Why does Lit authors not have a meetup or a convention?

[jezzaz]

I’d go. Would anyone else?

I know that conversations like this inevitably end up in ‘where would you hold it’ and people stating firmly that they’d never go here or there, or it has to be there or here, but still. I find it interesting that we have such a large and vibrant community of authors and yet no real world large meetups.

Of course I also know that events like this cost a lot to put on - my wife is an event organizer and she regularly tells me about how events need sponsors to pay for conferences like this, in order that tickets don’t end costing everyone thousands, but still, wouldn’t a few publishing houses be interested in that? Be a great place for them to acquire slush piles of potential publishing deals?

Not that I would in anyway be interested in organizing it, but maybe someone would be?

There could even be an awards banquet. I swear I wrote a story about that somewhere…

 

[TheRedChamber]

It has been mentioned that there used to be meet-ups in the past. Maybe one of the older guard can confirm this.

Personally, while a meet-up might be fun while it lasted, it's probably not worth risking my anonymity for.

 

[HordHolm]

I’d go. Would anyone else?

I know that conversations like this inevitably end up in ‘where would you hold it’ and people stating firmly that they’d never go here or there, or it has to be there or here, but still. I find it interesting that we have such a large and vibrant community of authors and yet no real world large meetups.

Of course I also know that events like this cost a lot to put on - my wife is an event organizer and she regularly tells me about how events need sponsors to pay for conferences like this, in order that tickets don’t end costing everyone thousands, but still, wouldn’t a few publishing houses be interested in that? Be a great place for them to acquire slush piles of potential publishing deals?

Not that I would in anyway be interested in organizing it, but maybe someone would be?

There could even be an awards banquet. I swear I wrote a story about that somewhere…

But then we'd find out that @Duleigh and @MrPixel aren't actually adorable puppies, and @EmilyMiller and @ChloeTzang aren't cartoons. My illusions would be shattered.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I don't think publishing houses are suffering from a shortage of erotica writers, alas. Probably more likely to pay us to go away.

Hmm, there's an idea...

 

[Seadog777]

I'd love to meet y'alls.

My Crohn's Disease really restricts my travelling ability, but I'd have no problem hosting a luncheon, here in my slice of small-town America.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Literotica, meaning Laurel and Manu, have been paying sponsors of erotic writer events in the past. The last I know of was a few years back in the UK.

I think that some form of virtual event could be organized that would allow writers here to participate in round table discussions, critique sessions, agent Q&A's, and other events while still maintaining their secret identities. I don't see something like that being organized by the admins here because writers are not their focus or concern. Someone else would have to do it and then get Laurel and Manu on board.

 

[TxRad]

Yes there were Litogethers in the past. I attended two and they were great. I met several dozen great people and writers. One sour apple attended the first but wasn't invited back to the second. There was a very large one held in Chicago. It was fun for some and a nightmare for others. Someone outed their enemy list and then some. Some left the host hanging for their bill. The AH lost some very good members because of it.

At one point, I about decided to do a world tour visiting Litsers but life got in the way and time slipped away. I have hosted litsers on their travels around Texas. You know who you are.

 

[oneagainst]

Maybe there was one... maybe we just didn't make the invite list?

 

[Omenainen]

Yeah, nah, we’re all bit of assholes, aren’t we. Or arseholes. One of the two.

 

[oneagainst]

Yeah, nah, we’re all bit of assholes, aren’t we. Or arseholes. One of the two.

This is why we can't have nice things. Like conferences.

 

[Rob_Royale]

A meetup? Seems like a stretch. I'm still surprised no one has organized an AH chat night. That would be a logical first step.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think some here would avoid it for fear of not being who they claim they are in a variety of ways.

Anonymity would be a big reason, some people-for personal reasons-aren't supposed to be on this site so try explaining to a partner where you're going and who you're meeting. Is meeting a few litsters worth telling that kind of lie?

I'll add fear of reprisal for some who like to shoot their mouth off. Face to face is not a good thing for that type.

I'm anti social, I doubt I would attend one, and TBH the reason I mentioned above this one might be the only reason I'd think about it. There are people here my desire to meet would be for the wrong reasons.

I imagine considering the tone of the forum the last year or so one could expect an orgy. Then be sorely disappointed by everything from physical appearance down to the big talkers are just talk. Which would be a good thing. I have some experience with this with "The cabin" that I won't waste time putting here, but it wasn't sexy, it was needy and pathetic.

