conventions

Here is my Origins schedule. If I’m not in one of these panels, I’m in The Library at my table in Exhibit Hall C (PDF), top left corner near concessions. As Cherie Priest likes to say, there is a “No Shyness” zone around me. Come up and say Hello! I’m happy to chat while I sell books. I’m bribable—take me out to lunch or for a drink and I’ll talk your ear off.

THURSDAY

3 p.m. Flash Your Fiction: In how few words can you tell a story? Flash fiction has been gaining in popularity, but it’s not an easy art form. Brevity is tough to tackle, but if you can master it, there are markets for your scant words. Learn the secret to “Kissing Your Fiction.” KISS . . . keep it short, sister. Then consider entering our flash fiction contests Friday and Saturday.

Donald J. Bingle, Jennifer Brozek, Kelly Swails

4 p.m. Writing For Games: Writing opportunities about in the game industry for persistent and talented freelancers. Our panelists found success writing for various game companies, and they provide helpful hints for landing work amid the dice and battlemaps.

Jennifer Brozek

FRIDAY

3 p.m. The Care and Feeding of Your Editor: Award-winning editor Jennifer Brozek has published dozens of authors in her many anthologies. She explains what it takes to get an editor’s attention and respect, offering suggestions that will move your submissions higher in the slush pile and closer to publication.

Jennifer Brozek

4 p.m. Write What You Don’t Know: We remember English teachers lecturing: “Write what you know.” Well, we think you ought to write what you don’t know. How else can you write about space travel and alternate history and fire-breathing dragons and vampire detectives? We’ll discuss how a little research and common sense can give you just enough background to really write what you don’t know.

R.T. Kaelin, Jennifer Brozek, Bryan Young

6 p.m. Reading: Jennifer Brozek: Award-winning editor Jennifer Brozek offers up a serving of one of her favorite fantasy tales.

Jennifer Brozek

SATURDAY

10 a.m. Slaying Writer’s Block: There’s debate whether there is such a beast as writer’s block. We’ll not argue that point here. Rather, we’ll show you what you can do to knock down the barriers that are keeping you from typing away at your keyboard. Writer’s block . . . or whatever you want to label it . . . we’ve faced it and beat it to a bloody pulp.

Aaron Allston, Jennifer Brozek, Bryan Young

11 a.m. Practice Makes Perfect: How can you tell if you’re getting better as a writer? How can you judge your progress? And what does it take to get to that next level of expertise? We’ll talk about benchmarks, writer’s groups, and how to analyze your fiction. You have to grow as a writer to compete in the marketplace; we’ll teach you how to measure your skills and to improve them.

Kelly Swails, Jennifer Brozek, Brad Beaulieu, R.T. Kaelin

Some days, working in the publishing industry is tougher than others. What’s an author to do when that happens? Blog, of course. Today, I thought I would talk about why I rarely get sick during or after conventions.

Why I don’t get sick anymore comes from three bits of advice. The first is from Seanan McGuire, a good friend whom I shared a hotel room with in Australia for Worldcon and discovered her secret. The second is from someone I read on the internet… unfortunately I just can’t remember who but this person has some spectacular convention germ avoiding advice. The third is one I picked up while my best friend was in the hospital. A nurse told me about it.

Tip #1: Start taking Sambucus a couple days before the convention and take a dose of Sambucus every morning and night you are in the hotel. Made with a base of elderberry extra and virologist tested, Sambucus is a miracle. I haven’t been sick during or after a convention since before August 2010 and I’ve gone to a LOT of conventions.  Heck, any time I start to feel ill, I take this awesome elixir and I either feel better immediately or my cold is shortened.

Tip #2: I really wish I could remember who posted about this but the first thing you should do every single time you enter your hotel room while at a convention is to wash your hands well. I’m talking warm water, lots of soap, and a minimum of half a minute. This gets the grim off your hands before you relax and touch your face and accidentally infect yourself with whatever is lingering on your hands.

Tip #3: Keep your hands as clean as possible when you are in public. Cleaning your hands frequently with a sanitizer helps. It may only last a bit but it kills a lot of what is already on your hand especially after handling something like a hotel menu. Avoid touching door handles and elevator buttons. I’ve found that I tend to use the outside of my sleeve for those jobs.

And that’s it. Sambucus, wash your hands, protect your hands. Your body will thank you and all of the people you don’t get sick will thank you.

I am not manning a table this year. So, if you want to meet up with me, ping me before the convention or give me a call/text during the convention. Do not be afraid to come say hello or to ask me questions.

Thursday 8 pm Cascade 11
Big Press, Small Press, or Self-Publishing?
Each publishing method has pros and cons. Come find out what they are and share your experiences.
Patrick Swenson (M), Jennifer Brozek, Donna Barr, Bruce Taylor

Thursday 9:30 pm Cascade 1
Jennifer Brozek reads The Lady of Seeking in the City of Waiting
Crossed genre fantasy-horror Rated PG
Jennifer Brozek

Thursday 10 pm Cascade 7
Writing Tie-In Fiction
Many video games today have accompanying fiction which often provides a more detailed storyline of current events as well as past or future action. Many role-playing games have companion novel series expanding their worlds with characters, cities, and events that become canon. Join our panelists as they discuss how a game’s setting is translated into a novel that, in turn, gives back to the game.
James L. Sutter (M), Jennifer Brozek, Erik Scott de Bie

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