Be prepared to take notes. Now that you have your world built, your characters filled with angst, and your plot twisted, we’re going to give you more than a few tips on preparing your manuscript. We’ll also provide sage advice on catching an editor’s eye ... in a good way.
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?
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
We’ve brought this session back because it was so successful last year! How can a man write a female character ... and do it well? Can a woman get in the head of a male protagonist ... and make that character believable?
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.