Con meditations

I've just been asked if I'd be interested in being a panelist at a con in January. As far as I can remember it's the first time I've been asked for my profic rather than my fanfic. Alas, I'll almost certainly be on a different continent at the time of the con, so I've had to decline other than as a last minute addition should I actually be able to get there.

On the other hand, I *have* just committed myself to writing the novella for Valentine's Day, which means that the final version needs to be turned in to my editor by end of year at latest. I haven't actually signed the contract yet, but having now given a commitment in email to write for that schedule slot, I will not be popular if I don't supply the manuscript on time. Given that I've already got a good idea of the outline, it shouldn't be a problem -- as long as it stays a novella. I can't write a full-length novel in that timescale, so this one had better not get any ideas about putting on weight.

Contemplating whether to go to BASCon. It's within commuting distance, but on the other hand it's also going to be a long weekend out of my writing time when I have two books on deadline (revision pass and editing on Dolphin Dreams, and writing the novella). And the programme tends to be very orientated towards specific fandoms, many of which I have not even heard of, let alone watched/read. It's very much a con I go to mainly to see friends I otherwise wouldn't see, so is anyone else going?