Last weekend I was in Calgary for When Words Collide!
Panels, pictures, pandamonium, and more!
Survival Skills in Dystopian Fiction
- Fellow Panelists: Susan Forest, Sandy Fitzpatrick, Gary Renshaw, and moderator Valerie L. King
- Don’s thoughts: This one was interesting, as some folks defined dystopia as a survival situation rather than a bleak outlook of the future. For example, movies like Castaway or Alive were considered dystopias. As a result, much of the discussion was strictly about finding food, water, and shelter. I focused more on things like 1984, Hunger Games, Fallout, and so forth. There’s some overlap between the two concepts, but it’s a good lesson in ensuring the panelists and moderators are on the same page prior to starting.
- Nevertheless, it was a great experience. The other panelists may have more experience in emergency situations (being junior guides and army folks), but I can talk about collapsing societies all day long. Heck, won’t be long until we’re all experts in this!
- While at the Con, the question was raised about whether Pale Grey Dot is dystopian. I always assumed ‘yes’, and it was certainly my intent, but admittedly throughout the rewrites, the government became slightly less evil and a little more bloated. No doubt this is because I watched The Wire part way through. It’s a dystopia where people still care.
Cinematic Storytelling: Does Hollywood Flair Work in Speculative Fiction?
- Fellow Panelists: Rick Overwater, James Downe, Michael Peterson, and moderator Chris Corvan.
- Don’s thoughts: Great bunch of guys. Long time followers of the pale and grey already know local werewolf James Downe, but everyone got along famously. Good, casual discussion about what movies and videogames can do that books cannot, and vice versa. We noted that visual media can hook folks based purely on how impressive the production values are. Whether it’s special effects or amazing stunts, admiration for the performance itself. Tom Cruise really is hanging from an airplane! Some stunt guy really is throwing guys through a hallway while wearing a Daredevil outfit. It’s like watching the athleticism of a tennis match versus reading about a tennis match.
- But of course, books will always be kings of internal thoughts, emotion, and motivation. Also, we have an unlimited budget 🙂
- Our moderator did a great job, Chris Corvan, crushed it. He was on top of it from the start, sending us details on how the panel would be run months ago. I’ve got to check out his podcast.
Hard Science Fiction Shouldn’t Be Hard
- Fellow Panelists: Robert J. Sawyer, Calvin Jim, and moderator Sarah Johnson.
- Don’s thoughts: Not gonna lie–sitting next to Sawyer, I felt like Rocky Balboa going up against Apollo Creed. The man knows science fiction, and he knows how to present. I’m not sure if that’s natural, or if it’s just practice from being on a bazillion panels in the past. Either way, he brought the energy and the expertise.
- Not to say Calvin and I didn’t hold our own. It was a great conversation on the benefits of hard sci-fi, how to do your research, whether hard sci-fi can be limiting, and how scientists are more than happy to talk about the work. None of us on the panel are scientists, but we’re willing to put in the research.
- Sarah Johnson is the AWCS President and WWC Chair, and so naturally she crushed it. Despite taking place on Sunday (folks are running on fumes on the last day), but she inspired us to make it one of the best panels.
Other Thoughts
- Peter G. Reynolds and James Downe, are fantastic travelling companions.
- James moderated a panel on writing characters from other demographics with care. As usual, his easy-going, laid-back, and wise demeanor made it a fantastic discussion.
- Peter, the man of many skills, ran a workshop called Improv Your Writing. He had around 30 of us giggling to each other while practicing improv exercises or writing samples.
- I ran into my editor, Adria Laycraft! She was the expert who helped me trim Pale Grey Dot down from 109k to a slim 103k. If you need an expert editor, you should hire this woman! And read her Jumpship Saga series!
- I also got to meet R. Graeme Cameron, the legend of Polar Borealis. I told him how so many of the Toronto Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers got their start with Polar Borealis. This is the guy who won so many Aurora awards that he had to politely ask people to stop giving them to him.
- Although I failed to take a picture, I got to meet Cliff Samuels from the Aurora awards. He had some very nice things to say about Pale Grey Dot 🙂
