Lessons and thoughts from MileHiCon

This is a brief rundown of some of the bigger thoughts and exercises I came away from the MileHiCon workshops with. These are things I want to try and apply to my writing, either in revision or future projects to see if perhaps I can break through to some higher quality prose, plotting and characters.

1. In a novel, don't treat the entire manuscript is one big story. Write in scenes (not necessarily chapters, because some chapters can have several different scenes from beginning to end). Each scene is like a separate story in itself with it's own pacing, intro hook, rise of tension, and hooking end. Each scene also has a specific purpose, and if you have a scene without a purpose in your story, it either needs to be removed, or to be revised so it does have one.

--Thanks to Nancy Kress for this advice.

2. In short stories, you want to try and have two story elements going on at the same time that eventually come together to solve each other. These elements can be a mix of internal or external conflicts/themes/plots. This gives the short story more depth and a more satisfying ending.

-- If I remember right, I believe this also came from Nancy Kress.

3. The pyramid of distraction. This concerns the number of details you put into a scene. How many details are necessary, and how many can you add before they distract from the story? Picture a pyramid. The capstone of the pyramid represents the goal you are trying to reach through a particular scene. However, this can only be achieved if a foundation (bottom of the pyramid) of concrete details supports the scene. What are the best, most necessary details you can employ in order to best support the rest? Too many details, or the wrong ones, and you'll distract from the main reason you're writing the scene in the first place. Too few, and the scene becomes too abstract for the reader to really connect with it in the first place.

-- This was Brandon Sanderson's contribution, as taken from one of his writing classes he teaches at BYU.

4. This last one is also a Sanderson observation. Not so much a technique, but something to keep in mind. He stated that of all his peers who have continued to grow in their success as professional writers, he has noted a common denominator among most of them. The ones who do consistently well in getting published and improving their craft are not necessarily the people who write the fastest, or have the most complex worlds, or who write perfect first drafts. Instead, the ones who are the best at revising their work are the ones who tend to lead the pack.

I recognize I might not have explained all this half as well as the folks did running the workshops. I have tried to boil them down to their most basic concepts, and you have to take into account that these were all explained amidst jokes, anecdotes, audience questions and the like. Maybe for my next convention I can just take an audio recorder and post the results on here, instead of trying to decipher all my chicken-scrawl notes.

What about you? Come across any new advice or techniques you've been practicing (or meaning to)?

Post-convention, and The Gathering Storm review

MileHiCon was a blast. Starting Friday night, the whole weekend was a great mix of business and fun. By business, of course, I mean hanging out in the hotel bar with numerous other writers into the wee hours, talking about their most recent books, short stories sold, and lots of insider info on what it's like to actually be a Published Author, with all the glamorous mansions, wheelbarrows of money, and...man. Can't even type that with a straight face.

Among the many authors I met (and this is hardly a complete list) were Dani and Eytan Kollins, David Boop, and Paolo Bacigalupi.

Dani and Eytan have the distinction of being the only sibling writing team in science fiction as of now. Their book, The Unincorporated Man, has been nominated for a Prometheus Award. It is in my to-read stack and you should see a review for it coming up soon. They are a great pair of guys with some wicked humor and very strong opinions. I also chatted with James Van Pelt, Nancy Kress, Barbara Hambly, Brandon Sanderson, and John Picacio.

On a side note about John Picacio, while viewing his artwork I realized that his stuff is everywhere! I've seen dozens of his pieces and never even realized it. Amazing stuff. He also confirmed that he's been contracted by George RR Martin to illustrate a 2011 calendar for A Song of Ice and Fire. Can't wait to see that.

The panels I attended were great as well. They ranged from topics about futuristic crime and moral relativity to Connie Willis' appeal to "not be a jerk" when trying to be a professional writer. The Writing Craft panel also left me with a number of new tricks to try out when revising my stories.

Mix all this together with people in costumes, book signings, an art gallery and dealer's room, medieval duels, and Celtic bards, and it was quite the weekend.

Also, my review of The Gathering Storm is up on my Examiner.com page, so take a look. And don't forget that Brandon Sanderson will be back in town this Sunday, Nov. 1st, for his Denver book signing at the 16th St. Tattered Cover. See you there!

MileHiCon

This weekend is a full one for me. MileHiCon is one of the bigger (if not biggest) science fiction and fantasy literary conventions in Colorado. I'm going with several aims in mind.

1. To network. I really hope to bump into an editor or two who I might get the chance to talk to. If any editors/agents are reading this, never fear. I'm not going to be sliding manuscripts under your bathroom stall. Though I'd be happy to buy you a drink.

2. Spread the word about Brandon Sanderson's upcoming book signing on Nov. 1st in Denver, for The Gathering Storm. It's nice that he's the Toastmaster for MileHiCon as well. Being on the Denver Storm Leader teams has been a lot of fun so far, and we're hoping for a huge turnout that Sunday.

3. Meet authors and enjoy the fan culture. One thing I've enjoyed about conferences and conventions in the past are the range of folks you meet, and the great amount of fun you can have visiting various workshops and panels. Plus there's the Masquerade, robot brawls, and larping. It is exhausting, sure, but also rejuvenating in its own way.

Anyone else going to be there? It's always fun to turn an internet contact into a face to say hello to.

Where do writers get their ideas?

That seems to be a common question, especially for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Well, taking a look at a recent article, like, say, this one, might be a clue. I do find it hilarious that the scientists proposing the theory fully admit it sounds crazy.

Who'll bet we see the collider or some alternate version of it in a sci-fi novel within a year (if it hasn't been done already)?

Where would you take this idea?

Storm Leader!

Here's some fun news. Many of you probably already know who Brandon Sanderson is, being not only the acclaimed author of the Mistborn fantasy series, but also having been chosen to complete the late Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. The next book in the series is The Gathering Storm, to be released Oct. 27th.

Well, Sanderson and Tor are, of course, running a huge book tour to promote this launch, and have been taking applications for people to become "Storm Leaders" for various city signings. Storm Leaders will help run the signing, as well as get a chance to meet and hang out for a bit with Brandon and Harriett (Jordan's wife and book editor). One of these signings is for the Tattered Cover in downtown Denver (on Sunday, Nov. 1st), so of course I sent in an application. I'm excited to say I got picked as one of six Storm Leaders for the Denver event.

More details as I get them. Of course there'll be a big writeup of the event for anyone unable to attend, but if you are in the area (or want to travel) you are obviously encouraged to be there. I'll also be putting up a book review on my Examiner.com page, so keep an eye out.

Let the fun (and work) begin!

Back! And with a new interview

Hey all. Back from New Zealand, where the countryside was lush and green no matter where you looked. The weather was a little bumpy for our taste (bit of wind and rain) but overall the trip was a ton of fun. The wife was seriously considering trying to smuggle a baby lamb back into the country. I know. We have lambs here too, but it's also fun to try and smuggle things, especially when they are so small and woolly.

Anyways, slowly settling back into the loop of work, writing and otherwise. There's a new author interview with David B. Coe up on my Examiner page, so check it out!

Also, I'm planning on attending the MileHiCon the weekend of Oct. 23rd, 24th, and 25th. This is one of Denver's biggest Spec-fic conventions, and looks to be pretty awesome. Anyone else going to be there? It'd be fun to say hello and perhaps meet some folks face to face.