I’ll be at Rustycon this weekend!

Rustycon 34 is an annual science fiction and fantasy convention, held locally in at the Seatac Marriot, with approximately 500 – 700 people in attendance. They have multi–track programming in writing, art, gaming, cosplay and more. They also have a dealer’s room,  art show, game room, and a hospitality room for the general membership. Itinerary for Elizabeth Guizzetti

Fri Jan 13 3:00:pm	Fri Jan 13 4:00:pm	Magic or Religion?
Washington C		Priestess, cleric, mage, witch, sorcerer. What are the differences and who should I use in my story?
Bruce Taylor Elizabeth Guizzetti G.R. Theron Jeremy Zimmerman

 

Fri Jan 13 7:00:pm	Fri Jan 13 7:30:pm	Reading Elizabeth Guizzetti
Tacoma		Reading from Elizabeth Guizzetti’s newest work, The Grove. A sorcerer believes waking a few ancient gods will save humanity from itself. (And Elizabeth will bring chocolate chip macaroons using the recipe from the novel!)
Elizabeth Guizzetti

 

Fri Jan 13 8:00:pm	Fri Jan 13 9:00:pm	Are You Sure You Want To Go There?
Washington C		Writing about the darker things in life; Rape, torture, childhood trauma, Sex with Dwarves. Sometimes it’s done for a laugh. Sometimes it is done for an emotional response. Sometimes, we ask ourselves “What was THAT all about?!” This will be a panel that goes into the darker side of writing, where the envelope is not only pushed but fed to the shredder. When is “shock” essential to the story, and when is it sensational?
Bruce Taylor Elizabeth Guizzetti G.R. Theron John Lovett

 

Sat Jan 14 12:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 1:00:pm	Self-Publishing – When and Why to go Indie
Tacoma		Self-publishing is a viable career path, but is it for you? Discover the answer as a formerly traditionally-published author gone indie takes you through the ins and outs of what you need to consider when looking at self publishing. Includes balancing the risks and rewards, questions of creative control and freedom, and, of course, the financial side of things.
Elizabeth Guizzetti Tod McCoy

Sat Jan 14 12:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 1:00:pm	Self-Publishing – When and Why to go Indie
Tacoma		Self-publishing is a viable career path, but is it for you? Discover the answer as a formerly traditionally-published author gone indie takes you through the ins and outs of what you need to consider when looking at self publishing. Includes balancing the risks and rewards, questions of creative control and freedom, and, of course, the financial side of things.
Elizabeth Guizzetti Tod McCoy

Sat Jan 14 3:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 4:00:pm	How do I finish???
Washington C		You have the story, the big climax.. how do you end it?? A lot of beginning writers (and some pros) have problems with that. Come get some ideas.
April Daniels Elizabeth Guizzetti John Lovett Tom D Wright

 

Sat Jan 14 5:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 6:00:pm	The Bechdel Test
Washington C		What is the The Bechdel test and why does it matter? Do you have at least two female characters in your novel that have conversation *not* about a man? Discuss why this is so important, especially in genres that aren’t romance.
Elizabeth Guizzetti John Lovett Rebecca Birch Sienna Saint-Cyr

 

Sat Jan 14 7:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 8:00:pm	Self Marketing for Artists and Writers
Evergreen I		Some basics can be applied to any self-marketing. What has worked in the past for our panelists, what have they tried that was a total bomb?
Anthea Sharp Elizabeth Guizzetti Michael Suiter Rob Carlos

 

Sat Jan 14 8:00:pm	Sat Jan 14 9:00:pm	Why the heck do I write?
Washington C		Lousy pay, long lonely hours, no recognition. Heinlein called it the other solitary vice. Pros and not-so-pros discuss why they keep on writing.
Bruce Taylor Elizabeth Guizzetti Geoffrey Quick Richard Gilmore

 

Sun Jan 15 2:00:pm	Sun Jan 15 3:00:pm	Violence in our World, Violence in our Stories
Everett		Let’s do some soul searching. Are there any super hero movies that don’t end with the hero physically pounding on the villain? Do all SF/fantasy novels tell readers that violence is the only real answer? What stories avoid violence and yet still grip the reader from start to finish? Are there stories we are not telling?
April Daniels Elizabeth Guizzetti Michael S. Warner Tom D Wright

My RustyCon Speaking Schedule!

So my first convention of the year is: 

Held in Seatac, Rustycon is an annual science fiction and fantasy convention with a smaller, relaxed intimate feel. They have multi–track programming in writing, gaming, films and media. They also have a dealer’s room, art show, and a hospitality room for the general membership.

Here’s a photo of me and Bruce from Rustycon 2014. I’m the human.

If you’re looking for the convention experience without the crowds of ECCC or the pressure of Norwescon, you’ll LOVE Rustycon.

I hope to see you there.

Friday 1/16

2:00 pm
Sexy or Sexualized
Mercer B

When does the depiction of a heroine stop being sexy and become sexualized?

I will be presenting along with Jon Del Arroz and Michael Suiter

Saturday 1/17 

11:00 am
World Building in Sci-Fi and Fantasy or How to Avoid the Infodump
Orcas B

Too much information and the story bogs down, but too little and the reader is left lost. Writers want to deliver an enthralling alternate world, but how do we do that gracefully? Experts share the details that make a world great, and ways to sneak in the brick and mortar of world-building.

I will be presenting with Verna Mckinnon, Thomas Gondolfi, Tom D Wright with Rick Hipps Moderating

12:00 Noon
Designing Character Backgrounds
Orcas B

When you read, do you fall in love with a story or a character? By designing your characters, major and minor, you shape the story they’re going to carry. But how do you bring them to life? And how much obsessing is too much? Do you really need to know their favorite food, color, and dessert topping? Learn how to design a character.

I will be presenting with A. Maire Dinsmore, Rick Hipps, and Todd Tepper

Sunday 1/18

9:00 am
How do I Finish???

You have the story, the big climax.. how do you end it??  A lot of beginning writers (and some pros) have problems with that.  Come get some ideas.

I will be presenting with Will Mcdermott, Verna Mckinnon, and Rick Hipps

11:00 am
Independent Publishing 
Orcas B

Independent publishing has taken off, especially with the recent rise of the hybrid-author, who is willing to sell work traditionally but not afraid to self-publish and promote. From ebooks to POD, which stories benefit from independent publishing and how do you get them ready? Bring your questions about editing, Kickstarter, cover art, sales price, and marketing.

I will be presenting with Jennifer Brozek Dustin Gross and Thomas Gondola