I’m going to be attending this year’s Loscon – and will be on four of the panels in the writing track (moderating two of them). I’ll also be in the dealers room a lot, at the GLAWS booth, selling and signing copies of The Scribbler’s Guide to the Land of Myth.
Here’s my schedule of appearances at Loscon (which is at the LAX Marriott Hotel, November 26-28).
Friday – 12:00 p.m. – New Orleans
Things That I Wish A Pro Had Told Me When I Started
Many aspiring writers waste time and brain cells when they first enter the world of writing professionally. Learn from industry pros many of the things you can avoid to save years of frustration and yes, brain cells, too.
Sarah Beach (m) — Kathy Porter, Buzz Dixon, PJ Hultstrand, Donald Jacques
[I need to dig out some of my early rejection letters to use as a springboard for discussion. This should be an interesting panel!]
Saturday 2:30 p.m. – New Orleans
Make It Or Break It (Your First Three Pages And Your First 50)
You hear from editors and agents that if the first paragraph you write isn’t strong enough, they won’t read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story.
Tony N. Todaro (m) — Tim Powers, Sarah Beach, Denise Dumars, Sherwood Smith
Saturday 4:00 p.m. – New Orleans
A jury of peers – When to join a critique group.
Congrats! You’ve finished your story. Ready to have someone else read it? How about joining a Critique Group? Learn the benefits and pitfalls from those who have been through it all.
Ace Hall (m) — Stephen Blackmoore, Sarah Beach, James C. Glass, Laurie Tom
Sunday 10:00 – New Orleans
There goes 15% – why and when do you need an agent?
There’s a time and a place for everything, and at some point every novelist needs a good agent. But what do they really do for you? Can’t you save that commission and do it yourself?
Sarah Beach (m) — Tim Powers, Mel Gilden, Kathy Porter, James C. Glass
If you read science fiction and fantasy and want to talk about those works, Loscon is the place for you. The weekend after Thanksgiving is the time.
