First person, second person, third person . . . so many perspectives to choose from. How do you choose your point of view? And, once chosen, how do you stick to it? Panelists discuss the freedoms and restrictions of using various points of view in fiction writing. Tim Waggoner, Judi Rohrig, Linda Baker, John Helfers
Single-spaced manuscripts on onion-skin paper will send your storyâunreadâinto the recycling bin. If you want to climb to the top of the slush pile, take the advice of our panelists, editors who have received âsingularâ submissions. Jean Rabe, Judi Rohrig, John Helfers, Tim Waggoner
Some folks simply plop into a chair and start pounding on the keyboard on their Great American Novel. However, our often-published panelists eschew the merits of plotting and planning. Jean Rabe, Tim Waggoner, Chris Pierson, Richard Lee Byers
When should you follow the rules and when should you break them? Our team of writers and editors discusses punctuation, spelling, grammar, and more. Richard Lee Byers, Chris Pierson, John Helfers.
Join us for an evening book chat about the new genre of female main characters who live in worlds filled with magic and adventure. Is this the evolution of romance? How do I get in on this hot market? Panelists: Kerrie Hughes, Elizabeth Vaughan
Learn to craft main characters that will catch and hold your readersâ attention. Panelists: Jean Rabe, Chris Pierson, Donald Bingle, Elizabeth Vaughan
Secondary characters can help drive your plot, aid and vex your heroes, and make your story more interesting. But donât let them take over the tale. Panelists: Elizabeth Vaughan, Jean Rabe, Donald Bingle, Chris Pierson
Establish the rules for your worldâs magical pulse. Setting limits will actually give you limitless possibilities and improve your story. Panelists: Chris Pierson, Linda Baker, Jean Rabe, Kerrie Hughes
Worldbuilding: Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophy
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Faith could guide the characters in your short stories and novels, but theyâll only stumble around and get lost if you donât set the ground rules. Panelists: Linda Baker, Chris Pierson, John Helfers, Kerrie Hughes
Slimy, squishy, furry, predator, prey, cold-blooded, blue-blooded, antennaed, bald, sneezing, tripodal, lusty, hungry... The choices available to make your Bug Eyed Monster and its motivations unique and interesting are vast, but there has to be logic behind your creation. Join our panelists as they discuss how to populate a story with believable otherworldly characters. Richard Lee Byers, Linda Baker, John Helfers, Tim Waggoner
Character-driven stories demand that you juggle relationships in your prose. But how can you manage that effectively and realisticallyâwhile making things interesting and integral to your plot? Our panelists offer their two cents on the topic. Tim Waggoner, Judi Rohrig, Richard Lee Byers, John Helfers
How do you scare your readers? How do you build terror and suspense and keep someone turning the pages well into the early-morning hours? Learn how to add an element of fear to your writing from our panelists, who are experts at sending shivers down peopleâs backs. Judi Rohrig, Richard Lee Byers, Tim Waggoner
Elizabeth Vaughan, best-selling fantasy-romance author, and Donald Bingle, author of Forced Conversion and a plethora of short stories, read from their latest works.
Join pagans and pagan-friendly folks to discuss writing and how pagans are portrayed in science-fiction and fantasy. No bashing or flaming allowed. Panelist: Kerrie Hughes.
