Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Horror ... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. What defines a “genre?” Which ones offer the best opportunities for finding yourself in print? And when—and how—is it okay to mix them?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
The Internet is a useful tool for research, finding writer’s resources, joining a writer’s group, and submitting internationally. But it’s also a great way to promote yourself and get your writing out there. We’ll tackle Facebook, Twitter, web pages, and software.
On Writing: From RPGs to the Big Screen with George Strayton
Description:
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.
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.