Writer John Jackson Miller teaches techniques for writing comic books.
Description:
Writer of comics for Star Wars and many more franchises, John Jackson Miller shares pointers for plotting, scripting, and breakdowns drawing upon examples from those titles and other comics work he’s done, including for Marvel, Battlestar Galactica, Disney, Halo, Mass Effect, The Simpsons, and more. As founder of the comics history site Comichron, Miller also details changes in comics writing methods over the years, and modern best practices. A slideshow presentation provides examples for taking your comic book from the plotted page to the final script, and questions and answers will be taken. For an advanced session, see From Plot to Panel: Advanced Writing for Comics. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Writer and Community Leader Maurice Broaddus teaches techniques for funding your work.
Description:
Trying to make a writer’s life work boils down to creating diverse income streams. If this economy has taught us nothing, it’s that you can’t depend on any one source for your income. In this workshop, join writer and community leader Maurice Broaddus to discuss writer income streams and grants for writers. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Writer and artist Grace P. Fong teaches techniques for working with artists.
Description:
How do books get their covers? How do tabletop games commission art? Author-illustrator and former Magic: the Gathering designer, Grace P. Fong breaks down the components of the art brief: a technical document that instructs an artist how to turn your story idea into an image, 3D model, comic page, or any other visual medium. No matter whether you are a new designer on a game team or an experienced self-published author, this business-oriented workshop is targeted to storytellers at any stage of their career who wish to work more closely with artists. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Alexander Bevier teaches methods of writing games in a children's educational setting.
Description:
Join gamewriter Alexander Bevier as he shares his experiences with making games alongside his students of all ages. He’ll be teaching his unique approach to education-modification to illustrate how to encourage design thinking among young students. During the workshop, participants will make SuperChess characters, a game mod he's used as a key example of this approach that also creates a larger culture of design. Their examples will serve as a key takeaway. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Making Stories More Immersive Through Descriptive Writing and Subtext
Summary:
Writer and editor Toiya Kristen Finley teaches simple techniques for better incorporating descriptive writing into your work.
Description:
Descriptive writing is a great way to engage your readers’ imaginations, make your stories more immersive, and add subtext that will connect with your readers on an emotional level. This workshop with gamewriter Toiya Kristen Finley will look at several simple techniques you can use to make your writing more descriptive. There will be interactive exercises, so please bring something to work on! Track: GCWS Classroom.
Mastering Fiction: Brainstorming Your Way to a Breakout Novel
Summary:
Writer Bradley P. Beaulieu teaches brainstorming techniques.
Description:
Novels begin with an idea, and the bigger the idea, the more likely you are to attract the notice of agents, editors, and readers. In this seminar with author Brad Beaulieu, learn techniques that can help you generate your Big Idea from the start, which will help to guide you to writing a novel that will stand out from the crowd. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Writer Bradley P. Beaulieu teaches techniques of effective - and memorable - character creation.
Description:
Stories that work begin with characters. But crafting characters that connect with readers is difficult. In this talk, author Brad Beaulieu will discuss how to create characters that readers love or hate or love to hate. He'll also discuss how the cast as a whole works to create a compelling story that moves the reader emotionally. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Mastering Fiction: Connective Tissue For Stories that Resonate
Summary:
Writer Bradley P. Beaulieu teaches enhancing a story as a whole.
Description:
In writing, there are many different techniques that are rarely discussed together. Foreshadowing, parallel threads, theme, tone, character building, and more. In this seminar, author Brad Beaulieu will discuss these topics from the viewpoint of strengthening the story as a whole, taking a story that feels loose and directionless and working with the material that’s already there to make it strong and vibrant. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Mastering Fiction: Plotting Techniques of the Professional Writer
Summary:
Writer Bradley P. Beaulieu teaches techniques of plotting and structure.
Description:
Plotting is one of the more difficult disciplines to master in writing. Some writers have an innate sense of what makes a story work, but most writers, particularly those early in their apprenticeships, will benefit from plotting. In this seminar, author Brad Beaulieu will focus on various plotting techniques, from basic structural concepts, initial plotting and eventual refinement, how to break the dreaded writer’s block and how to avoid it in the first place. Track: GCWS Classroom.