Forgive me if I try to give a different view.

Yes, the panelists were young and inexperienced.  Yes, they were perhaps
a bit on the giggly side.  However, they did try to step in and talk
about fanfic.  

I'll be honest: When the panel first started, I thought it was probably
going to be the worst panel I'd ever seen - and, considering some of the
ones I've seen (ANorth 2000), that's a pretty tall order.  And yes, it
did get off to a slow start.  However, it gained momentum as it went on,
and made its way into the barely-passable zone.  

That said, every panel (and panelist) has to start somewhere.  When I
asked Meri Hazlewood if I could run A-Kon's panel back in 1996, I had
exactly ONE fanfic released to the public; I had four by the time the
panel occurred.  I did it because I felt that it was something that
needed to be done; no panel was available at that con at the time, so I
stepped in and did it.  We had problems that first year, we learned, and
we took what we learned and made it into something better for next
year.  

Think you can do a better job?  I suggest you ask the AnimeIowa staff if
you can organize a panel for next year.  Chances are you can - I don't
doubt that you could - but you also have to put yourself up to organize
it.  You have to deal with hunting high and low for good panelists, the
frustration of panelists not showing up, dealing with blackouts and fire
alarms wrecking havoc with your panel, and a dozen other possible messes
that can occur.  I got out of running the panel starting with this most
recent A-Kon because it was too much of a headache for me; I was too
worried about the panel, and not having fun at the con.  

Personally, I'd LOVE it if they handled the fanfic stuff like they do at
AnimeFEST.  Give us con passes in exchange for working on the panel and
the contest; let us slog through mountains of fanfic to grade them, then
get up and put on the show for the attendees when the con arrives, but
get a small reward for it.  However, the larger cons aren't going to do
that, because (in their eyes, anyway) it doesn't affect the bottom line
much.  AF is trying to boost its attendance by going after a niche
market, one that the other cons avoid; considering Krista's in the house
and running things, I'd say they're doing well.

At any rate, those are my thoughts on it.  They were kids trying to fill
a vacuum in the con.  Give them time, give them patience.  Eventually,
they may be some of the best writers out there - and some of the best
panelists.

One last bit: I wasn't the one who'd looked for the authors on the 'net;
I think that was Travis.

-- Nick
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