The portal opens, and for one week the city changes, reality morphs, fantasy rules.
The event is GenCon, the massive fantasy and science fiction gaming convention that takes over Indianapolis each August. Attendance this year is projected to break past records, which were well beyond 40,000 attendees.
Part of the event is the GenCon Writer’s Symposium. That’s where I’ll be spending most of my time this week – conducting workshops, serving on panels, doing readings, and (most importantly) hanging out with other science fiction and fantasy writers. It’s always a blast.
I’ll post additional reports this week (provided I get the chance). In the meantime, here’s my schedule for the convention. If you’re there, be sure to say hello.
THURSDAY
8:00-11:00 AM
Fiction Fundamentals Workshop (Room 243): The first installment of three days of intense fiction-writing workshops that I’ll be presenting along with W. H. Horner – editor in chief of Fantasist Enterprises. Topics covered on this day will be Structure, Outlining, World Building, and Character. If you’re seriously interested in learning to write fantasy, science fiction, or horror fiction, you’ll want to be sure to attend.
12:00-1:00 PM
Book Signing (Dealers Hall): The best place to get your V books signed and get promo material on the upcoming Vortex: Book Three of the Veins Cycle. I might even have a copy or two of the newly released Crimson Pact: Volume 5, which editor/writer Paul Genesse will be launching later in the week.
FRIDAY
8:00-11:00 AM
Fiction Fundamentals Workshop (Room 243): Today’s topics will be Tension & Pacing, Connecting with Characters, Dialogue, and The Power of Details. Professional secrets will be revealed!
12:30-1:00 PM
Reading (Room 243): I’ll talk about writing, share some stories, and offer a preview of Vortex. Not to be missed!
5:00-5:30 PM
Crimson Pack Reading with Paul Genesse (Room 243): I’ll be joining Paul for a special presentation of a story that takes place in a city very much like Indianapolis, at a convention that just might be GenCon. Yes, you’re in the story, too. Be there!
SATURDAY
8:00-11:00 AM
Fiction Fundamentals Workshop (Room 243): Today’s topics will be Revision and Editing – the most essential steps in the writing process.
12:00 Noon
Exploring Genres – Steampunk (Room 245): I’ll be moderating this panel discussion of Victorian-age science fiction with Sara Hans, Paul Genesse, and Jennifer Brozek. This panel broke some attendance records when I took part in it two years ago. Looking forward to doing it again.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Exploring Genres – Hard SF (Room 244): I’ll be moderating this panel discussion of science-based science fiction with fellow writers Wesley Chu, Jason Sanford, and Geoffrey Girard. I’m looking forward to this one.
There are also a number of mass author events planned. I need to get the dates, times, and places for those. Again, I’ll update this report as time permits. It’s going to be a busy week.
Got to go. The portal’s opening.
See you on the other side!
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