Darkover^® Grand Council Meeting

10/11/11 - Programming is up now!

Alternate programming takes place all three days of the convention. It consists of panels and lectures by our guests in a more intimate environment than main programming.

Alternate Programming
Chesapeake Room 3-6

Friday

4:00 PM - The Advantages and Disadvantages of Writing Short Stories Versus Novels.
J-F Bibeau, Mike McPhail, Alanna Morland, Michelle Sonnier, Vonnie Winslow-Crist. Herbert Gerjuoy, Moderator

5:00 PM - The Literary Handyman on Writing to the Five Senses. (2 hours) Attendees are taken through a series of exercises designed to heighten awareness of sensory input in fiction, its purpose in world building and character interaction.
Danielle Ackley- McPhail

7:00 PM - The Most Significant Events of the Next Thousand Years. This talk has been described as one of the best professional forecasts by a professional futurist.
Dr. Herbert Gerjuoy

Saturday

10:00 AM - Music & Poetry. Throughout history, music and poetry have always played a major role. How does adding it enhance your work and the works of others?
J-F Bibeau, Diana Bastine, Diana Paxson, Vonnie Winslow-Crist, Leona Wisoker. Herbert Gerjuoy, Moderator

11:00 AM - The Literary Handyman Q&A on the Craft and Business of Being a Writer. Hear about professional experience on both sides of the world of publishing. The audience presents questions about the topic and the panel fields them.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Kelly Harmon

12:00 NOON - Independent Publishers. In the past, if you wanted your book to be published you had a small number of big name publishers to choose from. With today's technology, the publishing field is exploding. Learn about the independent publishers.
Elektra Hammond & Katie Hartlove

2:00 PM - The Role of Women in Darkovan Society — then and now. Discussion.
Jennifer Heise

3:00 PM - Writing Techniques: What not to do (Or at least do it in style) Participate in a fun and productive exercise spotting the deliberate flaws in a variety of samples written by author J-F Bibeau for the exclusive purpose of this panel. Ways to avoid and correct these writing flaws (or turn them into bold statements!) will be discussed. Among the topics discussed will be: Engaging exposition vs. forced exposition, Respecting the "Point of View" rule, The omnipotent narrator, World-building overload, Use of pronouns, synonyms and avoiding repetition, Common grammar and syntax mistakes, Good editing tricks.
J-F Bibeau

4:00 PM - The many faces of art. What is art & what makes a medium art versus a craft. Painting a picture with oil is considered art, while painting with thread (embroidery) is considered a craft. How does modern technology impact this?
Tristan Alexander, Shoshana Epsilon, Hannah Shapero. Elektra Hammond, Moderator

5:00 PM - Spectrum Awards Presentation. The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy & horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues. They are presented annually & honor works premiering in the previous calendar year. Currently, the Awards are given in three categories: Best Novel; Best Short Fiction; & Best Other Work. A limited number of works released prior to 1998 are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.
Rob Gates and Carl Cipra

Sunday

9:00 AM - Michaeline Christian Mass.
Katherine Kurtz

11:00 AM - Promoting 101 - workshop/panel discussion. Learn about when and how to promote for little to no expense. Covers creative marketing, reviews, press releases, author interviews, and more.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Elektra Hammond, Kelly Harmon

12:00 NOON - Junk food and moral messages. Does your book HAVE to have a meaning, or is OK to write fluff?
Danielle Ackley-McPhail, J-F Bibeau, Heather Rose Jones, Debra Killeen, Tim Liebe. Jack Frost, Moderator

1:00 PM - Animal sidekicks. Besides cats, wolves, horses and dragons what else is there and why?
Kelly Harmon, Tim Liebe, Alanna Morland, Michelle Sonnier. Carl Cipra, Moderator

3:00 PM - Tamora Pierce talks to her fans. Open to all, not just convention attendees.