This is part of a set of posts summarizing my GenCon 2021 experience:
- Overview of Gen Con 2021
- Gaming Hall & Painting
- in lieu of the Writer's Symposium <-- You are Here
- Dead Man's Cribbage Unboxing
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In lieu of the Writer's Symposium:
Just a few years into volunteering with the Writer's Convention, I was sad when it got canceled in 2020 (with the entirety of GenCon, and again this round). Covid didn't help at all. Additionally, some key planners, volunteers were also struck with life changes (even two tragic deaths largely unrelated to the virus). In short, the future of the Symposium is in peril/disarray. As per Melanie Meador's suggestion, I've reached out to GenCon's event coordinator about assisting in reviving it, but have not heard back. I'll be trying to stay in touch with others to get something going in 2022. For now, I found other ways to connect with the author/publishing crowd.
Chicago? My own personal panel with two S&S role models
Okay, without any Writer's Symposium volunteering to do Wed. night I arranged a visit with Joe Bonadonna and David C. Smith. They live in Chicago, and I figured I could handle a ~7hr round trip (3.5hrs each way) drive to see them during the time slot I planned to network in Indianapolis. We had a four-hour discussion over lunch at Moretti's Ristorante.
Joe has had my back ever since 2015 when he reviewed Lords of Dyscrasia for Black Gate. Since then, he and I have shared several TOCs for Perseid Press's Heroes in Hell and Heroika anthologies. Great guy, His Dorgo the Dowser books are fun to read, in part since Dorgo feels like a natural extension of him.
Meeting David C. Smith in person was awesome too. Of course, he and Joe have partnered to write several short stories and the Waters of Darkness novel. I got to know David via reviewing his Oron books (including this tour guide on Black Gate). Managed to update his wikipedia page too as I worked with him to iron out the reading order (check out his photo!).
These two both have muses rooted in cinema. I soaked up their conversation as best I could. Was honored to share signing books with them.
Back in Indy: Author's Avenue
I met Chris A. Jackson during my first time to GenCon. He's writing a bunch of Pathfinder material now, and ~3 other series. I liked his
Weapon of Flesh previously, so I picked up Zellohar and Nekdukarr, which are Sword & Sorcery novels co-written with his wife Anne L. McMillen-Jackson.
Film Scripting Panel Video Film Festival
I infiltrated the Film Festival to learn how they approach writing. Apart from using Final Draft software, their process for creating a story differs in many ways from a novel. Namely, the story creation is often a team effort, so the interplay between writers, actors, and the directors is interesting.
Game ID: FLM21197368 Gen Con Film Festival
Description: Making a movie? First you'll need a script! Learn from our experienced scriptwriters!
Start Date & Time: / Friday, 12:00 PM EDT; Location: / Westin : Council
Indie Design & Publishing Roundtable
Game ID: SEM21195822. Satine Phoenix, former community manager of Dungeons & Dragons & Jamison Stone, Creative Director and CEO of Apotheosis Studios, have gathered some of the great minds of indie gaming for a live roundtable discussion on game design & publishing.
Start Date & Time: Friday, 1:00 PM EDT / End Date & Time: Friday, 2:00 PM EDT / Location: Westin : Grand IV
L-->R : Sam at Indiegate, EmiIy Setigue, Jamison Stone (Creative Director and CEO of Apotheosis Studios,), Satine Phoenix (former community manager of Dungeons & Dragons)
Artists
Lots of great artists were present. I got a print and spent some time speaking to Echo Chernik
https://www.echo-x.com/index.aspx. Her art nouveau style may be a good fit for depicting Dr. Grave's daughters (whom I am writing about now).
Unsheathed
I recognized Unsheathed in Jay Erikson's booth (I'm a big Charles Gramlich fan who has a contribution in this Sword & Sorcery book). Had a great conversation about gamifying novels into 5e or Pathfinder modules, and learned about the July 8-10 2020 Imaginarium symposium (entertheimaginarium.com).
