My 2025 Dragon Con Schedule

The highlight of my summer is almost here. I’ll be flying to Atlanta and Dragon Con in less than three weeks! I hope you’ll join the fun – and check out my Dragon Con events:

Title: Fantasy Gather
Description: Find your new favorite books and meet the authors at the Gather. Commerce will be committed, and libations will be available at a cash bar. The Gather will the last event of the evening in the International Ballroom, so the fun can continue for hours.
Panelists: Lots!
Time: Fri 08:00 pm
Location: International Ballroom (Length: 4 Hours – or more!)

Title: Weird Facts & Stories Hiding Behind Our Tea
Description: Coffee drinkers might convince you that hot-leaf water is nothing special. But the history of the world's favorite beverage is weirder than you know. From the real Earl Grey to the creation of tea bags to the unexpected origins of some modern tea brands, the tea industry holds a lot of secrets.
Panelists: Professor Upsidasium(M), Jean Marie Ward, Jason R Merrill, Macklyn Butler
Time: Sat 01:00 pm
Location: Macon Courtland Grand (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Shifter Psychology
Description: Shifters of all types have to learn to deal with essentially two different natures, which can result in a wide range of personality traits. Our panel of authors will discuss how the shifters in their works deal with this dichotomy, and how that response affects the narratives of their stories.
Panelists: Ben Meeks, Stephanie Mirro, Jean Marie Ward, Sean Fletcher, Jasmine Walt, Lea Murphy(M)
Time: Sat 05:30 pm
Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Historical Romance: Here for the Love, Not as Much the Spice
Description: The Romance genre is not new to the book world. It's been a popular genre since the 1800s, but recently we've seen a celebration of the genre. If you're more glimpses and kisses behind closed doors than hot and spicy, our panelists will dive into what the Romance genre has for you.
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Nancy Northcott, Valerie Willis, Kate McNeil(M)
Time: Sun 04:00 pm
Location: Augusta Courtland Grand (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Eye of Argon Continued
Description: The Eye of Argon Experience is not to be missed. Regarded by many as the worst sf ever written, our intrepid panelists (and audience) will take turns reading it and acting it out.
Panelists: Keith R.A. DeCandido, Ian Randal Strock(M), Jean Marie Ward
Time: Sun 10:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Win, Lose or Draw Dragon Con Edition
Description: Traditionally the last panel of our convention, contestants attempt to get their teammates to guess what they are drawing. Jean Marie Ward once again hosts.
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward(M)
Time: Mon 01:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

See you there!

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My 2024 Capclave Schedule

Come one, come all to Capclave, DC’s hometown con. The festivities start Friday afternoon (September 27) and run all the way until 4 PM Sunday (September 29) at the Hilton Washington, DC/Rockville, MD, Meeting Center. I’ll be there, participating in the six great events listed below. Hope you’ll join me and share the fun

 

Friday

 

4 PM, Washington Theater

An Offline Discussion of Online Events (Ends at: 4:55 PM)

Participants: Andy Duncan, Morgan Hazelwood (M), Sarah Mitchell, Jean Marie Ward
Costs are rising, volunteers are hard to get, and people are firm in their beliefs. A few years removed from the rise of online and hybrid events, panelists discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and future of these events.

 

8 PM, Washington Theater

This One Time... (Ends at: 8:55 PM)

Participants: Morgan Hazelwood, Ian Randal Strock, Michael A. Ventrella, Jean Marie Ward (M)
It may not have been at band camp, but we are involved in stories our whole life. From a young age to the current day, something is almost always happening. Panelists tell brief funny stories from their life, career, and friends.

 

10 PM, Eisenhower

Hold My Beer (Ends at: 10:55 PM)

Participants: Danian Jerry, Jennifer R. Povey, Sheree Renée Thomas, Michael A. Ventrella, Jean Marie Ward (M)
Just when you thought the world couldn't get any stranger, this happened. A discussion of the current world. No topic off the table. Trigger Warning.

 

Saturday

 

7 PM, Mass Signing and Awards Ceremony (Ends at: 8:55 PM) Atrium

The annual gathering of Capclave attendees with presentation of the Guest of Honor Gifts, the WSFA Small Press Award, and the Baltimore Science Fiction Society's Amateur Writers Award.

