The 78th World Science Fiction Convention is nearly here, and for the first time, when I say “here,” I mean everywhere, rather than just the chosen host city. Because due to the pandemic, the meatspace Worldcon in Wellington, New Zealand has gone virtual this year, which means you can attend from wherever you happen to be.

I’d hoped to be flying off to New Zealand right about now, where in addition to attending the con, I’d also record a few episodes of my Eating the Fantastic podcast. Though I can’t do the latter in the flesh, I’ve begun having long-distance meals with those I would have dined with in Wellington, such as Lee Murray. And as for the con itself, I’ll be participating in three panels and a reading, all via Zoom.

Would you like to catch my pontificating? If so, here’s my schedule, translated (correctly, I hope) to U.S. East Coast time —

Modern Short SF and Fantasy
July 29, Wednesday 9:00 p.m., Programme Room 1
More good SF short fiction is being published now than ever before, but does it have the same impact on the field? Is there a core set that everyone is reading, or do different audiences read different subsets? What are the best places to publish, and to find, the best short SF and fantasy?
with Charles Payseur, Daryl Gregory, Sheila Williams, and Neil Clarke

Reading
July 30, 2020, Thursday, 8:30 p.m., Reading Room 2

Fandom in the 1970s
July 31, Friday, 11:00 p.m., Programme Room 5
Fandom exploded in the 1970s. It became larger and more diverse, adding multiple conventions every weekend. Fanzines and APAs also exploded. Science fiction itself exploded in mass media with movies like Star Wars and Superman. What was fandom like in the wacky ’70s, and how has it changed over the decades since?
with Raewyn Nevin, Mark Loney, Gay Haldeman, and Parris McBride-Martin

Comics and Manga in the 21st Century
August 1, Saturday, 8:00 p.m., Programme Room 3
The fields of comics and manga continue to change and evolve, both in content and in the way they are marketed and sold. How has the field changed in the last 20 years? What are the best recent comics and manga? And how will Covid-19 impact the field?
with R.W.W. Greene, Ada Palmer, Jason Franks, and Queenie Chan

Hope to see you there!

Due to COVID-19, there’ll be no meatspace Balticon this year, but the wizards behind that con have been working hard to make sure we’ll all still be able to enjoy each other’s company virtually.

I’m sorry I won’t be able to feed you jelly beans this year — because I’ve always believed a fed audience is a happy audience — but if you’d like to experience me virtually, here’s when you can have me popping up on your screen —

Writing While Life Rolls Over You
Sunday, May 24, 10:00 a.m.
How do you survive unexpected life events while trying to juggle both a day job and a writing career? How do you stay organized and get back to a project when everything is trying to tear you away? Lets share the tricks we use to keep ourselves going.
with Michael Ventrella, Doc Coleman, Hildy Silverman, and Javon Goard

Reading
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 p.m.
I will read from my recently published short story “Answered Prayers,” which appeared in the latest issue of DreamForge magazine.
with Ted Weber

There is No Finish Line: Momentum for Writers
Sunday, May 24, 3:00 p.m.
Experienced writers who have been on the roller coaster for a while know the big secret: you never really “make it.” Just because you’ve sold one book doesn’t mean you’ll sell the next one, and just because you didn’t sell the last one doesn’t mean the next one won’t hit big. Our panel offers tips and strategies for maintaining the will to keep creating.
with Joshua Bilmes, D.H. Aire, Keith R.A. DeCandido, and L. Marie Wood

I hope you’ll drop on by!

You can find the full schedule here.

Readercon starts five weeks from tomorrow, and those who know me already know I’ll be there. I’ve attended every year since the con began in 1987, except for one notable exception.

The full schedule has now been released, so here’s the official programming on which you’ll be able to find me July 11-14 —

Saturday, July 13, 2:30 p.m., Salon C
Reading
I’ll be reading from “Opossums and Angels,” which was published in my recent collection Tell Me Like You Done Before (and Other Stories Written on the Shoulders of Giants). It’s an homage to both “The Screwfly Solution” and “The Women Men Don’t See,” my two favorite James Tiptree, Jr. stories, though I don’t think familiarity with either is necessary to enjoy mine.

Saturday, July 13, 3:00 p.m., Concierge Lounge
Kaffeeklatsch
with Ellen Datlow

Sunday, July 14, 1:00 p.m., Salon 4
From Seed to Story: How to Escape the Slush Pile
As Ann Leckie explained in a 2013 blog post, even great writers will have stories rejected if they write 7,000 words around an underdeveloped idea. So what kind of research should go into a short story? How much plot and exposition are called for? What questions should the writer be asking and answering before they even start writing? Panelists will explore various methods by which a story seed can be nurtured into something publishable.
with Martin Cahill, James Patrick Kelly, Benjamin C. Kinney, and Kenneth Schneyer

Of course, that’s not the only place you’ll be able to find me — should you happen to spot me in the bar or wandering the dealers room, don’t hesitate to say hi!

I hope to see you there.

