New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole presents a series of exercises guaranteed to set you up for success in your first novel. Topics covered include character creation, voice development, dialogue, world creation and plotting. Following these exercises will provide you with the material that ensures that you story won't shrivel and die five or ten chapters in.
Do you need an agent? And, if so, how do you get one? What can you declare as writing-related tax write-offs? What should you look for in contracts? These topics and more will be tackled by our panelists. Handout provided. Panelists: Jean Rabe, John Helfers, Donald Bingle, Elizabeth Vaughan
Whatâs the best way to present game material? In the style of old-school D&D where rules and color text are mixed together? Should you write all the color text âin character,â presenting the rules in a separate section? Topics include how to capture the feel of a setting, how to write entertaining and easy to understand rules, and how to you keep your rules from reading like an algebra equation. Panelists: Marc Tassin, Donald Bingle, Luke Johnson
Being funny is serious business. When should you inject humor into your manuscript? And how can you do it effectively? Our panelists teach you how to tickle readersâ funny bones. Panelists: Patrick Rothfuss, John Helfers, Donald Bingle, Anton Strout
Bang, Bang, You're Dead! Fun Ways to Kill Characters in Your Game Manuscripts
Description:
Not all non-player characters, and maybe not all PCs, should live to see the end of your story. Our panelists discuss when itâs time to kill âem off and gleefully share ideas for helping the characters into the hereafter. Panelists: Marc Tassin, Jennifer Brozek, Luke Johnson
Small-press publishers offer new authors great opportunities. Smaller presses are enjoying a renaissance right now and are becoming stronger than ever. Come find out the advantages of working with a smaller press. Our panel includes a publisher, editor, and an author who has sold books to one of the smaller houses. Theyâll discuss how to submit and who is buying what. Panelists: John Helfers, Jonathan Rudder, Donald Bingle
Just as video killed the radio star, so technology is turning books into hunks of dead wood. New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole explains the new and exciting ways in which the rise of e-book readers and the connectivity of the Web are turning publishing on its head. It's a brave new future, and your success will depend upon your ability to navigate it, and master it.
Where do ideas come from in sculpting game manuscripts? Our authors share their tricks for coming up with plots and how to brainstorm to flesh out ideas into lengthy manuscripts. Theyâll also cover how to avoid over-used subjects and how to make your submissions innovative and fresh. Panelists: Jennifer Brozek, Luke Johnson
Thereâs an old saying that âideas are a dime a dozen.â But sometimes you donât have the 10 cents you need to get a plot. Learn how to brainstorm ideas for fiction writing so your fingers fly across the keyboard and so you donât keep staring at a blank screen. Panelists: Jean Rabe, Chris Pierson, Anton Strout, Linda Baker, Donald Bingle
Much of fantasy fiction is filled with fights, from one-on-one duels to well equipped armies slaying thousands in years-long wars. Learn different approaches for writing combat scenes, how to make your struggles feel real, and when itâs time to end the bloodshed so your readers donât get bored. Panelists: Chris Pierson, Elizabeth Vaughan, Tim Waggoner, Donald Bingle
People read for characters; and careers are made through creating memorable characters. New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole provides some sure-fire characterization techniques that will allow you to master the arcane art of character creation and growth.
Creating dimensional, dynamic characters can be the difference between a manuscript that sells and one that gathers dust under the bed. So how do you create a vivid, living, breathing character? There are probably as many ways to build characters as there are writers. Join our panelists as they share their methods, with concrete examples, for penning amazing, interesting characters. Panelists: Jean Rabe, John Helfers, Tim Waggoner, Anton Strout
Game designers must make sure that what they write reflects the realities of the game. Donât mention gear unless itâs in the equipment list. Donât write about magic the system doesnât support. Donât describe places that arenât on the map. We'll teach you how to color inside the lines to make your material better suited for the players and the companies for whom you write. Panelists: Steven Schend, Marc Tassin, Luke Johnson
Itâs a lot easier to write an adventure that goes from Point A to Point B to Point C, but it isnât necessarily more interesting or enjoyable. Our panelists will show you how to approach non-linear adventures and how to avoid confusing and overly-complicated manuscripts. Panelists: Donald Bingle, Marc Tassin, Luke Johnson, Steven Schend
There are a lot of choices when it comes to picking a rule system. Some game systems are designed to be the classic dungeon crawl. Some are more suited for a swashbuckling adventure. Join our panelists as they discuss the various game systems available for the freelance writer. Panelists: Patrick Rothfuss, Steven Schend, Luke Johnson
Learn to look at your work critically. Examine everything from plot to language, and learn how to tackle rewrites and take and give criticism. Panelists: Richard Lee Byers, Chris Pierson, Luke Johnson
Back by popular demand (or maybe we just don't know any better), join us for a round-robin reading of the most awesomely bad (yes, you read that correctly) story ever published in SF fandom. This year we will be reading according to the new "hardcore" rules. Just try to keep from laughing . . . we dare you!
New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole offers up a grab-bag of tricks of the trade and insider information that can step you through the early, awkward phases of writing, and set you well on the path to being published.
Learn how to write edge-of-your-seat action scenes without a character throwing a single punch. Weâll cover chase scenes, escapes, word choice, settings, and much more. Panelists: Anton Strout, Paul Genesse, Linda Baker, Tim Waggoner