 

Sunday

 

1 PM, Author Reading: Jean Marie Ward (Ends at: 1:25) Adams

 

2 PM, Companions, Pets, and More (Ends at 2:55 PM) Eisenhower

Participants: Jennifer Brinn, Randee Dawn (M), Matt Dinniman, Miguel O. Mitchell, Jean Marie Ward
Princess Donut, Lassie, and Big Dee each play a role in moving the plot forward. What is the role of the animal character? How do you convince readers of their animal nature even while they develop beyond the simple impulses of their origins.

My Preliminary Schedule for Dragon Con 2022

It’s finally starting to feel real. Dragon Con just sent my preliminary schedule for this year’s con. The panels, dates, and times may change, but my final schedule will be close to what you see here. Can’t wait! I’ve been missing my friends way too long!

Hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 1

Title: Virtual: Fact or Fiction, A&HFT 2022 Edition
Description: Our historical fiction writers will refresh your memory on major historical events and goings-on. Of course, not everyone can remember history as it truly happens. Is it fact? Is it fiction? Join our cast of unlucky souls who will determine which story is FACT and which is FICTION...
Time: 10:00 am
Location: STRM_YTTC (Length: 1 Hour)

Friday, September 2

Title: Defining SF in the Era of the Sub-Genre
Description: There are so many different definitions of sf. There are an equal number of sub-genres (military sf, space opera, etc.) Our panelists discuss how definitions have changed through the years.
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Finding Balance: Shifters & Werecreatures in UF
Description: Werecreatures & shifters of various types display a wide range of characteristics within the genre, and each deals differently with maintaining a balance between their human and non-human side. Our panel of authors will discuss their versions, as well as some of their favorites in books & media.
Time: 01:00 pm
Location: Chastain 1-2 (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Humor in SF
Description: It takes a deft hand to imbue science fiction with humor, Whether it is subtle or slapstick, our panelists talk about how this is best done and give examples.
Time: 07:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Saturday, September 3

Title: Herstorically Speaking: Vanishing Women in History
Description: Explore the women that changed the world as we know it, both living and dead. Where would we be without these women that seem to have vanished into the mists of time and how would the world have changed if they hadn't been erased?
Time: 05:30 pm
Location: Macon (Length: 1 Hour)

Sunday, September 4

Title: Scandalous: Historical Gossip
Description: Some of our favorite authors share secrets and stories they've uncovered as they dug deep in their research. Bring the tea, because these authors will spill it as they unearth the side of history that couldn't remain hidden forever.
Time: 05:30 pm
Location: Macon (Length: 1 Hour)

Monday, September 5

Title: If I Could Do It Over Again...
Description: Every writer makes a (some? many?) mistake. Maybe this panel will help beginning writers avoid those same mistakes.
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Win, Lose or Draw
Description: The game show where contestants have to draw various things from sf, Dragon Con itself, and fantasy. If their team guesses it in the allotted time, they win the round.
Time: 02:30 pm
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Tags: #DragonCon #conschedule #JeanMarieWard

My Schedule for Balticon 2022

Balticon is almost here, and I can’t wait to see my friends—including you! I hope you’ll join us at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor May 27-30 for all kinds of fannish fun. I also hope you’ll check out one of my panels or my Sunday reading. It’s a great slate of topics and participants. See you there!

Friday

4 PM, James Meeting Room

Dark Baptism: Coming Into Her Power

How does the supernatural teenage girl trope explore important themes like coming of age, social alienation, and finding a path?

Panelists: Gwendolyn Clare, Michael N. Jones, Ryan O’Nan, Michelle D. Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward (moderator)

7 PM, Virtual Panel Room 1

Frontier Fiction

From undersea development to life in the asteroid belt, it's not just "the weird wild west" out there. What other frontiers can be sought out and explored through SFF? Why is life on the frontier an interesting setting for SFF? How do you write frontier fiction without simply reworking colonial/imperialist dogma?

Panelists: C.J. Cherryh, Monica Louzon, Gillian Polack, Jay Smith, Beth Morris Tanner (mod), Jean Marie Ward

8:30 PM, Guilford Meeting Room

Alternate History—Just Add Magic!

Starting with a well-known period of history and throwing in magical elements into the mix is a popular approach to developing a basic concept for a story. Examples of this include Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, and the recent Dead Djinn Universe. We will talk about the benefits and pitfalls of this approach, how much rigor to put into the magical system, how much history you need to learn, and how to decide where to get started.

