Week 27: RealLifeCon 2013

After a week of moaning and missing LeakyCon Portland, one thing really stands out for me from that weekend: I thought about stuff.

Of course there was plenty of giggling, fangirling, dancing and miscellaneous shenanigans - as well there should be. But in between all that, I had a chance to go to some panels and programming that really made me think about the values and message of Leaky in relation to the real, actual world. The world that I am now stuck back in.

Within the Lit track, I got to listen to a ton of YA authors talk about being professional writers. Writing has always been something that I've always wanted to do. I love finding just the right combination of words to say something. But for as long as I have been able to write, I've struggled with letting my words go out into the world - it feels akin to letting strangers come and wander around my brain. While I'm not sure that my skills lie in the area of YA or even fiction at all, it was wonderful to hear from these writers who made the brave, scary decision to put their words out there.

And hearing them talk candidly reminded me that these are just people - not gods. As talented and internet-famous as our favourite authors are, I think it's really important to think of them as regular people - because if they are stuck up on a pedestal, then I have no chance of ever doing what they do. While I'm not sure I'll be sending out queries any time soon, the Lit programming has re-opened that closed door in my brain marked "Be a Writer" - and allowed me to consider, maybe for the first time, that I could actually go through it.

When I wasn't  LitTrack-ing (PS: that should totally be a thing) I was going to quite a few of the Harry Potter Alliance's programs. The HPA has chapters at tons of universities - including mine - but a lot of their initiatives use the internet, and the worldwide communities of fandoms, to make change IRL. The chapter at my school unfortunately announced that it was closing a the end of this school year, and I had (sadly) accepted its fate. But then, LeakyCon happened.

Although I've heard it many times before, via videos and at Leaky '12, hearing people - directors, staff, volunteers - talk about the HPA and what they are doing sort of gives me chills, in the best way. A tiny part of me will never fully accept that there are people who are harnessing the incredible energy of fandoms and doing good. Not just raising money, or spreading awareness, although they do both. The real magic is that they are turning young people into informed, empowered, motivated and passionate citizens of the world. (I'm gushing. I'm sorry.)

(No I'm not)

ANYways. Being around this kind of energy sparked an idea in the wild-idea-factory that is my brain. I'm not sure if it will be a success, I'm not even sure if it will happen. I know it will take an enormous amount of work, and several dedicated people, in addition to me. But I think I'd like to give it a go. I think I'd like to try bringing back our HPA chapter from the dead. (Not in a voldey-fetus kinda way).

I'm sure I will be documenting this journey quite a bit on this blog. It's still a tiny spark of an idea, but now that I've told you guys, it already feels so real.

So many amazing things came out of panels and workshops I went to this year. But the fangirling, squeeing and dancing will never be lesser in importance to any of that. Without those things, without the uniqueness of the Leaky spirit, I would not feel the feel I'm currently feeling - and that feel is a strong desire to make Leaky IRL. To write things and do things and sing things and pour all of that wild, passionate energy into all of it.

At Leaky, I thought about stuff. Now, I'm going to go do stuff.

Goodnight, bloglings