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Posted by Colin Harvey Aug 24, 2008 |
Many writers will run screaming from the room rather than moderate.
The moderator is the helmsman, or to use another analogy, is the air traffic controller. The moderator stops the more extrovert panel members from sidelining the wallflowers, takes questions from the audience, and ensures that the conversation stays on-topic.
For the participant who wants to self-publicize, moderating is a nightmare.
For others, it's a pleasure. It allows the jack of all trades who is master of none to join the masters of the specialist subject and not be left dangling in the breeze.
I moderated three panels at Denvention. It's difficult to take notes while moderating, but in the case of city-building, I had the excellent Spartedza taking notes which you can read on her LiveJournal account.
At a later date, I'll post on the other panels, CSI in the Future and After the Day Job.
More on them later.
Colin