Norwescon is awesome. Let’s just make that clear right up front. This is not about them. I was invited to be a panelist this year and I politely declined for “me” reasons. I want to talk about those, I guess in case it is helpful for others.
I have been blessed to participate in Norwescon for a number of years. And every time, it has been a joy and an honor. I do not view it primarily as a promotional opportunity (though I do not ignore that benefit). I also do not view it as some earned and expected acknowledgment of my status as a published author, because that is not what it should be (and because I began paneling before I was professionally published).
So why am I not participating this year?
I guess first because of Imposter Syndrome, and a bunch of deeper weird feelings I am working through and will probably write posts about someday, that comes in part from being “Between books.”
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