Current Schedule for Monster Tent (2)
MisCon 38
Friday Schedule for Monster Tent (2)
- What's in a Name? (Writing)
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Fri 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Brenda Carre, Katie Cross, Meradeth Houston, Frog Jones, Danica WintersWhat's in a name? Mustafar. K'n-yan. Galadriel. Harry. Drek. Aziraphale. Boba (like the tea or the Fett?). Ghoblin. What about Renesmee Cullen? Is that even a name? Let's discuss names and how they affect our worldbuilding, cultures, and the stories themselves.
- Mindfulness in the Dark Forest (Geek Discussion)
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Fri 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Mary Beth BarbaWhat is mindfulness? Come to this panel to learn about mindfulness and join in a few guided mindfulness meditations (if you want). You don't need to meditate, but it might help you better navigate the forest path.
- So You Want to Run a Photoshoot (Costuming)
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Fri 4:00 - 4:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Lynn Bailey, Zootown TeaSo you want to run a local cosplay/costume photoshoot but you don't know how?
Learn how to recruite photographers, scout locations, and get the word out! - Character Chemistry (Writing)
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Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Carol Berg, Manny Frishberg, Rhiannon Held, Nina Kiriki HoffmanChemistry, that indefinable quality in relationships between actors and also between characters--how do you create it in your own writing? What are some good examples of it? Can stories succeed without it?
- The Truth About “Write What You Know” (Writing)
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Fri 6:00 - 6:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Manny Frishberg, GS Jennsen, Esther JonesMany believe that you should only write what you have actually experienced. It’s likely that fantasy authors have never encountered dragons or escaped through magical portals, and most of us haven't gone into space. Let’s talk about what “write what you know” really means.
Saturday Schedule for Monster Tent (2)
- Character Motivation (Writing, Geek Discussion)
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Sat 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Pros and Guests: James Glass, Michael Hodges, Joseph Malik, Krista WallaceLet's discuss how to show why characters do what they do without giving big info dumps or lecturing.
- Costume and Cosplay Measurements (Costuming)
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Sat 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Pros and Guests: Elizabeth ShawBust, waist, hips, oh my! Everything with costumes starts with knowing your measurements and in this panel we’ll walk you through how to take them properly. You’ll get to walk away with a handy dandy sheet with the most important ones written down so you can start your shopping, commissioning, and sewing adventures!!
- Urban Fantasy Panel (Geek Discussion)
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Sat Noon - 12:50 PM
Pros and Guests: M. H. BonhamDetails to come.
- Costume Contest 101 (Costuming)
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Sat 1:00 - 1:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Cosplaimee , Lynn Bailey, Chris Blazer, Desirée Greystone, Katie WahlerCosplayers of all skill levels are encouraged to attend this informational panel about MisCon's Costume Contest. We'll review how to enter the contest, what to expect during judging, and how to present your costume to the adoring public. We'll then cover some basic advice for all cosplayers to help make the contest and presentation easy and fun.
- Launching an Indie Career: Year 2 (Writing)
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Sat 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Katie Cross, Ann Gimpel, GS Jennsen, Frog JonesAll I need is a book, right? Not exactly. The better you plan ahead of time, the more likely you are to succeed. Establishing visibility in a veritable sea of competition is a challenge. Nothing guarantees success, but you can definitely tweak your odds. This panel will provide strategies to rise above the crowd.
- Dark Forests in Children’s Literature (Geek Discussion)
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Sat 5:00 - 5:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Scott Guyant, Valerie GuyantLet's explore the dark forest in children's literature and TV. Is it portrayed differently across media or used in ways that are possibly unique to children's and YA literature?
- Leatherwork and Realistic Costuming (Costuming)
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Sat 6:00 - 6:50 PM
Pros and Guests: John Barba, Tyler Dwernychuk, Raye Squires, Katie WahlerExplore how to get started in crafting your own leather armor, and building a functional/realistic kit.
Sunday Schedule for Monster Tent (2)
- Don’t Kill The Dog! (Writing)
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Sun 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Pros and Guests: Carol Berg, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, JM LandelsAnimals have been used and misused by writers for centuries: as ways to progress the plot, induce pathos, get a character from point A to point B, and as characters in their own right. Panelists will give examples of stories in which the use of animals either works or doesn't work, and will discuss how to avoid making your readers throw a book across the room in fury.
- Improve Challenge! (Geek Discussion)
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Sun 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Pros and Guests: Luke Hutson, Tess Langston, David YakeIt's time to think quick on your feet, because here there be improve games! Play along with your fellow nerds as we perform through silly situations with suggestions from the crowd!
- Relating to Characters (Writing)
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Sun Noon - 12:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Brenda Carre, Katie Cross, James Glass, Krista Wallace"I don't relate to this character" is often given as an excuse to stop reading a story. But what does it mean? Does it mean we have to have had shared experiences? Honestly, do we need to "relate" to every character? What does it take to make a character "believable?" Is any of this the same as "writing what you know?"
- Short Story Craft (Writing)
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Sun 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Brenda Carre, Julie Frost, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Dean WellsLet's discuss short stories. There's a misconception that short fiction is easier to write than longer fiction, but fewer words actually matter more. Let's take a look at how to write (and publish!) short fiction.
- You’re Doing Better Than You Think (Writing, Gaming)
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Sun 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Tod McCoy, Nikki Rossignol McCoy, G.R. TheronThere’s no shortage of discouragement, external and internal, along the way. This class is the opposite. Join us as we discuss the process of mastering a creative discipline as we dive into an understanding of the Dunning Kruger effect, how it relates to traditional tradecraft tiers, and how doing so helps us overcome the ‘pit of despair.'
- Indie Publishing: Why and How? (Geek Discussion)
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Sun 4:00 - 4:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Katie Cross, Ann Gimpel, Theresa Miller, Krista WallaceWhat are the differences between indie and traditional publishing? Why did I (and so many others) choose the indie route? What are some common misconceptions? And is there room for all of us? (hint: the answer is Yes).
- Creature Mayhem (Writing)
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Sun 6:00 - 6:50 PM
Pros and Guests: Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Tess LangstonWhat makes a good creature design? Where do our most iconic monsters come from? What do we fill these dark forests with and why?
Monday Schedule for Monster Tent (2)
- The Blended Subgenre (Writing)
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Mon Noon - 12:50 PM
Pros and Guests: David Boop, Eva Elasigue, Deby Fredericks, Rhiannon Held, Dave SmedsFantasy Sci-Fi - SF&F as BFFs. Some stories have both! Why and how? What's great, what's new, and what's here.