Panelists: Phenderson Djèlí Clark, Tom Doyle, JL Gribble, Michelle D. Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward (mod)

 

Saturday

1 PM, Kent Meeting Room

Most Of What You Know About History Is Wrong

False, popular "facts" about history are so widespread that people often view documented facts with skepticism and even outrage. Medieval people did actually bathe, Edison did not invent the light bulb, and more than 300 soldiers defended Thermopylae. Let's tackle examples where real history runs into false popular narratives and the problems that result.

Panelists: Tom Doyle, Ada Palmer, Alan Smale, Jean Marie Ward (mod)

2:30 PM, James Meeting Room

Getting The Most From A Writers Association

Genre association groups such as the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the Romance Writers Association (RWA), as well as more local groups like the Maryland Writers Association (MWA), can offer benefits and perks. Panelists talk about what different groups have to offer and how to get the most out of your membership.

Panelists: Joshua Bilmes, Carol Gyzander, Amy Kaplan (mod), Rosemary Claire Smith, Jean Marie Ward

4 PM, Room 7029

Breaking the Hero’s Journey

There are many ways to break the established pattern while still making the journey entertaining for audiences. Panelists will examine examples of this and what makes them still satisfying to the audience.

Panelists: Sarah Avery, Carl Cipra, Robert L. Slater, Rosemary Claire Smith, Jean Marie Ward (mod)

 

Sunday

1 PM, James Meeting Room

Magic In The Ancient Mediterranean

From Greek curse tablets to Mesopotamian healing spells, the ancient world was brimming with magic, magicians, and demonic dangers. Let's discuss what evidence survives, what it tells us about who wanted to use magic and why, and how we reconstruct the magical worlds of the past.

Panelists: Tom Doyle, Rosemary Claire Smith (mod), John Robison, Rosemary Claire Smith, Jean Marie Ward, Sherri Cook Woosley

2:30 PM, St. George Meeting Room

Readings

Brian Ketchum and Jean Marie Ward

7 PM, Virtual Panel Room 1

Giving Your Work Away For Fun And Profit

Everyone loves free stuff, but authors need to pay the bills. Can you make money by giving your work away, and if so, how do you choose what to distribute for free? What tools and metrics can you use to show a publisher or business partner that the work that you give away for free is driving sales?

Panelists: Leonardo Espinoza Benavides, Brenda Clough, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Angela Yuriko Smith (mod), Jean Marie Ward 

My 2021 Balticon Schedule

 

All hail the SFF highlight of my Memorial Day weekend: Balticon! This year my panels span bureaucracy, history, worldbuilding, monsters and a reading. Hope you’ll check them out, as well as all the other wonderful programming available for free! Panel registration and links can be found here. While you’re there, I hope you’ll consider supporting the con’s GoFundMe to ensure all this fannish goodness is available in person in 2022.

 

 

Friday, May 28

 

Beyond Red Tape: Why Bureaucracy Happens

Time: 5:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Location: Watertable
Panelists: Brick Barrientos (Moderator), Doc Coleman, Monica Louzon, Beth Morris Tanner, Jean Marie Ward

Description: Bureaucracy can be more than a comical obstacle for characters or a Kafkaesque nightmare. Societies and organizations create bureaucracy as a tool to solve specific problems. How can bureaucracy and governance structures be a part of good worldbuilding and good problem solving?

 

 

Sunday, May 30

It's A Novel, Not History Class

Time: 1:00 PM ET

Location: Mount Washington
Panelists: Gail Z. Martin (M), Doc Coleman, R.F. Kuang (2019 Compton Crook Award winner), Wendy Van Camp, Jean Marie Ward

Description: When writing in a historical setting creators can greatly over- or underestimate how much information they’ll need to incorporate for their audiences to understand what’s going on. We will explore how to immerse audiences in the past without losing focus on plot and characters. How can a creator tell how much the audience already knows, and how much needs to be explained?

 

The Motivations of Monsters
Time: 2:30 PM ET

Location: St. George

Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (M), John L. French, Lee Murray, John Walker, Sherri Cook Woolsey

Description: Science fiction and fantasy have always featured "monsters," going all the way back to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. While some are mindless destroyers, many are written with relatable motivations and desires. What are some monsters who have connected with audiences, and what are ways creators can make their monsters sympathetic while keeping them in an antagonistic role?

