Outstanding submissions: 13
Rejections: 1
I returned home from AWP, rolling into town at 2:30 am. I foolishly decided to check my e-mail before going to bed and found a rejection from the Los Angeles Review, a nice little form dispatch indicating that they had read my work with interest. I love parsing that phrase. Is that as opposed to reading my work with disinterest? The LAR eludes me. I bought two issues of the magazine at AWP so I will read them and meditate and see if I can crack this code. It is a really fine looking magazine.
So AWP happened.
My favorite part was the dance party on the last night. Imagine a room full of white people (and a few people of color sprinkled throughout) dancing maniacally, and often with absolutely no attention to or regard for the beat. At one point, I had a moment with a pair of black women dancing near me. We all exchanged looks and there was mutual understanding. That understanding was that yes, this was really happening. It was just so fucking excellent.
The key is to not try too hard. Walk before you run. Start with a simple sway from side to side before you try to get fancy with dance moves.
At this dance was a skinny white boy in a dress. He had long, fragile looking legs and he moved as if he were constantly in the throes of an epileptic seizure. I was really terrified that he would hurt himself. It was literally painful to watch him dancing. He also had no self-awareness and often bumped into people, didn’t bother apologizing, and then careened in a different direction.
I wish the iPhone took dark pictures more effectively. Here’s a blurry shot where you really can’t see anything important but we’re all throwing our hands in the air for some reason:
For the record, I cannot dance either. I do not judge so much as I observe.
The DOGZPANK reading was fantastic. The event was well-attended and everyone had a great time and I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. I’ve been watching the video I recorded from the evening (coming to the PANK blog soon) and it is quite awesome. Most surreal moment of the night: an appearance by Sherman Alexie.
Here is the fantastic venue, Forest Room 5:
After the DOGZPANK reading, we went to the Mercury Café which was PACKED. The highlight was this old dude who spent the entire time tapping a random series of WAY OUT OF TUNE notes on his Casio. It was excruciating yet oddly compelling. I respect his commitment to make music on his terms.
He also played the cello:
HTMLGIANT had a party. It was really awesome. Those guys were all very nice and especially Gene Morgan and his wife Jenny. On the way there, we saw this creepy baby.
And this creepy baby:
They make a very fine gin and tonic here:
On the first night I went to a party hosted by Flatmancrooked. There was a guest list and the intern managing the list was very serious about making sure that the list was respected. (She was quite friendly, for real.) It was the first time in my life I’ve ever been on “the list.” I felt special. The party was great and I met lots of fine folks but I was SUPER shy and basically stayed with my friends and tried not to feel too self-conscious in a room filled with beautiful, impossibly thin people. Seriously, I don’t know that these writers eat but they sure do look good.
I met so many incredible people, too many to list, but I have to say that I was uniformly thrilled with everyone I met. People were so damn nice, and that was a very pleasant surprise. This year’s experience could not have been more different from last year. I don’t want to be so crass as to namecheck everyone I met or was starstruck by but I do want to say a special thank you to B.L. Pawelek (awesome, HELPFUL, funny), Ryan Bradley (hilarious, awesome, dirty), and Erin Fitzgerald (smart, hilarious, kindred). We were like a posse all week and they showed me incredible kindness, kept me company at the bookfair Saturday afternoon, etc etc etc. It was a little overwhelming to meet people who were just as, if not cooler in real life. Oh! Let me not forget Lauren Becker who had no voice all week. It was very sad because AWP requires a voice but it was still great to meet her and exchange meaninfgul looks and sign language and other interpretive acts. I had no voice today. Also, I must shout out to my Chicago peeps, Rebekah, Tadd, and Tim whom it was delightful to see again.
I’m glad my voice held out during the conference. I talked more in Denver over 5 days than I do in a whole year.
I took lots of pictures. You can look at them if you want.
I have a funny little story up at McSweeney’s. It is one of my most favorite things I’ve yet written.
I don’t think I’ve ever been at a conference where I even had half the fun you are describing here. No doubt: AWP people know how to party.
And I yet have to experience being on a guest list.
cute mcsweeney’s story! now i want quiche!
Becker’s commitment to speech and schmooze is unparallelled. Blisters on her throat and still we exchanged verbal farewells. She’s truly a winner.
It was really awesome meeting you, Roxane, and your panel was one of the few all week that I sat through the entire time. Glad you had a much better time this year than last. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the week enough to write about it myself. Too many good minutes to count, and all in a row.
