Conversation

My very local Vericon has given me a perfectly fabulous schedule this weekend.

Friday:
7-8 PM: Writing Fast and Slow
"There are nine and sixty ways of creating tribal lays, and every single one of them is right!" If you look at writing advice books you'd think there was only one true way to do it, but here we have a panel whose writing methods are extremely different from each other.
Greer Gilman, Pamela Dean, Wesley Chu. Moderator: Jo Walton

8-9 PM: Fantasy Worlds that Feel Real
Worlds are complex and fascinating -- how do you integrate the fantastic with imagined history, culture, economics, religion, folklore, and everything else to come up with a world that feels solid and magical at the same time?
Fran Wilde, Pamela Dean, Greer Gilman. Moderator: Seth Dickinson

Saturday:
10-11: Reading

2:30-3 Book Signing

5-6 PM: What can we learn from Shakespeare?
Language, pacing, worldbuilding -- Shakespeare has it all. But Shakespeare is so great, can we find our own ways to be influenced by him and not get swallowed up?
Jo Walton, Pamela Dean, Greer Gilman. Moderator: Ada Palmer

Sunday:
10-11 AM: Awards -- What Difference Do They Make?
People talk about the importance of awards in the field, but are they just a nice sign of appreciation or do they really make any difference to your career? Our panelists have won enough that they ought to know.
Ann Leckie, Wesley Chu, Greer Gilman. Moderator: John Chu

Nine