 

Writing Characters with Agency
Time: 8:30 PM ET

Location: Mount Washington

Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (M), Brenda Clough, Micaiah Johnson (2021 Compton Crook Award winner), Karen Osborne, Ryan Van Loan

Description: How do we give characters the power to make their own choices (and make those choices feel natural) while also moving the plot where it needs to go? What are some common mistakes that can take agency from a character without the author intending it? How does this problem affect audience investment?

 

 

Monday, May 30

 

Reading

Time: 1:30 PM ET

Location: Readings Break-out Room in the Con Suite

Panelists: Meeeeeeeeeee!

Description: According to the schedule, I’ll be reading urban fantasy, Steampunk and historical fantasy. Hmm, guess I’d better rehearse.

 

Hope to see you there!

My 2020 Capclave Schedule

 

October isn’t just Halloween. It’s also Capclave, the Washington DC area’s hometown science fiction and fantasy convention. Like so many cons, they’ve gone virtual this year, but that doesn’t mean the guests or the programming are any less stellar. Guests of Honor from past Capclaves are returning to help the con celebrate its twenty-year anniversary—an anniversary like no other. You can check out the full schedule here.

But we know you’re all here for me. 😉 So I’ll make it easy on you. Check out these offerings:

 

Saturday, October17

1:30 PM

Panel: Magic – Obvious or Mysterious

Participants: Sarah Beth Durst, Charlotte Honigman, John Skovran, Carrie Vaughn, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)

Some modern fantasy settings have the existence of magic and magical creatures known to the public—think True Blood or Poul Anderson’s Operation Chaos. Others have the magic secret such as Seanan McGuire’s Incryptid series or the TV show Supernatural. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach? Why might an author choose one or the other? Are some authors better than one or the other?

 

7:30 PM

Panel: Sharing a Universe

Participants: Iver Cooper, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Carrie Vaughn, Jean Marie Ward

Shared universes have been around for years. 1632 is its own cottage industry these days, and Wild Cards has experienced a rebirth. Panelists will discuss the advantages, disadvantages and what it takes to work in this type of writing. What is the appeal to authors and readers? Why do some shared universes work while others produced a handful of volumes and vanished? What caused Thieves World to turn dark and toxic, and how can other shared worlds avoid their fate?

 

Sunday

1:30 PM

Reading

 

Hope to see you in Capclave’s virtual panel rooms soon. Stay safe!

My Dragon Con 2020 Schedule

Dragon Con is going virtual this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the same wild mix of media stars, writers, artists, panels, gaming, costumes, performances, music and all the rest—even the blood drive! For everything that’s been awful about 2020, the year has given folks who wouldn’t normally make it to Atlanta over Labor Day a chance to share the fun. For free!

That’s right, Dragon Con is offering three free 24/7 streaming channels of live and pre-recorded programming at https://dragoncon.tv/virtual: Main Programming, Fan Programming and Classic Programming. In addition, each of their programming tracks will be offering a selection of live and pre-recorded programs on venues ranging from Facebook to YouTube and all the social media in between. For those of us who can’t imagine Labor Day without the camaraderie of the various hotel bars, there’s even a BarCon running on Discord. And all of that is also free.

 In addition, they’ve created the best virtual art show and vendors rooms I’ve seen so far. Artists, makers and dealers have been particularly hard hit by the loss of physical conventions. This is the perfect chance to show your love and support for the people who bring so much joy to the world.

For more details, head to https://dragoncon.org. The page is phenomenally easy to navigate. There’s even a link to a pdf of the Quick Start Guide we all live by at the RL con. Links to the individual track offerings can be found on p. 23.

