Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Dean Wells

MisCon 40 Attending Professional

Dean Wells is an author, educator, and workshop leader. His published work has appeared in Queer Sci Fi, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, 10Flash Quarterly, and other fine venues of speculative fiction, including the anthologies Ink, Ceaseless Steam, and The Best of BCS. He has also written for the performing arts in various media, and is an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Dean and his wife live in the Pacific Northwest with a cat, rabbits, mountain beavers, and a socially indifferent family of raccoons.

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, M. H. Bonham (Maggie), Jessica Brawner, C.E. Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, Ann Marie Scott (AM), Steven L Sears, Candi Lyn Siemens, D.L. Solum, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  Join us for an informal meet & greet/hangout with a bunch of MisCon's writers and editors. This isn't a formal panel with panelists up on the stage discussing a topic. Instead, everyone will grab chairs in the pavilion, and the moderator will get things going. Then we'll open things up so small group hangouts can happen until the end of the hour. This is your chance to informally meet a bunch of the people you'll see on panels all weekend.

• Fri 2:00 - 2:50 PM, What is Your Why?, Great Hall 2
  Panelists: Dean Wells

  The reason creatives do what they do provides a valuable insight not only into themselves, but also the underlying strength of their work. Panelists will discuss their ’why’ and how you can tap into this for your own development.

• Fri 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Worldbuilding: Designing Belief Systems, Monster Tent
  Moderator: Sanan Kolva; Panelists: Sanan Kolva, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Dean Wells

  Part of what defines a culture is its system of shared beliefs--not only religious, but also secular. Designing and understanding the belief systems of your characters adds depth to the world in which they live, so let's discuss how to do so.

• Break Fri 3:50 - Sat 3:00
• Sat 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Dash of Dread, Dragon Pavilion
  Panelists: Bruce Brenneise, Katie Cross, Dean Wells

  Horror isn’t limited to the horror shelf. Join our panelists as they discuss fantasy, sci fi, and other genres that blend eerie elements, and offer ideas for infusing your own writing with a touch of creepy.

• Sat 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Queer/Trans Representation for Writers , Great Hall 2
  Panelists: Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Dean Wells

  What counts as ’good’ representation when crafting a story? speculative fiction? What does ’queernorm’ mean? And what’s up with pronouns? Join our panelists as they discuss and share representation in their own work, starting at the basics.

• Break Sat 4:50 - Sun 10:00
• Sun 10:00 - 10:50 AM, I’ve Started a Novel but Now My World is Broken, Great Hall 1
  Panelists: Manny Frishberg, Tod McCoy, Gwendolyn Nix, Dean Wells

  Ever start a novel then realize your world makes no sense? In this panel, pros will discuss how to create believable worlds and the questions to ask yourself before you start writing.

• Break Sun 10:50 - Sun Noon
• Sun Noon - 12:50 PM, Romantasy, Field of Wonder
  Moderator: Danica Winters; Panelists: Esther Jones, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters

  What exactly is ’romantasy’ and why is it different than simply having romance in a story? Our panelists will explore definitions and differences, why romantasy has found resonance with readers, and where to get started with your own.

• Break Sun 12:50 - Sun 2:00
• Sun 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Writing Stories without Heroes and Villains, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Manny Frishberg; Panelists: Manny Frishberg, Dean Wells

  "Nobody is the villain in her own movie" (except some sociopaths). But more often than not we are kind and decent sometimes, thoughtless or cruel at others. And, sometimes, even good people are left with nothing but bad choices.
  Can you write satisfying adventure stories without twirling mustaches and capes flapping in the breeze?