement and your encouragement.

And I'm kind of jealous of people living in countries where HP cons are held - sadly, there aren't any in Germany, but I'd love to have a reason to sew a Hogwarts uniform with everything from skirt to robes and cloak and actually wear them in public. Ah, well, maybe I'll just do it anyway one day.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words. I am taking a little break. I love SSHG, and because I love it so much. I want to give this pairing my best work, and that's not happening right now. I feel very deeply that I should finish my novel right now, and after that I will no doubt find my SSHG voice again.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry hon, I totally get it, I was there myself about a week ago.

Don't let things in your ship get you down. It's still very active, you still have a ton of creators, and things will look up. I think we're in the midst of the typical late summer lull. Come late Sept. things will pick up.

As for the con, I'm booking my room tonight and me and my partner in crime are already conspiring on what we're going to be putting together for our room party. I'm sorta meh and sorta excited at the same time if it makes sense.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Sweetie. I need to tell you I just called and Friday and Saturday are sold out already. They don't do a waiting list, contrary to what's on the MISTI email. they do have another hotel 10 minutes away, but Trev's not keen on that at all. I think we're going to miss this year. Last year there was plenty of time and plenty of rooms - I guess word has spread. And people will drop out nearer the date, but I don't know if I can be arsed to check back constantly, since the Margate won't do a waiting list.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that and called too and it sucks but there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm going to call every other day until I get in. When I get an idea in my head I can't be dissuaded and hey, I may even take an overflow room or crash on a floor here and there. I'll figure it out, I'm not ready to say die yet.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't normally, but with TheHubs™ in tow, it's not as simple. If it was just me I'd bunk up with Droxy and Irish and the gang, but neither of us like the idea of being 10 minutes away, all dressed up and driving around Manchester NH looking like it's Halloween.

I'll periodically check back to see if anything comes available, but right now it's not looking too good for the kid here.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

The con probably has not blocked all the rooms either, so there are rooms available outside the group rate, at least, that's how it worked when I handled events like this. We took most of the hotel, but not all, and in case of all the event rooms being booked, we would negotiate more if we could.

I'm not happy about staying off site, mostly because we were planning a shippy room party and that's tough to do when you're off site.

I'm getting a room and that's that. If I have to be pushy and annoying and persistent so be it. This hard head needs to be good for something.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Well, if you get one, let me know, because there might be another one. I really want to go, and I know I'll wear myself out checking and getting upset about it. Perhaps if one opens up for you, that means more will be out there. Off site is a No for us.

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

I'm a little upset right now but it's still almost a year away and people cancel out all the time.

I understand not wanting to stay off site. I don't cosplay but dragging my stuff around would be a real pain in the ass.

I'll keep checking and let you know what I find.

[arwitchywoman.livejournal.com]

I think that after a period of years, it is understandable that one would loose interest in most anything. Get burned-out. With that said, it would break my heart if you quit the SSHG fandom. I say that selfishly. You were the very first author I ever clicked to "favor", and I don't ever want to be denied any future treasures your talents may give birth to. Last week, you recommended Hufflepuffs.net to another LJ member, and I've been listening to stories all week while riding to and from work. I'm down to the last 15 minutes of "Morning Falls" and throughout the recording, I kept thinking, 'Teddy's reading of this adds so many more layers to the story' than I could read on my own.

Either way, the decision is yours. Who is to say, you take a 6 month break, then come back full force?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words. I don't want to leave SSHG either. And I won't. I love it too much. I will stay active in GS100, and when I have something that I think is of worth, I will most certainly write it. I love these characters, and because I do so much, I want to give them the very best story I can, so I think a little break is exactly what I need in order to do that. I know I will be back. Just not right now.

I'm glad you enjoyed Morning Falls. I don't ever hear about the podfics. I didn't even know they were still there! ;)

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't go away! I know I don't comment much, but it would be so sad for you to not be around fandom and everywehere. I'm already sad you won't be there :( I wish you were going to be. There's still a chance a room might free up!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

We'll keep checking. I hate the thought of all this planning and prep and not going. I think I need it more than I want it.

I don't think of it as leaving fandom. I just need a bit of a breather. I need to recharge my fandom batteries, really. I'll keep on doing GS100 for sure, and if I feel I can contribute meaningfully in other ways, I will certainly do it.