 Or you can check out the feeds of your favorite Dragon Con participants. You can find me several places this weekend:

Friday, 7 PM

SF Literature Track

Reading: I’ll be reading from four of my science fictions: “The Wrong Refrigerator” (which has just been translated into Chinese for Science Fiction World. Squeeeeeee!), “The Wizard of Woodrow Park” from Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, “The Ellsberg Variations” from Lost Signals of the Terran Republic, and “Yesterday, I Will”, my shortest published work from the anthology of the same name. Check out how many times I can stumble over my own words. You’d think I’d never seen them before. Well, not for several months anyway. LOL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173171899402965/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn6yQUcszuJFwMw1iLMnP-w

 Saturday, 2:30 PM

Alternate and Historical Fiction Track

Fact or Fiction AFHT Edition: AFHT’s historical fiction writers will refresh your memory on major historical events and goings on. Of course, not everyone can remember history as it truly happens. Is it fact? Is it fiction? Join our cast of unlucky souls who will determine which story is FACT and which is FICTION...
Panelists: Tony Ballard-Smoot, AJ Hartley, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Michael Martinez, Tamsin Silver, Jean Marie Ward
Moderators: Liz Carpenter, Alison Helfferich, Brett Gordon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DConAlternateHistoryTrack/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzbMmPbV4bRnRdJ2zCYkPEA/featured

 Sunday, Noon

Writers Track

Mentoring Sessions: Four opportunities for me to share all the craziness I’ve experienced over a quarter century reporting on, writing for and editing in this strange business we call publishing

Sign-up Sheet: https://form.jotform.com/202435857025050

Mentoring Schedule: https://www.notion.so/Dragon-Con-Writers-Track-Mentoring-Schedule-9c72a7a124234eee9c2913e833c6c9e8

Sunday, 2:30 PM

Alternate & Historical Fiction Track

Quarantine Reads: A laid-back face-to-face with some of our favorite panelists discussing recently released and forthcoming alternate history and historical fiction books for the next year. What should you be reading to prepare for 2021?
Panelists: L. Jagi Lamplighter, Tamsin Silver, Jean Marie Ward
Moderators: Liz Carpenter, Alison Helfferich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DConAlternateHistoryTrack/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzbMmPbV4bRnRdJ2zCYkPEA/featured

Sunday, 8 PM

Urban Fantasy Track—Live!

Gifts, Missing Mojo, and Murder: A Lucifer Fan Panel: A moderated fan-panel discussion over Season 5A of the hit show.

Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Susan Griffith, Lisa Harrison, Wendy Hembrock, Jean Marie Ward

Moderator: Carol Malcolm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DCUrbanFantasy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaz0h4NfjHCTTDka26gkVpA/

 

Can’t wait to see you there!

 

My Schedule for Dragon Con 2019

Where did the year go? Dragon Con is here. This week, and I’m not WORTHY—I mean READY!!! But my schedule is. Hope you’ll come and join the fun in Atlanta, August 29 – September 2. Looking forward to seeing you and your cosplay there!

Title: Killjoys: Reboot after the Loss
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: M302-M303 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: The Lady turned the world (or at least Westerly) upside down, & we'll see just how our intrepid band sort themselves out & figure out just how to wrap up this far-ranging battle from one dimension to the next.
Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Bethany Kesler (M), Jean Marie Ward, Neisha Mulchan, Kitty Chandler

Title: The Haunting of Shirley Jackson
Description: A discussion about the works of Shirley Jackson, whose fiction ran the gamut from examinations of domestic life to chilling tales of terror.
Time: Fri 05:30 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jonathan Maberry, Clay Gilbert, Cecilia Dominic, Amanda DeWees, Jean Marie Ward)

Title: Fighting in Space: Planning a Space Battle
Description: How do you plan a space battle? It's a whole lot more than just saying "a lot of missiles get sent to blow something up."
Time: Sat 07:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: David Weber, Jack Campbell, Jean Marie Ward, David Afsharirad, Michael Chatfield, Charles E. Gannon)

Title: Dragon Con Short Takes:
Description: Bite-sized readings from some of your favorite authors, featuring those you know and love—and those you haven’t discovered yet.
Time: Sat 08:30 pm Location: Kennesaw - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Gail Z. Martin, Clay Griffith, John G. Hartness, Jeanne P Adams, James Nettles, Trisha J. Wooldridge)

Title: Courtesans, Mistresses & Madams: History's Most Famous Working Women
Description: History has a lot of unsung heroes, specifically in this profession. Contrary to what you may have read, some of the most notorious and celebrated madams and ladies of ill repute have shaped and often guided our history. This survey panel showcases some you should know about.
Time: Sat 10:00 pm Location: Macon - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Cat Rambo, Gail Z. Martin, Cecilia Dominic, Jean Marie Ward)

