Greetings from the Wells,

I know it’s a little late to write a post-convention update, though it was quite the wild ride and I still miss everyone! I was able to forge some great friendships and have a few post-Necronomicon reflections:

Overall, the experience was like nothing I could have ever imagined. This was my first convention, let alone my first writer’s convention and I was beyond nervous. My social anxiety was through the roof, though that was quelled rather quickly. After meeting Craig Gidney on the plane and taking a Lyft back to the hotel I knew that this was by far, the most welcoming and open community of artists, writers, and poets. That night was a veritable festival at Mokban, where a bunch of us gathered for food and drink and some good conversation. That theme followed for the rest of the convention.

I ended up tagging along with Joshua Dinges, Matthew Bartlett and a few others who welcomed me with open arms and I stuck with them for the remainder of the weekend. There is so much to delve into, but the most present theme that remains with me, even after the convention: friendship and community.

On social media, it is easy to project how one may or may not feel. Behind those cyber walls, you never know the tone and tenor of someone’s voice or the inflection in their speech which lends itself to their intentions or their emotional attitudes. Most of my anxiety revolved around that and how welcoming the community would be.

I’m overjoyed that I was so wrong.

This is the central theme of my visit to the Necronomicon, friendship, community, and art. Normally, I am not this emotive, though I am so grateful to those in this community of artists (a term I’ve used frequently) for their generosity and kindness.

To all of my writers, weirdos, and poets…I’m so happy to call you my friends.

Yrs,

Maxwell I. Gold