Fantasy romance is a sizzling genre. Our panelists give advice on how to add a little romance to your writing and discuss markets for your fiction. Linda Baker, Donald Bingle, Judi Rohrig, Elizabeth Vaughan
Some writers make you feel the heat and humidity when their characters trek through a swamp. Learn how to add just the right amount of detail to enhance the atmosphere and mood of your fiction. Panelists: Elizabeth Vaughan, Linda Baker, Donald Bingle, Judi Rohrig
How do the characters in your stories and books govern themselves? Establishing the rules and the rulers, will enrich the world youâre crafting. Panelists: Linda Baker, Chris Pierson, Elizabeth Vaughan, Kerrie Hughes
Worldbuilding: Creatures, Magical Beasties, and Enchanted Locations
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Sprinkling fantastical elements across your continents is fun. But how do you do it without making your world look like a mirror-image of whatâs already in print? Our panelists show you how to apply your own magical signature. Chris Pierson, Linda Baker, Kerrie Hughes, Richard Lee Byers
The page-turner . . . how do you write one? What elements can you incorporate into your writing that will keep your readers up into those proverbial wee hours? Our panelists offer advice on how to add excitement and fast-pacing to your prose. Jean Rabe, Tim Waggoner, Chris Pierson, Richard Lee Byers
Clothing, agriculture, trade, and the arts are details that can add life and realism to your fiction. Our panelists show you how to add just the right amount of âwindow dressingâ to your books and short stories. Kerrie Hughes, Elizabeth Vaughan, Chris Pierson, Linda Baker
For the past few days weâve been giving advice on the various elements that make up a fantasy world. Now itâs time to put it all together. Panelists: Linda Baker, Chris Pierson, Elizabeth Vaughan, Kerrie Hughes
YA Fantasy and Science FictionâThe boy wizard reigns supreme, but there is plenty of other fiction being published that is sure to grab the attention of kids of all ages. Our panelists discuss their favorites in both fields and give advice into breaking into the growing YA market. John Helfers, Jean Rabe, Kerrie Hughes, Tim Waggoner, Donald Bingle
Got a favorite game or three? Have you ever wanted to try your hand at writing for publication? If so, listen to our industry experts who have made careers out of writing, editing, and publishing work-for-hire short fiction, novels, and game material. They will talk about the ins and outs of the field, the demands, and where you can go to find help and open doors. Questions welcome! Panelists: Jean Rabe, Loren Coleman, Tim Waggoner, Richard Lee Byers, Sharon Turner-Mulvihill
As the popular Shadowrun universe continues to reinvent itself, panelists from WizKids Games, InMediaRes Productions and other professionals âin the knowâ discuss the difficulties and rewards which comes with writing fiction for Shadowrun. Pull up a chair and keep an eye on the door while we discuss new novels and fresh markets for up and coming writers. Sharon Turner-Mulvihill, John Helfers, Jean Rabe, Loren Coleman
Learn about one of the most well-established science fiction universes. With a long history of publishing top-line fiction, the professionals involved with MechWarrior (and Classic BattleTech) are ready to step up and let you know the state of the universe, what the editors are looking for, and where the newest markets are opening up. Discover new opportunities, or just come to find out about one of your favorite storylines. Panelists: Sharon Turner-Mulvihill, Loren Coleman, John Helfers
Join us for a question and answer session about writing, editing, and publishing. Our panel will discuss tidbits not covered in previous sessions. Brain-picking welcomed. John Helfers, Jean Rabe
Take part in the parlor game of reading from the Eye of Argon until you canât take it any longer! Kerrie Hughes, John Helfers, Elizabeth Vaughn, Chris Pierson, Jean Rabe (and anyone else who wants to join the torment . . . err, fun).
There are people who dream about writing, and there are people who write and fulfill their dream. Get some pointers from writers and editors on how to attack the keyboard . . . every day. Topics covered include dealing with family, friends, discipline, and deadlines. Panelists: Jean Rabe, Judi Rohrig, Elizabeth Vaughan
How do you present your manuscript? How do you find an agent? How do you get someone to publish your book? Our panelists present an overview of the publishing industry for fiction writers. Jean Rabe, Donald Bingle, Elizabeth Vaughan, Judi Rohrig
Setting the groundwork for a fiction or gaming world requires attention to the landscape. In the first of several sessions on worldbuilding we explore crafting the world your characters will walk upon. Panelists: John Helfers, Jean Rabe, Donald Bingle, Linda Baker, Paul Genesse
Learn how to shape the people . . . humans and otherwise . . . who inhabit the world youâre building. Panelists: Linda Baker, Tim Waggoner, Kerrie Hughes, John Helfers
So youâre building a world for your fantasy novel. Do you need to set that world to paper? And, if so, how much detail should you provide? Can a map inspire your fiction? Learn the pros and cons of cartography tied to writing. Panelists: Jean Rabe, Paul Genesse
Learn to look at your writing with a critical eye. Veteran writers discuss rewrites, plot overhauls, character facelifts, punching up dialog, and more. Panelists: Jean Rabe, John Helfers, Donald Bingle, Tim Waggoner
So you want to write. Whatâs the best way to go about it? How do you snag the time each day? What about deadlines, family, friends, free time, discipline, and the tools youâll need? Our panelists explore these topics and more to help you figure out the right approach to writing for you. Panelists: Jean Rabe, Elizabeth Vaughan, Donald Bingle, Anton Strout
We’re early risers. If you are too, come get a jump on the Writer’s Symposium activities and have a chat about this and that. From publishing and writing to the weather in Chicago and vampires in Toledo, we’ll cover whatever strikes your and our proverbial fancy.
Reality in Fantasy: How much does armor really weigh? How fast can a horse run? How far can a longbow shoot? Why is it important to know these things, and how do you use them without letting reality get in the way of a great story? Learn to make your writing feel “real” even when you’re penning a fantasy story.