Title: From Purgatory and Into the Light: A Wynonna Earp Fan Panel
Description: The Earp curse was broken, Peacemaker is now a sword, and almost everyone has disappeared from Purgatory. Oh, and the fandom spent 132 days with the show on the brink of never-coming-back. It's safe to say there will be lots to talk about in this moderated fan-panel discussion.
Time: Sun 11:30 am Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Jean Marie Ward, Lisa Manifold, Stuart Jaffe, John G. Hartness)

Title: Win, Lose, or Draw
Description: The traditional end-of-Con game show. Put your drawing & guessing talents to work for wonderful prizes.
Time: Mon 01:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

My Capclave Schedule, 2018 Edition

Oops! I meant to post this earlier this week, but my current writing project had other ideas. I’m just glad it released its grip before the con began.

Capclave did me proud this year: six panels, an autograph session and two readings. It all takes place Friday-Sunday, September 28-30 at the Rockville Hilton and Executive Meeting Center, Rockville, Maryland. I hope to see you there—and remember, the autographing session always has cake…

Friday

4 PM: Writing at Different Lengths
Panelists: Nancy Kress, Suzanne Palmer, Jean Marie Ward (M), Alyssa Wong
Writing at a short length vs. writing a novella or novel. What are the differences, if any, in how to approach the writing of a short story vs. the writing of a novel. (Eisenhower)

6 PM: Humorous SF
Panelists: Darrell Schweitzer, Alex Shvartsman, Jean Marie Ward (M)
It's easy to name the funny fantasy books, but what about the funny SF books and short stories? For instance, Unidentified Funny Objects is an entire anthology of funny SF. (Truman)

10 PM: Writing on the Job
Panelists: Marilyn "Mattie" Brahen, Barbara Krasnoff (M), Hildy Silverman, Jean Marie Ward
Is it better for a writer to have a non-writing job to save his/her writing energies for fiction or to use writing skills to make a nonfiction living on the idea that any writing improves fiction writing? And when should you quit your day job? Hear writers discuss the relationship between their day job and their writing. (Washington Theater)

Saturday

1 PM: What Makes Alternate History So Compelling?
Panelists: Tom Doyle (M), J. L. Gribble, Bjorn Hasseler, Alan Smale, Jean Marie Ward
Alternate histories continue to proliferate, though in accordance with Sturgeon's Law, most fail the plausibility test, the storytelling test, or both. Why do the what-ifs continue to fascinate us, and what makes a powerful story in this subgenre? (Truman)

3 PM: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Panelists: Jeanne Adams, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Carol Ann Douglas, Jennifer Povey, Jean Marie Ward (M), Joan Wendland
Broad Universe is an international organization with the primary goal of promoting science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. Members will be doing readings from their own works. (Jackson)

4 PM: Middles
Panelists: Wendy S. Delmater, Andrew Fox, Nancy Kress, Jack Skillingstead, David Walton, Jean Marie Ward (M)
So now that you've started your story, how do you put meat on its bones? How do you develop plot and character at short fiction and novel lengths? How many Aristotelian unites can and should you violate in your story? (Washington Theater)

6 PM: Use of Mythology in SFF
Panelists: Tom Doyle, Michelle D. Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward, Steven H. Wilson, A.C. Wise (M)
There are a lot of different mythologies out there, with both similarities and differences. How do we incorporate and adapt them when writing our stories? Norse, Greek and Roman myths are the most common ones used in genre stories but are not the only mythologies out there. What's acceptable to adapt and change, especially when using a mythology from a culture not one's own. E.g. dragons in Europe and dragons in various Asian countries have quite different motives and personalities ascribed to them. (Washington Theater)

7:30 PM: Mass Autographing and Awards Ceremony

(Eisenhower) Ends at 8:55 PM

Sunday

1 PM: Reading

(Lincoln) Ends at 1:25 PM

3 PM: Superheroine to Wise Woman: Creating Powerful Female Characters
Panelists: Cerece Rennie Murphy, Michelle D. Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward, A.C. Wise (M)
What goes into creating strong, compelling female characters in fantasy worlds? Speculative fiction authors discuss how to approach elements such as world-building, magic, special powers, and plot when crafting a multi-dimensional character, and how to avoid the pitfalls of the "Mary Sue." (Jackson)

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My Schedule for RavenCon 2018

It’s con season—and not a moment too soon. This year, it may be the only way to tell spring has sprung.

