Category: Videos

Con Prep: All the Things!

This year’s Balticon — a four-day celebration of all things science fiction and fantasy — is almost upon us. And, surprising no one who’s ever met me, I might be a little overcommitted. But only because I like to hedge my words. I am completely overcommitted.

I’m prepping: personally, as a writer, as a panelist, and as a staff member. It’s maybe a little too much?

How are you at accepting your limits?

There’s A Reason You’re Afraid of the Dark (A RavenCon 2023 panel)

Faerie tales used to terrify and in so doing, teach valuable lessons in how not to die. One could argue that they are the original horror stories. Everything in Grimms’ Fairy Tales is particularly… grim. Over the years though, many of these nightmarish creatures became cute and cuddly (or sexy—looking at you, Shape of Water). Have these myths become permanently nerfed or is there hope they can maintain their dark allure?

Creating a Political and Moral Universe (A RavenCon 2023 Panel)

The ingredients of universe-building are morality, science, politics, art, and religion. The interplay of these creates a moral and political universe. Each ingredient packs its own punch, and getting the ratios right means you won’t have an overcooked souffle of a universe.

When you mix morals, ethics, and emotional fears, you get an array of Batman characters. Which match to what world viewpoints?

Pacing Your First Chapter

Writing a novel is hard, it takes both a lot of work and a lot of persistence. And then, to get readers or agents actually read it, your first chapter has a lot of work to do, especially when you’ve created your own setting. Getting the pacing just right, especially in your first chapter is a challenge for most writers.

I’m currently editing a novel that I hope to start sending to agents in the next couple of months and I’ve really been worried about the pacing of my first chapter because it has so much to do.