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Sometimes you need to be around fandom people, and it's our rare time to be able to do so. I'm really looking forward, though beforehand I know I'll be nerouvs as all get out.

Breathers are good. Sometimes you can overdose on stuff. :D *hugs*

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

You will be greatly missed at MistiCon. Is there no chance of renting a car, the hotel is not far down the road at all, and there are many shuttles too... or seeing if you could room with others, Draco and I have had to do that before, and while not ideal, the good times and good people sharing with us made it worth it for the few days.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

We'll keep checking. We were planning on driving, so that's not really a problem, I just don't want to be away from all the goodies and yet I would like to be able to chill in my room if I grew overtired without having to drive. We want to go, and have planned so carefully for it. I kept putting off reserving a room because of financial obligations but there you go - it happens. Hopefully we can find a cancellation or something.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

I hope you do get in via cancellation. The flurry to reserve rooms early often yields people who cannot go for other reasons and then rooms become available.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I've heard that alot, so I'm hopeful. Thank You for being here, dear Friend. I've been a little battered this week, and Your steadfast friendship is dear and very special.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Sending you good energy and thoughts, perhaps some diversions would be good, sometimes you need to take breaks to refresh your perspective.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank You so much. That is exactly what's needed, and what I'm going to do. I need to recharge my SSHG batteries, and in doing so, I'll recharge my fandom batteries as well. Here is wishing You and Draco a wonderful weekend! ♥

[irishredlass.livejournal.com]

Honey chilling in a room would not be a problem even if you are off site of the Margate. You know you would always be welcome to hibernate in our room :)

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about the fandom woes. It's inevitable, I know, that our enthusiasm for something eventually fades, but I'm always sorry to see it happen. I'm at a middle stage with HP -- nowhere near the joyful obsession of my first 2-3 years in the fandom, but not ready to fold my tent and move on, either. But I guess the upside is that even if, at some point, I end up no longer actively participating in the fandom in terms of fests and fic, I don't have to lose the friends I made here. I haven't been involved in Star Trek Voyager fandom for years, but I still have some of the LJ friends I made during my Captain Janeway heyday. So I hope I can keep all you HP lovelies around, too!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm totally done, just a bit burned out and out of decent ideas. I don't want to put out substandard work, and I want to finish this novel. But I could never be done with HP fandom completely.

[of-anoesis.livejournal.com]

As someone who got thoroughly fed up with the negative parts of the fandom, I can appreciate the feelings of just not being bothered with it anymore. I upped and left, and while it was rather like going on a mini holiday, it did mean that I stopped writing for almost a year.

Now I know that won't happen to you, as you were a writer before HP and have other projects on the go, but I do regret it. I miss the good side of fandom - the truly awesome people who will do anything to keep the ship going. I cut all ties, pretty much, and am only just venturing back. But finding the enthusiasm is hard, you know?

Try not to disappear altogether! Especially not as I'm attempting to drag myself back into the squee.

Also, can I suggest that you and trev bookmark that weekend, dress up in your HP finery and marathon the movies? With pictures posted of course. Or you can always join in the con envy stuff that goes one. Whilst dressed up and marathoning movies...

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Well, in my fervent quest to do what I could to get fandom going, I pissed off a bunch of friends over at Facebook, so that can backfire as well.

But I am so glad you are back. You are such a brilliant writer, and the ship needs you. It's lovely to see you here again and I know I'm not alone in saying this.

I don't want to go away for long, but I'm starting to feel a frosty layer of cynicism covering my fandom feels, so I know it's time to step back for a little bit. I'll be back. I love SSHG, and I'll always do GS100 because it's awesome, but right now, I think the best thing for me to do is finish my novel. That's a priority right now.

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

I hope with all my heart that we'll get to see you and Mr. Hubs at MISTI, most beloved! ♥

*tender robed embrace*

I wouldn't want to stay off-site either, because my room is a much needed refuge... Surely some people will cancel before the event, and a room will become available for you!

*crosses fingers*

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, dear heart. I will keep checking back. We've planned and dreamed too much to miss it, but yes, off-site isn't how we want to do it.