First up is one of my favorites, RavenCon. I hope you’ll join me and guests like Chuck Wendig, Mark Cline and Eric Wile in Williamsburg, Virginia, April 20-22. The programming, as you can see from my schedule, can’t be beat:

Friday

5 PM, Room 4

Reading

Panelists: Val Griswold-Ford and Jean Marie Ward

6 PM, Room 8

Worldbuilding: Crafting New Worlds--How to create worlds and universes that are unique and original.

Panelists: Michael Thompson (M), Jennifer R. Povey, Mark H. Wandry, Jean Marie Ward

8 PM, Room 8

How Women Challenge and Change Science Fiction and Fantasy--We'll go over the influence of both female characters and female authors on science fiction and fantasy.

Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (M), Andrea Judy, Kettle Macaulay, Misty Massey

Saturday

3-5 PM, Room 5

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading—Two hours of bite-sized readings from some of your favorite authors—with chocolate and door prizes.

Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (M), Samantha Bryant, Meriah Lysistrata Crawford, Paula S. Jordan, A.L. Kaplan, Emily Lavin Leverett, Gail Z. Martin, Jennifer R. Povey, Ken Schrader, Leona R. Wissoker

5 PM, Room 8

Making the Impossible Plausible--How can you make the impossible seem at least somewhat plausible in your writing?

Panelists: John G. Walker (M), Jim Beall, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Jean Marie Ward

6 PM, Room 8

Effective Writing of Historical Fiction--How to keep the historical part of your writing from flying into the fantastical.

Panelists: Sandra J. Baldari (M), L. Jagi Lamplighter, Cecilee Linke, Jean Marie Ward

7 PM, Room L

Falstaff Books Spotlight—The latest from the Misfit Toys of your favorite small press.

Panelists: John G. Hartness (M), Darin Kennedy, Misty Massey, Jean Marie Ward

9 PM, Room L

It’s a Con. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Our panelists know, and they’ve promised to tell all.

Panelists: MrShirt (M), Stacey Helton, Greg Smith, Jean Marie Ward

If you want to learn more, check out the RavenCon website and their onlineschedule. Or better yet, join us there. You won’t regret it.

Capclave, my hometown con specializing in short fiction, is coming up this weekend. Don’t miss your chance to see our award-winning guests of honor, Ken Liu and Neil Clarke, as well as hang with the some of the friendliest writers around. (Yeah, I’ll be there, too. But the rest of them are really nice. Honest.)

My schedule this year is particularly choice, encompassing a number of topics dear to my heart. I hope I’ll see you at the panels and readings. And as always, I come equipped with chocolate.

Friday

3 PM, Rockville/Potomac

Worldbuilding in Science Fiction vs. Fantasy

Are there distinctions in how worldbuilding is approached for a fantasy setting rather than a science fiction setting? Are there different approaches in how the result is presented to the reader? Are there challenges on one side of the fantasy/SF split that are less of an issue on the other? Panelists: Charles Gannon, Jean Marie Ward (m), Lawrence Watt-Evans, Allen Wold

7 PM, Rockville/Potomac

Write What You Don't Know

Fantasy authors rarely get irate email from dragons saying they got it wrong. How to write characters from places and times that you don’t know but members of your audience do, and why it’s important to get outside your comfort zone. Panelists: Scott H. Andrews, Joshua Palmatier, Michael Ventrella (m), Jean Marie Ward

Saturday

11 AM, Bethesda

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading

Broad Universe is an international organization with the primary goal of promoting science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. Members will be doing readings from their own works. Readers: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jeanne Adams, Vickie Hartman DiSanto, Karen Wester Newton (aka Carmen Webster Buxton), Jennifer Povey, Janine K. Spendlove, Denise Timpko, Jean Marie Ward (m)

1 PM, Bethesda

Reading (30 minutes)

4 PM, Salon A

Use of Mythology in Science Fiction and Fantasy

There are a lot of different mythologies out there, with both similarities and differences.  How do we incorporate and adapt them when writing our stories.  What's acceptable to adapt and change, especially when using a mythology from a culture not one's own. E.g. dragons in Europe and dragons in various Asian countries often have quite different motives and personalities ascribed to them. Panelists: Jack Campbell, Carolyn Ives Gilman, Scott Roberts, Michelle Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward (m)

