Writers discuss dealing with exhaustion in the year 2023.
Description:
Writing and game designing are already professions built on emotional reserve and uncertainty, but these last few years have been particularly difficult. Join our panel of writers who love what they do as they discuss ways to help you rekindle your joy. Panelists: Jerry Gordon (moderator), Whitney "Strix" Beltrán, Jeremy Bernstein, Sandra Tayler. Track: GCWS Career.
Writers discuss the successful use of humor in speculative writing.
Description:
Humor has its place in every genre. Join our expert panel of writers as they discuss how they put humor into their science fiction, fantasy, and horror—and make it work. Panelists: Anthony W. Eichenlaub (moderator), James Farner, Chris A. Jackson, Gini Koch, R.R. Virdi. Track: GCWS Genre.
Writers discuss development and conclusion of satisfying character arcs.
Description:
Join our panel of expert writers as they discuss how to make sure your characters grow, learn, and change by your novel's end in a way that is satisfying to the reader. Panelists: Karen Menzel (moderator), Erin M. Evans, Gabrielle Harbowy, Katherine Monasterio. Track: GCWS Writing.
Expert game writers discuss practices for leading TTRPG projects.
Description:
What if you're not just writing a TTRPG, but also managing a schedule, artists, and even other writers? Join our panel of expert game writers as they discuss effective leadership of TTRPG projects. Panelists: Ajit George (moderator), Richard Dansky, Mostafa Haque, James Lowder. Track: GCWS Game Narrative.
Writers discuss their own narrative nightmares - and how they moved on.
Description:
Join our panel of expert writers as they recount stories of narrative nightmares, some hard-learned lessons earned in the process, and how they moved past them—and examine how to recognize disasters, how to recover and course correct, and what they've learned in the process. Panelists: Sean CW Korsgaard (moderator), Jeremy Bernstein, Richard Lee Byers, Jerry Gordon, Howard Andrew Jones. Track: GCWS Career.
Networking Successfully Despite Social Anxiety or Imposter Syndrome
Summary:
Writer Sandra Tayler teaches networking techniques for anxious creative minds.
Description:
Social anxiety or imposter syndrome can affect even confident people in both overt and subtle ways, but networking doesn’t have to be hard or scary when you learn to work with your natural ways of connecting rather than trying to fit an external image of what networking should look like. This workshop with author Sandra Tayler will teach the purposes of networking with an emphasis in making real connections. The session will also cover skills such as how to start a conversation, how to end one, when to bring up your own creative work, and how to speak confidently about your work. All of the ideas will be discussed for both in person and online interactions with others. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Roleplaying game writers discuss new and emerging narrative games models.
Description:
In 2023, RPG systems continue to expand, with attention to those that are narrative-driven and less rules-intensive. Join our panel of RPG writers as they discuss the range of new and emerging narrative games. Panelists: Alexander Bevier (moderator), Derek Tyler Attico, Erin M. Evans, Carlos Hernandez, Dedren Snead. Track: GCWS Game Narrative.
Special Guest Diana M. Pho reviews manuscript pitches for possible consideration at Erewhon Books.
Description:
For those with a completed novel, we are pleased to offer this unique opportunity to have your work seen. Each attendee will get ten minutes to pitch one book to Diana M. Pho, Executive Editor of Erewhon Books. This pitch session does not mean a contract is offered, but allows the writer and the editor to chat about the book for possible consideration at Erewhon. To complete your registration, please email a one-page query letter to programming@genconwriters.org with the book's title, word count, genre, age market (adult or YA) and discuss the plot in one or two short paragraphs. Optional additions can include a three-sentence author biography, including any relevant fiction credits. Interested writers can also refer to Diana's Manuscript Wish List Profile to see if their book would be a good fit for Erewhon: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/diana-m-pho/ Track: GCWS Event.
Playing TTRPGs with Writers Feeds Your Craft! (Session A)
Summary:
Writers who love gaming discuss how role playing feeds their professional craft.
Description:
There's a special sort of alchemy that happens when a group of writers play a TTRPG together that can feed directly into their craft as published authors. How does practicing "yes, and" at the table, for example, flex specific creative muscles? How does the safer, relaxed space of an in-character Discord channel offer a chance to experiment with new writing? Why explore character arcs and collaborate on relationships to flesh out the storytelling experience of a campaign? Join our panel of writers as they discuss the specific ways in which collaborative storytelling through their gaming groups has supported their professional craft, and what strategies might be useful for you. Panelists: Erik Scott de Bie (moderator), Kelli Fitzpatrick, Carlos Hernandez, Howard Andrew Jones, James Lowder. Track: GCWS Multimedia.
Playing TTRPGs with Writers Feeds Your Craft! (Session B)
Summary:
Writers who love gaming discuss how role playing feeds their professional craft.
Description:
There's a special sort of alchemy that happens when a group of writers play a TTRPG together that can feed directly into their craft as published authors. How does practising "yes, and" at the table, for example, flex specific creative muscles? How does the safer, relaxed space of an in-character Discord channel offer a chance to experiment with new writing? Why explore character arcs and collaborate on relationships to flesh out the storytelling experience of a campaign? Join our panel of writers as they discuss the specific ways in which collaborative storytelling through their gaming groups has supported their professional craft, and what strategies might be useful for you. Panelists: Anthony W. Eichenlaub (moderator), Jennifer Allaway, Brandon O'Brien, Brandon Crilly, R.R. Virdi. Track: GCWS Multimedia.