Writing Your First Novel: No more excuses! It’s time to write that novel you keep talking about! But what does it take to move the story from your imagination to the page? Our panelists have been over that proverbial hump and are willing to give you a nudge.
Fantastic Females: Dynamic women should rule the pages of your manuscript ... not the mousy types waiting to be tied to a railroad track. Our panelists discuss how to avoid weak clichés and over-used stereotypes, and how to craft strong, interesting ladies that advance your story.
Selling Short Fiction: Selling short fiction can be a long road, especially in a marketplace with dwindling print anthologies and falling magazine sales. But short fiction is still an art worth pursuing. Our panelists discuss markets, techniques, and how penning short stories can improve your chances of publishing novels.
Plot a Novel in One Hour: You can do it! Devise a storyline that’ll take your cast of characters from prologue to epilogue and do it in just one hour! We’ll show you how, in a mere hour, you can come up with a rich plot that you can flesh out into an outline and then a novel.
Is it better to write by the proverbial seat of your pants or to painstakingly outline each chapter? Both approaches to writing novels, short stories, and game material work, but is one method better? Our panelists discuss the pros and cons of plotting in advance.
The Buddy System: How to Collaborate Without Killing Your Coauthor
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Some say a co-authorship is twice the work for half the credit and pay. Others say having a writing partner produces better material and makes the task more enjoyable. We’ll look at how to successfully approach a co-author project—whether a novel or game material.
Paul Genesse and Patrick Tomlinson whisk you away to lands of wonder and mystery as they read some of their latest writings. It’s the best lunchtime entertainment at Gen Con, and you can’t beat the price.
Hang ‘em. Poison ‘em. Blow ‘em up. Slice ‘em to ribbons. Or just run ‘em over with a train. Our panelists discuss methods for killing characters—heroes and villains alike. They’ll cover how to time a death scene right, how to give the death meaning, what details to leave in and out, and how to decide which ones should “bite the dust.”
Writers often commit errors that thwart their chances for success and send them down a dead end rather than along the road to publication. Our panelists discuss mistakes writers make and what you can do to increase your chances of catching an editor’s eye.
Have you faced a malevolent force that prevents you from finishing your manuscript? How can you defeat the dark power that keeps your fingers motionless on the keyboard and your brain in neutral? Our panelists have battled this dreaded demon, and they’ll teach you how to best it!
What do you do with your finished novel? Approach an agent? A publisher? Put it on your shelf and admire the stack of papers? Start on the rewrite? We’ll look at the next steps, including how to delve into your second manuscript. After all, the true test of an author is not stopping after the first book.
It’s often said, “Don’t let the reader hear dice rolling in your fiction.” Roleplaying games make you a better storyteller, help you create balanced, detailed characters, and provide wonderful inspiration, but too much “game” in your fiction can lead to disaster. Our panelists help you figure out where to draw the line.
Gen Con’s Author Guest of Honor, Anton Strout, will wax eloquent, field questions, and discuss his urban fantasy novels and upcoming projects. Interviewed by Elizabeth Vaughan.
The fiction that springs from games frequently ends up on bestsellers lists. Our panelists discuss the highs and lows of writing game-related fiction and offer tips for breaking into the market.
We’ve written short stories, novels, roleplaying game material, comic books, and more. Now, we’re ready to share our publishing secrets with you! You lead the discussion in this “anything goes” panel. Come pick our brains ... if you dare!
Brad Beaulieu and Dave Gross provide dinner theater at its finest when they read to you from their latest works. Grab some food and bring it down for an amazing hour of free entertainment.
Reading: Elizabeth Vaughan and Stephen D. Sullivan
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Elizabeth Vaughan and Stephen D. Sullivan whisk you away to distant worlds when they read excerpts from their favorite new projects. Grab some food and come on down for an hour of great entertainment.
Have your prose critiqued by professionals. Presenters will have three to five minutes to read their material. They will receive verbal critiques based on the “critique sandwich” method. Attendance is limited to those being critiqued. Pre-registration is limited and required.
On Writing: From RPGs to the Big Screen with George Strayton
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George Strayton has worked on more than three dozen RPG and card game products for companies ranging from Wizards of the Coast to Goodman Games. In addition, George has written for Sam Raimi television shows, including XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, and he penned the screenplay for DRAGONLANCE (starring Kiefer Sutherland) for Paramount Pictures. He also worked on TRANSFORMERS 1 and 2. Come and see what it takes to write from RPGs to the movies.
