#balticon2023

[morganhazelwood]

Writing For Different Audiences

When to decide which audience and genre to write in, what topics to avoid with younger audiences, and some of the nuances involved.

Jane Yolen has written everything from picture books for toddlers to adult fantasy to mainstream. Other authors might not be quite so versatile but still write for multiple genres and different audiences. What do writers do differently for different audiences? What makes something work for a particular audience? At what point do you decide what type of book it should be? On the titular panel…

[jscalzi]

Hey, Wanna Know Who Won This Year's Robert A. Heinlein Award?

John @scalzi, novelist and internet personality, is the 2023 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award.The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. It will be presented at #balticon2023 pic.twitter.com/ZLPP2HCkHL— Balticon (@Balticon) January 24, 2023 It’s me, hi, I’m the winner, it’s me. And as you…

[whateveradjunct]

Hey, Wanna Know Who Won This Year's Robert A. Heinlein Award?

John @scalzi, novelist and internet personality, is the 2023 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award.The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. It will be presented at #balticon2023 pic.twitter.com/ZLPP2HCkHL— Balticon (@Balticon) January 24, 2023 It’s me, hi, I’m the winner, it’s me. And as you…

[morganhazelwood]

Out Of Control Characters

Some authors tightly control their characters, but other authors say there are things their characters won't do. What do authors do when their characters go off script? Do you try to regain control (and how?)

Some authors tightly control their characters, requiring them to follow an outline. But other authors say there are things their characters won’t do. What do authors do when their characters go off script? Do you try to regain control (and how?) or go where the characters take you? Continuing with my Balticon 57 panel write-ups, the panelists for the titular panel were: A. L. Kaplan, Alan…

[morganhazelwood]

Alternate Morality

What makes a character 'morally grey', why do we like them, has the line moved, and how to handle conflicting moral systems. A #Balticon57 panel

Many characters have shades of grey, not evil but not law-abiding either. How do writers convey alternate moralities to the reader? How do you write a con-man, mobster, or mercenary and make them sympathic with their own moral code (just different from the legal one?) Who are convincing characters with their own moral system? A Balticon 57 panel, with John Scalzi, Micaiah Johnson, John Ashmead,…

[morganhazelwood]

Am I a 'Real Writer' Now?

What is a 'Real Writer' and will I ever qualify? Do you qualify?

At what point does a writer become a “real writer”? How does a person go from having a novel or a few stories to being a real Writer? What can people with a few things written do to make this a career? At Balticon 57, I got to ask “Real Writers” if I qualified, on the Virtual Panel: “Am I a ‘Real Writer’ Now? with co-panelists: October Santerelli, L. Marie Wood, and Stace Johnson. It was…

[morganhazelwood]

Balticon 57 Recap

I got up to a LOT of stuff Memorial Day weekend. Here's my Balticon 57 recap. Did you have a good weekend? Is there anything I missed?

I think I’m about four naps shy of recovering from Balticon 57, but I’m home and back at work. Last weekend I spent shopping for all the supplies I was going to need, not only for the convention but because I decided I needed to throw a room party. The party scene was a little sad last year, although I know a lot of that was hesitation having food, etc, and unmasking as we exited the acute stage…

[morganhazelwood]

Con Prep: All the Things!

This year's Balticon is almost upon us. And, surprising no one who's ever met me, I might be a little overcommitted. But only because I like to hedge my words. I am completely overcommitted. I've got 4 levels of prep going on. Now: to accept my limits.

This year’s Balticon — a four-day celebration of all things science fiction and fantasy — is almost upon us. And, surprising no one who’s ever met me, I might be a little overcommitted. But only because I like to hedge my words. I am completely overcommitted. There are four levels to my preparations — personal prep, author prep, panelist prep, and staff prep. While there was so much I wanted to…