Join the Resistance! Speculative fiction protagonists often fight against corrupt regimes, criminal organizations, or systemic injustice. What makes these stories so appealing to write and read? How do these fights resolve in ways that convey a writer’s message or their characters’ personalities? Does the fight have to be a pitched battle, or could organization and

Music in Writing Music is a powerful storytelling tool on the big screen, but what about on the page? Can reading about music evoke the same emotions that hearing it does? What are different ways to use music in fiction? Panelists discuss their experiences and share their techniques for hitting the right notes in your

Mysticism in Science Fiction Tarot readers, seers/prophets, water witches – is there a place for mystics in science fiction beyond either “psionic power” or “delusional kook?” Are there examples of rigorous scientific exploration of mysticism in sci-fi? How might mysticism and speculation be interlinked, and what books take that interconnection seriously? Mark Teppo (M), Leigh

The fifth panel I went to over the weekend was Saturday’s “Advanced Character Creation“ Character-creation templates, which new writers can download and use, are everywhere on the internet. But what actually goes into making you feel a character’s wounds and triumphs? How do working writers approach character creation? How do you develop a character hook

My notes from the 11am Saturday panel 4/16/2022 Dames, Damsels, & Dynamite The young ladies of young adult literature are seldom well-behaved. What empowers these budding women? What are the secrets to their success? It’s more than just dynamite or lacing up combat boots. This panel will help tell us what makes these women explode