Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, begins four weeks from Wednesday, and if you’ll be there, too, and would like to track me down, here’s a tentative list of programming items on which you’ll be able to find me.

As the schedule isn’t 100% finalized yet, I’ve left off the names of the possible co-conspirators who’ll be joining me at each event. But if you’re hoping to see me in Spokane, pencil these in and check back later for the full details.

To Include or Not to Include … Evaluating Writing Critiques
Wednesday 19:00 – 19:45, Bays 111B (CC)
When you’ve had a manuscript critiqued, you’ve gotten feedback … likely tons of it. But how do you sort out the good advice? What do you do with conflicting advice? New and mid-level writers can be led astray by critiques as easily as helped by them. This panel will discuss how to choose the advice that benefits your writing while still keeping it your story.

Kaffee Klatche
Thursday 11:00 – 11:45, 202B-KK3 (CC)
Join a panelist and up to 9 other fans for a small discussion. Coffee and snacks available for sale on the 2nd floor.

Writers Workshop section 12
Thursday 16:00 – 19:00, 201B (CC)
Fifty-plus entrants submitted speculative fiction manuscripts in advance to be constructively criticized by industry professionals. In this section, a few of these entrants go on the hot seat to hear what the pros have to say. All workshop sections are closed to non-participants.

Match Game
Thursday 20:00 – 22:00, 300B (CC)
Get ready to match the fannish stars! In this SF/F-themed game show based on the popular 1970s game show, audience members will be randomly selected as contestants to match wits with our panel. The object of the game is to guess how the panel answers fill-in-the-blank questions like “Captain Kirk has the biggest ___ in Starfleet.” Winners receive prizes such as gift certificates from Worldcon dealers, book packages, or convention memberships. All contestants receive Lovely Parting Gifts™.

Stroll with the Stars
Friday 09:00 – 09:45, Breezeway/Statue (CC)
A gentle morning stroll with some of your favorite authors, artists and editors. Meeting each morning at 9AM in the Breezeway between the INB Theater and the Convention Center (check your map), and returning in time for 10AM programming.

The Future of Food
Friday 12:00 – 12:45, Conference Theater 110 (CC)
Science fiction rarely discusses what people will eat in the future. Denny Zager and Rick Evans’ 1969 hit song, “In the Year 2525,” predicted “Everything you think, do and say is in the pill you took today.” Will the future really replace barbecue and burgers with capsules and protein drinks? How far can nutriceuticals go? Will we print our food in 3-D or carve it from Chicken Little? How are cuisines and tastes evolving? What drives food trends?

Autographing
Friday 16:00 – 16:45, Exhibit Hall B (CC)

Beyond Superheroes: SF and Fantasy Comics
Saturday 10:00 – 10:45, Bays 111B (CC)
Comics are more than superheroes. There have been and are many SF and fantasy comics, ranging from Sandman to Astro City, from Adam Strange to Fables. What SF and fantasy comics should all fans — even those who aren’t comics fans — know?

Reading
Saturday 16:30 – 17:00, 303B (CC)

Oh, the Horror! Scaring Teens
Sunday 10:00 – 10:45, 300D (CC)
Teens flock to slasher flicks, but what about slasher lit? Horror isn’t just violence and gore. Achieving true horror is an art, but what does it take to hit that scary sweet spot? And how close to the line can you get when writing for teens without stepping over into adult fiction? Young readers love to be scared just like adults, but why? Join our horror specialists in delving into the literary depths where even angels fear to tread. You might even find out where the boogie man hangs out when he isn’t hiding under your bed.

Hope to see you there!