Post

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

1. So, at the Worldcon this year there was a person who was going from panel to panel, bothering panelists by trying to get them to "collaborate" with them on a project and sliding the proposed project to them on a piece of paper. Folks, I cannot stress to you how obnoxious this sort of thing is.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

2. First, they're at a fuckin' panel, they're not going to have time to discuss anything else with you. Second, it's inappropriate to corner anyone in a time/place where they can't leave. Third, such proposals should route through an agent/representative, not be presented at a convention.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

3. If some random presents me with anything in the hope of collaborating with me, I AM NOT TAKING THAT SHIT. I'm not even looking at it. It's an open invitation for that random to attempt to sue me later for "stealing their idea" or whatever. Also, fuck you, random, for putting me in that position.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

4. When, in fact, this person showed up at a panel I was on and tried to slide a paper at me, I did not take it and I immediately shut them down with "No," and a refusal to have anything to do with them. I have the advantage of notability that I can be blunt and curt, but not everyone does.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

5. I did not look at the paper presented to me but others who looks at theirs told me that what they had seen there had all the hallmarks of being "AI" generated, so that's somehow even more obnoxious; this person bothering panelists couldn't even be bothered to come up with their own bad ideas.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

6. This person at the convention was annoying enough to enough people that they were eventually reported to convention for, effectively, harassment. I don't know the final disposition of the complaint, but the fact is this person shouldn't have been pestering all these people in the first place.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

7. DON'T BE THIS PERSON. If you see an author you like/respect/have somehow heard of at a con (or anywhere else), don't try to rope them into business then and there; they're busy and not there for your convenience. At most, ask them (BRIEFLY) who their agent is so you can route the proposal there.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

8. I cannot stress enough how rude and unprofessional it is to rock up to an author (or other creative) who has no idea who you are, in a time and place where they are there for other purposes, and pitch them on a "collaboration." Official business channels exist. Use them. Don't be an asshole.

John Scalzi
@scalzi.com

9. I'm not naming this person because I don't want to either punch down or give them attention. But the issue isn't just about them, it's more general advice to aspiring folks who think there's a "cheat code" to getting attention. There's not. To be seen as a pro, act like a pro. Not like this.

31 reposts1.3K likes

BelladonnaTook
@belladonnatook.bsky.social

I knew a guy who did this years ago, while meeting a successful artist at a con. The sheer audacity and arrogance of moving swiftly from normal fan pleasantries to assuming he was a peer with the artist was not lost on the artist, who whittled the narcissist down to size in no time. It was deserved.

A Damned Stemple
@adamstemple.bsky.social

Actual cheat code to massive literary success: 1. Act like a pro. 2. Work like a pro. 3. Sacrifice a white bull to Nisaba, the Sumerian god of literature, and pray that you hit the cultural zeitgeist at the right time.

Kate Nowak
@k8nowak.bsky.social

Aaaah I also have a cat named Smudge and he looks like this! (Sorry i'm ridiculously excited one of my favorite authors gave their cat the same name as me. I've never met another cat named Smudge.)

Chris Hepler
@theotherhepler.bsky.social

I think the name has been reasonably common for smudged-up-looking cats. My grandmother also had a cat named Smudge in the early 1980s. Predominately white, gray blotches on her nose and a tan blotch on her side as well. She was a sweetheart.

Tali (NumberW1tch)
@numberw1tch.bsky.social

1. Smudge is pretty, but is not luggage 2. Did you note the person's name? (Not to name and shame, you addressed that) And immediately email your agent, that you aren't inclined to work with said person {cause they are rude slop-artists} (don't answer this > maybe give your friends a quiet heads up)

cyber disposables
@twen.bsky.social

One of ours worms his way into it if the zip is even slightly unzipped, it’s impressive to see but stressful if you forget he can do that and are looking for the cat

Rose Thurlbeck
@thurlbeck.com

Mate, you came up with ‘what would happen if the moon became cheese,’ and worked through all the consequences. What could this AI-assisted wonk bring to your table - or anyone else’s?