Should readers like every character? What about every narrator or protagonist? In this panel, authors who have written unlikable narrators will discuss how the unsympathetic and unappealing nature of their characters serve their narrative.

Read more about Unlikeable Narrators Aren’t Inherently Bad

With 21.45% of the US population falling into the Baby Boomer category (with another 19.71% being Gen X), readers are increasingly looking for more mature characters in books and movies. Some writers are meeting the demand with heros in their 40s and 50s, but can we go further? Faster? Older? What are the pitfalls and limitations of writing characters beyond the traditionally accepted age groups in SF/F? Better yet, what is the potential?

Read more about Underserved Market for a Mature Protagonist

While going freelance is often the dreamed-of goal, not everyone who goes there likes it. Many creatives shift back-and-forth between full-time freelance and having a paycheck job. How do you know when it’s time to shift? Without a traditional resume, HOW do you shift?

Read more about Shifting Sands: Balancing Freelance with a Paycheck

What is the difference between writing in your own world and writing in someone else’s world? What are the pitfalls to avoid? How do you make sure you get the characters right? Where can you stretch your literary legs and where do you need to hold back? And how do you get the IP owners to choose you to write for them?

Read more about Media Tie-In Writing

Magic is often an important part of fantasy worlds, but magic can also play a pivotal part in the character development of those people who encounter it. In MG and YA fantasy, where character arcs often represent characters coming into their own, magic can be a useful tool to explore aspects of each characters’ identities and to help them along on their character arcs. In this panel, debut MG and YA authors discuss the role of magic in a young protagonist’s character arc, how they have intertwined their world’s magic in with their character’s journeys, and how other writers can do the same.

Read more about Growing up Magical: How Magic Can Be Used To Explore Identity in MG and YA

Writing while parenting has never been simple, and the pandemic context had only served to complicate the task. Join us for a discussion on how to manage caring for a family and balancing creative endeavors.

Read more about Writing and Parenting: How to Make It Work

A panel of experienced writers will discuss mistakes in their writing careers, moments of imperfection, and a few things they wish they’d done differently. Join this conversation for humorous anecdotes and advice on how to avoid the these same pitfalls.

Read more about Major Mistakes in a Writing Career

Many writers turn to self-publishing to supplement their income. But self-publishing brings a set of unique challenges. How can authors determine whether a hybrid career is the best option?

Read more about Hybrid Publishing: Choice or Necessity?

The publishing industry disadvantages authors who struggle with sparse free time and income insecurity. Experienced authors discuss how to manage limited resources, discover new options, and build support systems.

Read more about Writers with Day Jobs: Is This How We Lose the Time War?

Poets and multi-genre speculative authors discuss trends in style, inspiration, publication, and the role poetry plays in the SFF community.

Read more about Speculative Poetry Today