This May is going to be one of my busiest convention months ever, because three cons which usually occur in different months will instead take place this year on three consecutive weekends. First will come Stokercon in Grand Rapids (and I’ve already told you what I’ll be doing there), then the Nebula awards weekend in Los Angeles, and finally, Balticon 53 over the Memorial Day weekend.

The final Balticon schedule has just been posted, so if you’re in the mood to track me down and listen to my ramblings, here’s where you’ll be able to find me—

Recommend Me a Podcast
Friday, May 24, 5:00 p.m.
Whether you love podcasts about scifi and fantasy, gaming, history, comedy, or just want to know where to start when there’s so many out there, we’ve got you covered.
with Scott Roche, John Walker, and Ken Schrader

Sequential Art: From the Comics Page to the Big Screen
Friday, May 24, 8:00 p.m.
The comic was perfect, so why isn’t the movie an exact recreation? A discussion on how comics can and can’t be translated to the big screen.
with Dame Dahlia Cosplay, Charles Brown, and Alex Wittenberg

Captain Marvel and the Retconning of the MCU
Saturday, May 25, 2:00 p.m.
The story of Captain Marvel is set a decade before other films in the main MCU sequence, adding to and sometimes changing backstory of characters, organizations, and setting elements we thought we already knew. Did they get it right or wrong? What might have been done differently? Is there a chance that future MCU movies will also be set in the past?
with John Edward Lawson (moderator), Dame Dahlia Cosplay, Jack Clemons, and Keith R.A. DeCandido

How to Self-Edit That Lousy First Draft
Saturday, May 25, 8:00 p.m.
Panelists will discuss techniques four editing when you don’t have outside reader too help.
Joshua Bilmes (moderator), Jay Smith, Karen Osborne, Ian Randal Strock, and JL Gribble

Reading
Sunday, May 26, 9:00 p.m.
Not sure what I’ll be reading. I might make the audience choose!
with Michael M. Jones

If you attending the con, I look forward to seeing you there!

Thanksgiving weekend is sneaking up on us, which means it’s way past time for me to let you know where to find me during Chessiecon.

Here’s what I’ll be pontificating about during my two days there —

How Not to Get Published
Friday, November 23, 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
A discussion of the mistakes and pitfalls common in SF/F publishing, and how to avoid them.
with Linda Adams, Steve Kozeniewski, Karen Osborne, and Steven R. Southard

Good Art, Problematic Artist
Saturday, November 24, 1:45 PM-2:45 p.m.
How are readers’ reactions to a story or other work of art affected by the actions and views of the creator? Can and should art be judged independently from the people and cultures that produced it?
with Margaret Carter, Beth Chandler, Don Sakers, and Steven R. Southard

If you’re also be at Chessiecon, please be sure to say hi!

I’ve been so busy getting ready to head off tomorrow to the World Fantasy Convention in Baltimore — where I’m one of the Guests of Honor — that I haven’t told you where you’ll be able to find me if you happen to be heading there, too.

Time to remedy that!

Thursday, 8:00 p.m. (WaterTable BC) 
Opening Ceremonies

Thursday, 9:00 p.m. (WaterTable BC) 
A Taxonomy of Villains
Not all villains are created equally, nor should they be. Lucifer, Sauron, Loki, the Joker, Smaug, and Grendel each have different power levels, wants, and needs. How do authors chose to make their villains equal to the needs of the story?
with Esther Friesner, Elektra Hammond, and Emily Leverett

Friday, 1:00 p.m. (WaterTable BC)
You Got Your Fantasy in My SF! You Got Your Horror in My Fantasy!
Genre lines are frequently blurred and there isn’t really a rule book. What makes a science fiction story with fantasy tropes work? Why does fantasy with a healthy dollop of horror intrigue? Are you a purist or do you prefer stories with blended speculative elements? Let’s discuss!
with Aliette de Bodard, Lee Harris, and Alma Katsu

Friday, 4:00 p.m. (Homeland)
Speculative Sound Waves
With more and more people taking to the internet airwaves to discuss fantasy and horror literature, how have editors, authors, agents, critics and readers distinguished their creative voices in an ever expanding podcast market? And what do they do to grow a distinct, diverse and dedicated listenership?
with Jen R. Albert, Claire Humphrey, Jonathan Strahan, and Gary Wolfe

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. (WaterTable BC)
Fantasy and Horror on Stage
What makes a story suited for the stage, and how can stagecraft bring fantasy and horror to life? What classic and contemporary fantastical tales have been successfully adapted for live performance — and what should be but hasn’t yet?
with Angeli Primlani, Jennifer Udden, and Mark Van Name

Saturday, 2:00 p.m. (Dealers Room)
Book Signing
I’ll be at Chris Logan Edwards’ table launching my short story collection Tell Me Like You Done Before with Andy Duncan, who’s also launching his short story collection An Agent of Utopia.

Saturday, 4:00 p.m. (Maryland Ballroom)
Guest of Honor Speech
After 48 years of con-going, there are a few things I feel compelled to share with you.

