Two panelists working in book agenting discuss their perspective on what an agent offers—and whether they see cases where they think unagented traditional publishing can work.
Description:
Panelists: Brady McReynolds, James Farner. Track: GCWS Career.
Writers discuss incorporation of story structure models across different types of speculative writing.
Description:
Story structures (or narrative structures) are frameworks that help us develop plots, characters, and worlds into satisfying narratives. While you may be familiar with some of them, there are many structures and storytelling traditions—some of them millennia old. Join our panel of expert writers as they discuss various story structure models, storytelling traditions, and different ways to incorporate them into your writing process, either for prose or game writing. Panelists: Jerry Gordon (moderator), Jennifer Allaway, Dan Jolley, Cat Rambo, R.R. Virdi. Track: GCWS Writing.
Video game writers discuss the pros and cons of being a freelancer versus an employee.
Description:
Are you looking to make writing for video games a career, yet you're not sure whether you want the freedom and uncertainty of being a freelancer, or the stability and limitations of an employee? Both take dedicated preparation and energy just to get started, so which way should you go? Join our panel of expert game writers and narrative designers as they discuss the pros and cons of being a freelancer versus an employee, to help you consider what might be best for you. Panelists: Alexander Bevier (moderator), Whitney "Strix" Beltrán, Jeremy Bernstein, Richard Dansky. Track: GCWS Game Narrative.
Writer and artist Grace P. Fong teaches the application of artistic tools to storytelling.
Description:
Artists utilize symbolism, color theory, and visual metaphor to communicate ideas in much the same way that writers use words and sentence structure. Led by author-illustrator and former Magic: the Gathering designer, Grace P. Fong, this class will teach you how to apply the artist's tools to your story, adding new levels of meaning that will inspire readers to draw, cosplay, and fall more deeply in love with your narrative. This workshop is ideal for those looking to strengthen their craft of visual worldbuilding and those looking to write stories that can easily translate to movies and games. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Writer Bryan Young explores how watching movies can enhance your writing.
Description:
We all watch movies, but decoding, analyzing, and understanding movies can help us become better storytellers, no matter what medium we tell our stories in. In this class, Bryan Young will show you techniques used in the cinema and how you can adapt them to your writing style to make it more effective and keep you learning for your entire life. Track: GCWS Classroom.
We're In This Together: A Writing Community Discussion About Us
Summary:
Writers discuss the importance of reclaiming the community around us - as well as our role in it.
Description:
Whether you write solely for your own comfort, or whether you are a best-selling author, all of us are connected by common needs. Join our panel of writers as they discuss reclaiming our love of writing, our creative spark, and especially our connections - without toxic positivity. All the feels are welcome! Panelists: E.D.E. Bell (moderator), Tracy Hickman, John Jennings, Sheree Renée Thomas. Track: GCWS Writing.
Writers and publishers discuss different types of indie publishing - and what might be best for you.
Description:
From small presses to publishing services to full self-publishing, every indie author seeks help on some level. Join our panel of expert writers and publishers as they discuss which options are helpful for which writers - and how to avoid exploitation and scams. When should an indie writer open your wallet and when should you snatch it away? This panel will attempt to untangle the many, many, many paths to indie publishing in 2023. Panelists: Mary Fan (moderator), Richard Lee Byers, Chris A. Jackson, Dan Jolley. Track: GCWS Career.
What to Include in Your Videogame Writing Portfolio
Summary:
Writer and editor Toiya Kristen Finley teaches practices in portfolio creation.
Description:
“What should I have in my game writing portfolio?” is a common question amongst writers looking to get in to the industry AND writers who are already working in games. In this workshop, gamewriter Toiya Kristen Finley will look at the types of samples game devs look for when they’re vetting writers and discuss how you can show off your creative and technical writing skills. Whether you already have games samples or not, you can modify your existing work to fit a games portfolio, and this session will also look at good examples of online portfolios and talk about why your website’s layout is so important. Track: GCWS Classroom.
Why All Writers Should Read Slush - and How to Do So Effectively
Summary:
Editors Gabrielle Harbowy and Kelli Fitzpatrick present a lecture and discussion about slush-reading: what it is, why it's helpful, how to be good at it.