A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but a book title? You better have something with punch so the reader will pluck it off the shelf. And a title with zing can entice an editor or slush reader to give your story a look. A good name can also make your heroes and villains memorable and help define their character. We discuss the fine are of naming.
A rousing sword fight can get the reader churning through the pages of your book. But you better know how to make it feel real. Our master wordsmiths share their expertise in writing the good fight.
Or a talking cat, schizophrenic robot, mind-reading halberd, god-touched skateboard... When is it a good idea to use a bizarre entity as a character or plot device in your fiction? How can a sentient sword enhance your story without making it too unbelievable or ridiculous? Our panelists offer techniques for making the absurd fit right in.
Writers can find big opportunities to break into publishing through the small press. Learn where to go, and what it takes, to make it big in small press. Our panelists include small press publishers, editors, and writers.
The genre’s still hot, and bookstores continue to make shelf space for sky rise-dwelling vampires, private detective zombies, and Manhattanite trolls. Our panelists discuss what elements make a fantasy urban, the market for it, and tips for finding your way inside.
Finishing your novel isn’t enough. Now you have to edit it—polishing off the rough edges so it’s nice and shiny before you fire it off to an editor or agent. We’re “old hat” at putting the finishing touches on manuscripts, and we’re ready to dish out our sage advice.
Bubonic Plague? That good ol’ Spanish Inquisition? Parasites, gruesome deaths, depravity, torture, pandemics, psychopaths, cannibalistic cults ... and those are just for starters. Our panelists discuss plot devices intended to make readers squirm. Just how uncomfortable can you make it to turn the pages? Are there lines you shouldn’t cross? Is anything off limits?
Can your main character be something far less than a knight in shining armor? There’s something alluring about a “bad boy,” and if carefully executed, you can make the star of your tale downright dirty. We provide insight into how to handle the anti-protagonist.
Steven Saus and Marc Tassin bring their stories to life at this afternoon reading. Bring your lunch and enjoy an hour of mystery, adventure, and excitement in a picnic for the mind.
Real spacemen don’t eat grilled cheese! Little details help make your fiction real and add depth to your characters. Fictional food can also reveal important information about the climate and culture you are crafting. Learn how to make up food and diets that are exotic but still believable.
Well structured scenes make for compelling story telling. How can you construct powerful scenes for a novel or short story? And how do you string scenes together to create a vivid and stirring piece of writing? Learn everything you need to know about the art of structuring scenes.
Chaste or steamy, romance can help drive your story, enrich your plot, and make your characters more complex. But writing an effective romance is a challenge. And just how far should you ... or your characters ... go?
For many authors, “shared world” fiction is their ticket into the publishing world. Work-for-hire projects can even land you on bestsellers’ lists. How do you find the work? Just what constitutes work-for-hire? And what are the good, bad, and ugly aspects of it?
Writing is largely a solitary endeavor, but there’s a world of resources, organizations, and web sites to keep you company. Our panelists discuss some of their favorite resources ... places they turn to when looking for literary guidance.
Taking Aim: Writing Military Fiction and Non-Fiction
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It takes work and research to get it right, but the rewards can be well-crafted tales that propel you onto the bookshelves and bestseller lists. Moderator Bill Fawcett has several best-selling military-books under his proverbial belt. Come and learn from an expert.
It’s alive and well on the bookstore shelves, but sword and sorcery has evolved through the decades. What makes a modern sword and sorcery tale sing? What can you do to make your book fit into the genre without being clichéd or “old hat?” And who’s publishing sword and sorcery today?
We’ve been in the business a while, have lots of novels and short stories to our credit, and we specialize in fantasy and science fiction. Spend an hour chatting with us and we’ll share some of our coveted “trade secrets.”
Donald J. Bingle and Tobias Buckell transport you with their magical prose in an hour of readings. Bring your meal and kick back for some of the best dinner entertainment at the con.
Have your prose critiqued by professionals. Presenters will have three to five minutes to read their material. They will receive verbal critiques based on the “critique sandwich” method. Attendance is limited to those being critiqued. Pre-registration is required and limited.
You’ve been to our workshops and seminars, listened to our august advice, and taken copious notes. Now try to apply it! We’ll give you an assignment, a little time to complete it, and critique your efforts. Attendance is limited, and pre-registration is required.
Whatchu wanna learn ‘bout writing conversations? There’s a right method for capturing dialects and slang without making your readers strain their brains in an effort to fathom what you mean. Learn the techniques for adding flavor and a smidgen of grammatical incorrectness.
Where you set your tale can be as important as the characters you populate it with. Crafting a vivid setting that is integral to your plot is an art. Our panelists will discuss how they paint their backdrops and offer suggestions about how you can bring your own settings to life.
