Ad Astra

Have you ever attended an event that made you want to get out and do something? Last weekend was Ad Astra, Toronto's oldest science fiction/fantasy convention. Attending were some well known names in the industry, Terry Brooks, author of the Shannara series, the Magic of Landover books, the Knight of the Word trilogy and the novelization of Phantom Menace; Anne Bishop, author of the Black Jewels trilogy and the Pillars of the World; Ed Greenwood, who created the Forgotten Realms universe, Peter David, who has written so many star trek books it's not funny; and Betsy Mitchell, editor-in-chief of Del Rey publishing among others.
I ended up working the event instead of attending it (the World's Biggest Bookstore is back at conventions!) so I was only able to attend two events. I did however, talk to a few of the authors. Anne Bishop had a wonder quote for aspiring authors,
"The very best story you can write today is not the best story you can write."
So the next time you get a rejection letter from a publisher or editor, remember, the next story you write will be better.
Speaking of writing, I'd better go do some. Ad Astra gave me the impetus to start living my dream instead of just thinking about doing it. Sometime you need a good kick to start a project you've been thinking of for a long time. I've finally set up this blog, and I'm going to keep writing stories until they start getting published (and then I'm going to try to get my novels published).
Here's to inspiration!
The muse calls, so, as the Japanese would say, gambarimasho.