Through analysis, dice rolling, & billions of simulations of fair & unfair dice rolls we will bust dice myths. This will be of interest to gamers, dice makers, & educators.
We've colonized the solar system, invented space travel, and experienced sentient space ships. Cat Rambo, Patrick Tomlinson, Toiya Finley, Corry Lee, and Kirk Dougal discuss what's next.
So you've decided to ditch the notebook or Word to give this whole Scrivener program a whirl. Can this program make your process better? Come learn from LaShawn Wanak, A. E. Greenwood, and more.
Self-Publishing Workshop 1: Putting Style into your Manuscript
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Chris Bell will demonstrate how to define and use paragraph and character styles within your manuscript and see how those are used in making a professional layout in both print and electronic books.
Self-Publishing Workshop 2: Introduction to Print Typesetting
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Chris Bell will cover the basics of a page layout and what it takes to move your manuscript from a word processing file to a print-ready book interior.
Self-Publishing Workshop 3: Introduction to E-Book Creation
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Chris Bell will take you through the process of creating an e-book using free tools that are available. Also learn about setting up distribution of your e-book to online retailers.
Authors such as Charles Dickens and Stephen King have written serial fiction. Jen Gunnels, John Helfers, and Melissa Olson ask if this format due for a resurgence.
How can you be sure the tone of your work is consistent? And should it always be so? Devon Monk, Diana Pho, and Erik Scott de Bie discuss tools you can use to set your tone.
Sexy Times in Speculative Fiction: The Ins and Outs of Love Scenes
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Show everything or fade to black? That question--and more!--will be answered by our astute sexy-times authors Melissa Olson, Diana Rowland, Jerry Gordon, Susan Morris, and A. E. Greenwood.
Beaches and sea cliffs hide surprises, as do other, more unusual coastal settings. discuss narrative opportunities with landscape geologist Scott Rice-Snow.
We've all heard the old, "show don't tell" advice. Devon Monk, Melissa Olson, Cherie Priest, and Susan Morris tells us what it means and when it's the right course of action.
Diana Rowland, Erin M. Evans, Christopher Morgan, and Holly West share ideas for how to keep your story moving forward, and how to keep your readers hooked!
The pace of your story is as important as the plot and the characters. Tee Morris, Melissa Olson, Matt Forbeck, and Elizabeth Vaughan discuss the passage of time in fiction.
Forging multiple revenue streams is a necessity for writers. Patreon is one such method, but is it right for you? Shanna Germain, Marc Tassin, Susan Morris, and Gregory A. Wilson discuss it.
Plotter? Pantser? Both? Neither? Eden Robins, John Helfers, and Joseph Carriker, Jr. discuss how to find out what brand of writer you are and when to try a new method.
What are the logistics of making a podcast? What sort of equipment do you need? And how can you make yours stand out from the pack? Tee Morris, Anton Strout, Cat Rambo, and Steve Drew discuss it.
Can modern writers set their stories in historical settings and ignore the historical baggage at the same time? David Mack, Kristen Britain, Richard Byers, and karen Bovenmyer talk about it.
Networking is an important part of the industry, but authors aren't leeches. Matt Forbeck, Gabrielle Harbowy, and Chris Bell give tips on how to be sure to give as well as take.
Come watch our intrepid adventurers battle their way through Gregory A. Wilson's Forbidden Library! All bets are off and nothing is guaranteed (well, except for an ax in the back).
Is your desktop a mess both virtually and physically? Eden Robins, Jason Sizemore, Annie Sullivan, Sabrina Vourvoulias, and Steve Drew share their experiences with organizing both spaces!
Letting the Reader Fill in the Blanks: Finding a Balance in Worldbuilding
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How many details do you feed the reader? How much do you let them fill in themselves? Christopher Morgan, Sabrina Vourvoulias, Bryan Young, and Richard Byers discuss this delicate balance.
Sabrina Vourvoulias, Sandra Tayler, Seth Skorkowsky and Elizabeth Vaughan discuss how to inject a sense of wonder into your fiction so your readers feel it, too.
Twitch began as a way for video gamers to share their experience with others. Gregory A. Wilson, Tee Morris, Krik Dougal, and Toiya Finley discuss using this platform to gain a wider audience.
You don't need a degree in cartography to make a map for your world ... or do you? Bradley P. Beaulieu, Anna Smith Spark, Bruce Cordell, and Steve Drew discuss what they've learned.