There's the old expression some things are better left to the imagination, and I think that holds even more true when discussing meeting people we've known only online for years.

I have met three litsters over the years, one who also lives here in RI, I met another a few years ago when I ended up in their neck of the woods for work for a few days, went to dinner with her and her husband. Met another in Florida while visiting my nephew. All nice visits, but I think because it was just one on one and not a group thing.

 

[StillStunned]

I thought it was because most of us are clinically not allowed to interact with others in person.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yes there were Litogethers in the past. I attended two and they were great. I met several dozen great people and writers. One sour apple attended the first but wasn't invited back to the second. There was a very large one held in Chicago. It was fun for some and a nightmare for others. Someone outed their enemy list and then some. Some left the host hanging for their bill. The AH lost some very good members because of it.

At one point, I about decided to do a world tour visiting Litsers but life got in the way and time slipped away. I have hosted litsers on their travels around Texas. You know who you are.

Geronimo has been doing that, guy is all over the globe. But so far hasn't made it here to the East Coast. Hopefully he will, that's a guy I want to have a few drinks with.

 

[lovecraft68]

I thought it was because most of us are clinically not allowed to interact with others in person.

Fantasy-Oh, an anklet!
Reality....oh, that's a different kind of ankle bracelet.

 

[Duleigh]

But then we'd find out that @Duleigh and @MrPixel aren't actually adorable puppies, and @EmilyMiller and @ChloeTzang aren't cartoons. My illusions would be shattered.

I had one meeting with another Lit author in 2007. The attraction was immediate, the sex was amazing, and the lack of a leash or fleas never came up in conversation. (Actually there was a leash and it looked awesome on her) There were a couple of jokes about "Doggy Style" now including nipple clips and a blind fold. It was a wonderful weekend.

 

[StillStunned]

I had one meeting with another Lit author in 2007. The attraction was immediate, the sex was amazing, and the lack of a leash or fleas never came up in conversation. (Actually there was a leash and it looked awesome on her) There were a couple of jokes about "Doggy Style" now including nipple clips and a blind fold. It was a wonderful weekend.

So it *did* happen! I thought it was just a drunken dream!

 

[EmilyMiller]

But then we'd find out that @Duleigh and @MrPixel aren't actually adorable puppies, and @EmilyMiller and @ChloeTzang aren't cartoons. My illusions would be shattered.

I have incontrovertible proof that I’m a cartoon. I’ll PM you

Emily

 

[EmilyMiller]

Why does Lit authors not have a meetup or a convention?​

To answer the OP. If I’m still writing erotica when I’m a cantankerous old lady who gives zero fucks about anything, then this idea might have more merit than now.

Emily

 

[Duleigh]

To answer the OP. If I’m still writing erotica when I’m a cantankerous old lady who gives zero fucks about anything, then this idea might have more merit than now.

Emily

No actually it doesn't
I'm a cantankerous busted up old dog who takes an hour just to get all bits running and all medications taken in the morning. I don't want to talk to anyone in person, including me.

 

[EmilyMiller]

No actually it doesn't
I'm a cantankerous busted up old dog who takes an hour just to get all bits running and all medications taken in the morning. I don't want to talk to anyone in person, including me.

You may have a point

Emily

 

[Omenainen]

This is why we can't have nice things. Like conferences.

Nice things are for nice people. We need to stay in our lane.

 

[KeithD]

Yes there were Litogethers in the past. I attended two and they were great. I met several dozen great people and writers. One sour apple attended the first but wasn't invited back to the second. There was a very large one held in Chicago. It was fun for some and a nightmare for others. Someone outed their enemy list and then some. Some left the host hanging for their bill. The AH lost some very good members because of it.

At one point, I about decided to do a world tour visiting Litsers but life got in the way and time slipped away. I have hosted litsers on their travels around Texas. You know who you are.

This. It also created a "I was there" clique on the Lit. discussion board, resulting in some "we're in; you're out" yammering on the board.

 

[Duleigh]

This. It also created a "I was there" clique on the Lit. discussion board, resulting in some "we're in; you're out" yammering on the board.

Sometimes the words of Linus Van Pelt are so wise:

"I love humanity. It's the people I can't stand."

 

[luv2custrip]

I thought it was because most of us are clinically not allowed to interact with others in person.

Actually, my Lit persona has manifested physically as a separate, and diabolical individual. If he knew I was writing this, he w