2012: Writing About Prophecies & the End of the World
Description:
The Mayan Calendar is said to stop at the year 2012. Let's hope they got it wrong. Our panelists expect to be selling their books and stories well beyond that date. Still, it is an intriguing topic, and one that makes great fodder for fiction. What is so fascinating about doom-and-gloom prophecies? How can you use them in your own storytelling by giving them a new and exciting slant?
How long should you spend on a short story? A novel? How can you set schedules, work with a calendar, and attain goals of so many words-per-day? Learn how to cope with unexpected crises, short rewrite deadlines, and heavy criticism. Develop the skills necessary to write no matter what else is going on around you.
Is your hero always sober? Does your villain have a drinking problem? When is it appropriate to use alcohol in literature to set a scene, advance the plot, or add some color to your characters? Our panelists look at drinking ... and not just the intoxicating stuff. We’ll delve into medieval drinks and futuristic concoctions and discuss reference material to sate your characters’ thirsts and wet your readers’ whistles.
Gen Con is the perfect spot to troll for freelance work in the RPG industry. Our veteran RPG authors provide tips for landing assignments, market suggetions, and how you can make your manuscript catch a game company's attention.
Vampires, ghosts, and zombies, oh my! Breathe life--so to speak--into your undead characters. Discover what rules apply and what should be ignored when writing about the undead.
When is it appropriate to work for free? How can you cater to the readers who visit your website? What do you need to watch out for so you don't 'spam' your fans with content? Our panelists tackle these topics and more, including how to promote your writing via the internet.
Regardless of the genre you write in, chances are you'll put a love-interest in it. How do you blend a touch of romance into your story and how explicit should you be? Learn how romance can strengthen your story and make your characters more real and interesting. USA Today Bestselling fantasy-romance author, and this year's Author Guest of Honor, Elizabeth Vaughan leads the discussion.
Make war, not peace! Ruffle the feathers of your characters. Stir the pot of emotions. Add a fistfight or two. Craft a clever and entertaining argument among your heroes. Not all conflict has to be bloody or increase the body count, but it does have to keep the reader turning the pages. Our panelists discuss the art of adding a dash of conflict to your pages.
The philosophers say 'Know yourself.' The writing guides say 'Write what you know.' Even though writing about yourself may seem easy, your memoir still needs to have the essential elements of a story and should engage, enlighten, and entertain, all without making stuff up! Panelists will discuss making memoirs more effective, places to publish, and suggestions on how to deal with family members who don't remember the past the same way you do.
Dwarven vampires, space-faring elves, undead detectives, rap artists in King Arthur’s court. Are there lines and genres that shouldn’t be crossed in fiction? If you do cross lines, how many can you tackle? How many genres can you blend before your reader gets too confused and gives up? What combinations are natural? What combinations should be avoided? Are there rules to follow? And what rules should you break?