So, unpacking some things about Warren Ellis.
The WEF was a vibrant community full of a lot of people who are now players in the industry. Lifelong friendships and at least two marriages that I know of came out of the WEF. 1/

But it was very much (& openly so) run as a dictatorship. His salon, his rules. Deal or leave. This also created an inner cabal & the rest of us ... which explains why so many people are flabbergasted at the allegations & saw nothing at the time 2/

So, on the one hand, we're balancing memories of great discussions, the 9-11 thread that is such a snapshot of that day, the friendships we made, important advice for how to protect your rights as a creator, how to spot a shitty contract, with some SERIOUS allegations 3/

I started to stop beliveing in Ellis when he refused to go to bat for a then unknown Kaare Andrews, who had been paid a "kill fee" but then had his pages used by a publisher Ellis had just signed a major deal with. 4/

And I became further disenchanted when we hosted him for a signing (& @SDavidJohnson will back me) he was a deeply unpleasant & ungrateful guest.

But, at least, I said to myself, he's helping a lot of young women creators get noticed who would be overlooked. 5/

Oh, the irony of that last statement.
The WEF was undeniably important, & the good things that came out of it were good. But it looks like it sowed the seeds of misery for a lot of people, & thinking on *why* is making me (& a lot of others) dismayed beyond words. 6/6