I am perhaps even more sad I missed creepy baby than I am that I missed htmlgiant party (most esp. b/c missing htmlgiant party allowed me to witness the featherproof milk gulp, which was unquestionably a highlight of my weekend).
Damn I love that story. I can read you on my McSweeney’s app on my iPhone, which is totally hi tech. I had an EZ Bake Oven and we cooked my brother’s hand. Wish I could have gone to AWP. Next year, though. Next year.
So glad you had a great time, Roxane. I’ve enjoyed getting some emails from Ryan and am so thrilled how well he faired.
Your boy did you proud.
Much fun hanging out w/ him.
aww, shucks
i loved our meaningful glances, interpretive dance and lip-reading! though it was frustrating because i am a talker. i hope your voice has returned. i hope everyone’s voice sounds amazing next year and we go out for awp karaoke. (and thanks chris(topher) — how could i not froggily shriek goodbye?! you, too, are a winner!)
omg rox: that story killed me. in a totally good way. except there should not be mushrooms on the quiche. mushrooms ruin everything.
you are a superstar and will be recognized in my requisite post-awp blog post as such.
i will totally take my three descriptors as compliments
it was fantastic to be a part of your posse for a few days.
and YES! how cool to be “on the list” it was fun to bully some extra people on there with us!
Thx for that, btw. I felt important.
haha. it was fun to bring too many people and force our way into the party!
loved having a posse to cruise with. This AWP could not have been better, loved it and can’t wait to see you guys again.
AWP looks and sounds awesome! I really have to go one year.
I had insane fun with you and the posse, and can’t wait for next year!
I think you should book Casio Cello Guy for the reading. I bet he’d travel if someone asked nicely.
dun dun dun dun dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuun
Creepy Babies! Awkward Casio Dude! Boy in Dress w/ No Situational Awareness!
Great wrap-up… I don’t know why you’re so shy, Roxane. You are awesome.
I don’t have a blog in which to wrap up anything, but if I did, I would say I met Roxane Gay and this was a highlight of my week. And Roxane Gay was there at the AWP Prom and she kept giving me these looks like I was a spazzy white chick clapping on 1 and 3 or something.
Glad you made it back safely. Maybe we’ll meet up in D.C. next year.
Definitely, Jason.
Dang. I hid my google reader and now I never see when people have posts up. YOU ARE THE EFFING BEST.
damn, wish i could have been one of those awkward white dancers
you were at heart, david, and that’s what matters
hey ryan, thanks. did i properly link that steve earle “someday” song re your novel about pumping gas? that song, which you probably already know, has some killer lyrics. the novel i wrote in 02-03 included the narrator, who wants to quit being a lawyer to become a writer, included several references to that song, i think at one point even quoting lines from it. i’m still all shook up that no agents wanted to rep that novel. i guess some folks consider that kind of thing too “on the nose”. i just watched “the family that preys” and learned you CAN do that kind of thing well — have a character (kathy bates) tell another (alfre woodward) to listen to a song with a line like (“i hope you dance”) during an important cross-country ride and then have that lyric play a role in a heartbreaking eulogy (even be sung during said eulogy), ALL WITHOUT BEING SAPPY. so agents why did my novel fail? eh? EH? eh. okay, i hope the sarcasm here is evident, if not the humor.
yes. i think if there’s ever a movie we’ll get a punk band to cover it for the soundtrack.
I will hold you to that in DC, Erlewine. Be there. Or else.
You’d better be in D.C., David! It’s your home turf! Let’s shred some rugs!
Exclamation marks!
Christopher, I OWN DC, SouthEast and NorthWest in particular. I walk down the street and people call me big Papa. I can’t wait, man. Will be epic.
Ha, I’ve already told my wife I will be coming home late the first week of February so I can dance, dance, dance! I am particularly fond of dancing to “Be Good Johnny” by “Men at Work” and “Uncle John’s Band” by Lyle Lovett (covering “The Dead”). Otherwise, I tend to find my back to the wall, and my face looking sullen/edgy. I also like “Voices Carry” and “Only the Lonely.”
Final comment about my dancing. I once had a woman tell me I danced with “a lot of energy.” Nicest thing anyone ever told me about my moves, and even then I knew it was an insult.
i heard alexie showed up at the dogzpank reading. was it to confront barry g for all of his vicious slams on sherm?
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