What are the qualifications you need to be a writer? Or do you really just need a pen, a chair, and a prayer? Robyn Bennis, Matt Forbeck, Aaron Rosenberg, and Karen Bovenmyer discuss it.
Having a book published is the goal of many writers, but what comes next? Keith Law, Erin M. Evans, Corry Lee, and Erik Scott de Bie prepare you for the next steps in your career.
It's a Matter of Perspective: Mastering Point of View
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Which character's eyes would this scene be best through? How can you establish a clear point of view? Our panelists Aaron Rosenberg, Diana Pho, Howard Jones, and Holly West can help!
It's happened to all of us: a sassy sidekick threatens to take over the whole darn thing. Scott Lynch, Anton Strout, Chris Bell, Anna Smith Spark, and Philippa Ballantine discuss secondary characters.
Fantasy novels are commonly set in medieval Europe, except the food which is usually wrong. Learn from Daniel Myers how medieval cuisine worked and how to create believable fictional foodways.
Carol Berg, Karen Bovenmyer, Melissa Olson, and Cat Rambo discuss the hows and whys of incorporating the Me Too era, diversity, and climate change into your fiction.
Midpoint is considered one of the most important moments for character development in a story. Christopher Husberg, Kristen Britain, Bill Fawcett, and Elizabeth Vaughan tell you how to get it right.
Author Guest of Honor Cherie Priest has written nearly two dozen books and novellas, including the Clockwork Century series from Tor. If you have a question for her, here's your chance to ask it!
Resistance Is Futile: Dealing with Writer’s Block and Resistance
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How do writers get stuck, and how can they get UNstuck? Is there even such a thing as writer’s block? The dynamic nerd duo of Anton Strout and Melanie R. Meadors discuss!
Join the DMsGuild crew to learn more about this and other community content programs on DriveThruRPG. Get news, ask questions about publishing your own Dungeons & Dragons adventures & more!
Masters of Roleplay: Designing Complex Characters & Bringing them to Life
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Character seem a little flat? NPC's all feel the same? These experts will show you the way to build complex characters that truly feel alive, & teach you how to bring them to life at the table!
Description:
Do your NPC's all feel the same; does your character seems a little flat, are you're having difficulty staying in character? These three experts will show you the way towards building complex characters that truly feel alive, and teach you how to bring them to life at the table.
Featuring: Ruty Rutenberg, Malika Lim, Zac Eubank, Cindy Brunelle, Marsie Vellan
Join Marissa Kelly, Mark Diaz Truman, Brendan Conway, & Sarah Richardson for a look at new and upcoming products from Magpie Games, including the Root RPG & a few other exclusive announcements!
Powered by the Apocalypse: System Design & Mastery
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Join the creators of Urban Shadows, Masks: A New Generation, Bluebeard's Bride, & Cartel for a discussion on the past, present, & future of PbtA design.
Valerie Meiss holds a guided open forum about puppets as cosplay, travel buddies, professional & passion projects. Focusing on how-to's, & answering questions about whatever it is you want to build.
Description:
With her detailed experience in both found/recycled parts, & professional tools & materials, Valerie Meiss will help you problem solve whatever is needed to make your next creation. Sample works will be passed around, & discussed. Infused with the bizarre philosophy of making puppets, Valerie brings experience from studying puppetry around the globe & teaches you to make puppets & then follow them to the strange & incredible places they will take you. (& they will.) All skill levels welcome, any projects in whatever state are welcome too! Come join in the friendly adventure of #makepuppetsmakefriends.
Puppet Builder Gordon Smuder talks detailing for television-style puppets. Eyes, ears, noses, teeth, tongues, you name it!
Description:
Professional Puppet Builder (& previous Gen Con Puppetry Track GOH) Gordon Smuder gives up all his secrets for detailing foam & fleece (Muppet-style) television puppets. Bring a note pad (or a sketch book!) because the info will be flowing hot & heavy!
This is a seminar on making dynamic puppet films & videos, from script to screen.
Description:
Noah Ginex will lead a panel discussion about film & video making with puppets; from script writing to storyboarding & shooting, to editing & music. This panel has been making puppet movies for over 20 years, from home demos to professional music videos, & everything in between. They have plenty of tips & tricks to share, & are eager to help beginners figure out how to bring their ideas to life.
Learn what it takes to make dynamic-looking characters in your puppet designs. Noah Ginex will show you how different shapes & colors affect your character's mood & up your design game.
PATHFINDERS & Game Masters! Looking for a realistic Fantasy World? Come hear about HarnWorld, a game world for any RPG system. Free castle booklet or map for attending.