A fantasy tale is made more believable when the world it is set in is well thought out and has a measure of logic. Our worldbuilding experts share their techniques for engineering countries—and even entire planets—that will make your story breathe.
Writing three books is more work than one, but it goes beyond the mere output of words. Approaching a three-book arc takes a different approach to plotting and research. In a trilogy, the bar is raised by your publisher and readers. We’ll show you how to reach it.
Crafting religions can be divine! Fabricating magic systems can be downright enchanting! It takes a significant amount of work and thought to put together the arcane aspects of a fantasy setting. Our veteran worldbuilders guide you through it.
Sometimes ideas don’t come easy. It may take a lot of work and rumination to cull a workable idea for a story or book. We offer techniques for brainstorming and discuss the resources we turn to when our thoughts go stale.
Worldbuilding: Men, Monsters, and the Creatures Between
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Men, elves, and the like cannot live in isolation, and monsters don’t materialize out of nowhere. People and creatures need to fit into the world’s ecology and have a life cycle that makes sense, otherwise your readers will see your world as unrealistic and not worth reading about. Find out what makes creatures and races believable.
Want to find your way to the top of an editor’s slush pile? Don’t want to end up in that proverbial circular file? Take notes! Our panelists talk about what they look for when wading through the slush piles, finding the worst of the worst, and uncovering a few rare gems.
Gen Con Author Guest of Honor Anton Strout and Gregory Wilson take you on a trip to the fantastic as they read from some of their favorite pieces. Skip lunch ... or bring it with you ... and enjoy a snack for your mind!
The authors of The Hobbit, various Star Trek novels, and A Wizard of Earthsea created languages to make their worlds come alive. It seems easy enough, but how do you keep your characters from having names and discussions that look like someone slapped the keyboard? Panelists discuss methods authors use for creating “authentic” fictional languages and reveal their own techniques.
How do you build tension? What’s more ... how can you sustain it and avoid the pitfalls of not having enough in your fiction? Panelists present techniques for turning your work into a page-turner.
Some say it’s what the future would look like if it had come along earlier ... say, in the Victorian era. Steampunk has been around for quite some time, but it’s risen in popularity over the past few years. Our panelists look at the genre and discuss how to get published in it.
You have a day job. Or you’re a full-time student. Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom with kids underfoot. How can you juggle the “real world” and find time to write? Our panelists have full-time careers and have managed a plethora of short fiction, novels, and trilogies. One even landed on the USA Today bestseller’s list. They’ll share how to fit it all in.
Historical fiction and Alternate History are hot! Want to learn how to work in these genres and make your prose sizzle? Our panelists teach you how to make your historical fiction fresh, exciting, and where to look to market it.
Our veteran authors discuss how they crafted their favorite heroic characters, put them through the literary wringer, and managed to let them find a reasonably happy ending. It’s great fodder for helping you discover your own hero.
What’s the hottest thing going “bump in the night” right now? Are vampires still in? Are zombies taking over the urban landscape? What sort of creepies are crawling their way onto tomorrow’s bookstore shelves? And how can you find a piece of the action?
Lawrence Connolly and Kelly Swails offer up a feast for the mind as they read from their latest works. Stop by before heading off to dinner—or bring your dinner with you—and enjoy some of the best entertainment at Gen Con.
Ramsey Lundock will entertain you mightily with Dunkel Froline. Maxwell A. Drake will offer up one of his finest fantasy pieces. Stop by before the Eye of Argon session begins.
Have your prose critiqued by professionals. Presenters will have three to five minutes to read their material. They will receive verbal critiques based on the “critique sandwich” method. Attendance is limited to those being critiqued. Seats are limited. Pre-registration is required.
It's not a part of the Head of Vecna. It's possibly the worst published piece of fantasy fiction. Dare you try to read even a page of Jim Theis' purplish prose? This year, we're spicing things up! Assigned parts? Live action? Interpretive dance? Sequels, prequels, parodies? It's not a surprise; we haven't figured it out. But we're committed to making you committed. 18 and over only, please (for bad language—not dirty, just bad).
How dare you consider sleeping in on the final day of this year’s Gen Con! We bet there’re still questions whirling in your brain about worldbuilding, the publishing industry, sprucing up your manuscript, and whatnot. We’re here to provide as many answers as possible.
You’ve got the acceptance letter, but now what? How do you keep your editor happy and asking for future manuscripts? What can you do to make their life easier, your writing more attractive to them ... and what can you expect from them in return?