Sunday

3 PM, Frederick

The Economics of Magic

How do you use magic in your fantasy work so that it doesn't become a get out of jail free option?  When your characters use magic what are the costs to the magic user or the fantasy world?  Should conservation of energy apply? Panelists: Scott H. Andrews, Jean Marie Ward (m), Lawrence Watt-Evans

My Balticon 2017 Schedule

Spring has sprung, and Memorial Day is less than a week away. You know what that means: Balticon! This year’s con will again be held at the Marriott Renaissance overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, May 26-29. I’ll be appearing on six program items, including two readings:

Saturday, May 27

Noon, Kent Meeting Room (Sixth Floor)

Writing Interesting and Effective Short Stories

Hildy Silverman (Moderator), Scott Edelman, Malka Older, Jean Marie Ward and Fran Wilde

3 PM, St. George Meeting Room (Sixth Floor)

Author Readings

Bjorn Hasseler, Jean Marie Ward, Ted Weber

6 PM, Kent Meeting Room (Sixth Floor)

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Readings

Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Roxanne Bland, Lauren Harris, A.L. Kaplan, Gail Z. Martin, Cara McKinnon, Christie Meierz, Jennifer R. Povey, Roberta Rogow, D.H. Timpko

7 PM, Pride of Baltimore Meeting Room (Sixth Floor)

Mythology as a Basis for Speculative Fiction

Kim Hargan (Moderator), Tom Doyle, Ada Palmer, David Silverman, Jean Marie Ward

Sunday, May 28

Noon, Pride of Baltimore Meeting Room (Sixth Floor)

Social Media Promotion Without Being Obnoxious

Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Melissa L. Hayden, Nathan Lowell, Hildy Silverman, Michael Ventrella

4 PM, Guilford Meeting Room (Fifth Floor)

Judging an Editor’s Work

Kay Baiman (Moderator), Jamaila Brinkley, Jennifer Levine, Jean Marie Ward, Joy Ward

Hope to see you there!

My Schedule for Balticon 49

Balticon has posted its 2015 program—and not a minute too soon. The con starts in three days! I can’t wait. There will be friends to see, toasts to raise, costumes to praise, and panels to enjoy. This year, I have three formal panels, and three readings, at least one of them involving more than my usual offering of chocolate.

Yes, I share chocolate at all my readings—and bring swag to all my panels. I trust that means I’ll see you there. ;-)

Friday

6 PM, Chesapeake Room
Readings: Keith R.A. DeCandido, Sunny Morraine and Jean Marie Ward

Saturday

8 PM, Salon B
The Scholar as Author: Not every great author is an academic, or vice versa, but it doesn't hurt. Our panelists discuss what scholarly experience brings to an author's tool kit, and what writing techniques can't be picked up in the academic setting and have to be learned the hard way. Karen Burnham (Moderator), Tom Doyle, Ada Palmer, John Skylar, Jean Marie Ward

9 PM, Frankie and Vinnie’s
Broad Universe Fabulous 15 Birthday Party: The Balticon Broads celebrate 15 years of Broad Universe with readings, goodies, giveaways and food! Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Day Al-Mohammed, Sarah Avery, Roxanne Bland, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly A. Harmon, Gail Z. Martin, Roberta Rogow, D.H. Timko, Jean Marie Ward and T.J. Wooldridge

10 PM, Salon B
Diversity in Popular Culture—Fad or the New Normal: Diversity and representation has been a hot topic in SF/F literature, gaming, and other parts of fandom and popular culture over the past few years. Is this a phase or a watershed moment in the broader pop culture landscape? What role can individual readers, writers, and fans play in this discussion? Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Day Al‐Mohamed, Stephanie Burke, William Galaini, Sunny Moraine

Sunday

12-2 PM, Concierge Lounge
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading: Bite-sized readings from your favorite Broad Universe authors. Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Day Al-Mohammed, Sarah Avery, Roxanne Bland, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly A. Harmon, Gail Z. Martin, Roberta Rogow, D.H. Timko, Jean Marie Ward and T.J. Wooldridge

Monday

11 AM, Salon B
Ancient Greece in SF and Fantasy: Greek history—rewritten or reimagined—is one of the more common sources for stories and novels in fantasy and science fiction. Our panelists discuss why it works so well and what still remains to be imagined. Tom Doyle (Moderator), Jack Campbell/John Hemry, Jo Walton, Jean Marie Ward