Professional Development

May 22, 2022

Leveling up: Strategies to Grow as a Writer

May 22, 2022 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm

There’s no video game-style announcement to tell us when we’ve leveled up our writing skills. Sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re improving at all–especially when you’re just starting out. We’ll discuss ways that our panelists have leveled up their own skills, from formal workshops to writing groups to exercises and beyond.

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Live Readings: So, You’ve Been Asked to Read Your Work in Front of Actual Humans…

May 22, 2022 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Invited to an event to give a live reading of your work? Professional narrators are here to help with tips and tricks to win over your audience, combat the nerves, prepare for your reading.

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Promotion for Introverts

May 22, 2022 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

You’ve got the contract! Your book is coming out! Congrats. Now, you have to promote it. Truth is, even the “big” houses require writers to do much of the marketing footwork themselves, and there’s lots of info on what to do and when. But, for us introverts, the shy, and the neurodiverse, stumping our own work is, at best, a source of fraught ambivalence, and, at worst, a gauntlet of terror. There are ways to push through, though. Come hear from other introverts who’ve made it through marketing in one piece, more or less.

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Writing in a Shared World

May 22, 2022 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

It’s your book, but it’s their world. How do you follow the rules of the literary universe and still contribute in a creatively fulfilling way? People hosting and writing in shared worlds talk about their experiences and give advice for those wanting to join an established property.

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Collaborative Writing: How to Share Your Brainspace

May 22, 2022 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Panelists: Rob Hart, Adam Stemple, Jonathan Brazee and Sienna Tristen (moderator)

What happens when an idea forms between two (or more!) authors? How do you share ideas, build consensus, and manage drafts and revisions? Join us to explore how collaborative writing relationships work and how to build them.

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Getting It Done On Time

May 22, 2022 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

You’ve sold the book and now they want another—by a certain day. Join us to learn how other mid-career authors acclimated to deadlines, balanced schedules, and got the book done on time—or managed when the deadline slipped.

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Finding the Right Literary Agent & Maintaining Your Sanity Along the Way

May 22, 2022 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

For writers seeking traditional publication the right agent is key. We cover practical querying techniques, time management tactics, and when to call in your support triangle. We cover mindset issues that crop up as you submit to the slush piles, and help you focus on finding the right long-term business partner/agent. This isn’t a class about query letters, or polishing your first five pages. This is a class about navigating the slush piles from a place of empowerment. Walk away with a list of agent author interview questions and more.

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Intro to Critiquing Game Writing

May 22, 2022 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

As SFWA welcomes and integrates game writers into the membership, non-game writers have the opportunity to acquire critical tools for evaluating the work of their games writing colleagues to better equip themselves when voting for the Nebulas or expanding into games themselves. This panel will introduce important concepts and tools for evaluating game writing.

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Major Mistakes in a Writing Career

May 22, 2022 6:00 am to 7:00 am

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.

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May 21, 2022

Media Tie-In Writing

May 21, 2022 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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?

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