Saturday, 8:00 p.m. (Maryland Foyer)
Art Reception
One of the displays will be an exhibition of original art from the comics I wrote back in the ’70s, and if you’re there, I’ll tell you how they came to be.

Saturday, 11:00 p.m. (Homeland)
Ukulele Singalong
Bring your instruments and voices for a group singalong of strange and funny songs suitable for a World Fantasy Convention.

Sunday, 11:00 a.m. (WaterTable BC)
Best Meals Ever Written
A discussion of feasts and meals and what makes them great is it a tragic ending like the Red Wedding or a highly detailed description of the food so fans can replicate the cuisine, or something in between.
with S.A Chakraborty, Aliette de Bodard, A.T. Greenblatt, and S. M. Stirling

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. (Maryland Ballroom)
World Fantasy Awards Banquet

But wait—there’s more!

I’ll also be leading three different food walks over the weekend. Details below. I hope you’ll be able to join me.

Be seeing you!

Capclave is coming in just a few weeks, and though you’d normally find me there multiple days, this year I’ll only be attending on one of them, because a shift in the con’s usual dates means it now conflicts with both the Baltimore Book Festival (where I’ll be on three panels) and Baltimore Comic-Con (from which I hope to steal a comics guest to record an episode of my Eating the Fantastic podcast).

But that one day I’ll be in attendance, oh, what a busy day it will be. On Friday, September 28, you’ll be able to find me on five Capclave panels!

Here’s when I’ll be pontificating and what I’ll be pontificating about—

Secret Origins of Writers
Friday 4:00 p.m. Washington Theater
To MFA or not to MFA. Pros and cons of workshops like Odyssey, Clarion, Taos Toolbox and MFA programs such as Stonecoast and Iowa Writers Workshop.
with J. L. Gribble, Suzanne Palmer, Jack Skillingstead, and James R. Stratton

Rituals For Creativity
Friday 5:00 p.m. Jackson
How do you prepare to write each day? Do you have a special space or time of day? Do you need to have a particular snack near by or listen to just the right music? Authors share their rituals from the ordinary to the strange that help them create the right atmosphere to write.
with Will McIntosh and Irette Y. Patterson

Editing the Short Story
Friday 8:00 p.m. Eisenhower
Panelists talk about the work of editing short fiction, keeping things interesting and on-pace and making sure all the elements of a good story are in place when there are only so many words to work with.
with Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Scott H. Andrews, Suzanne Palmer, and Hildy Silverman

Dealing With Rejection
Friday 9:00 p.m. Eisenhower
Everyone in the field has to deal with rejection at some point. Panelists will talk about how they handle rejection, and in the case of editors, panelists will offer suggestions on how NOT to handle rejection
with Neil Clarke, Barbara Krasnoff, and Michael A. Ventrella

Gardner Dozois Memorial Panel
Friday 10:00 p.m. Eisenhower
Gardner Dozois was an editor, writer, and the GOH at the first Capclave. His Year’s Best anthologies and years at the helm of Asimov’s had significant influence on the genre. Panelists will discuss Gardner’s legacy.
with Wendy S. Delmater, Craig L. Gidney, Darrell Schweitzer, and Ian Randal Strock

I hope to see you there—and maybe even the following two days at the Baltimore Book Festival!

If you want proof science fiction fandom has always been at war, look no further than the infamous “yellow pamphlet,” written by David Kyle, the distribution of which resulted in Donald A. Wollheim, Frederik Pohl, Cyril Kornbluth, and others being banned from the 1939 World Science Fiction Convention.

It included such language as—

The World’s Science Fiction Convention of 1939 in the hands of such heretofore ruthless scoundrels is a loaded weapon in the hands of such men. This weapon can be aimed at their critics or can be used to blast all fandom. But YOU, the reader of this short article, are the ammunition. It is for YOU to decide whether you shall bow before the unfair tactics and endorse the carefully arranged plans of the Convention Committee. Beware of any crafty speeches or sly appeals. BE ON YOUR GUARD!

The full text of this document has long been online, so I’ve read it before, but I never saw an actual copy until a scan of one appeared as part of a recent eBay listing. That sale is now closed, though I can’t tell whether it’s because the seller got the $1,000 asking price for one of the few surviving copies or the listing period simply ended.

Whenever fannish controversies get me down, I think back to this pamphlet from 78 years ago, and am strangely comforted by the fact that … it has been ever thus.

You can read Kyle’s reminiscence of those times and the Great Exclusion Act here.

The program for next month’s Chessiecon has just been posted. Which means …

… now you know where you can find me!

Here’s what I’ll be doing there—

Emotionally Engaging Modern Readers with Futuristic Characters
Friday, November 24, 5:30 PM-6:30 p.m.
How can writers create characters who exist in far-flung places and times and make them relatable for readers of our own times? How can the writer evoke sympathy and understanding (or hatred and disdain, as the story and character requires)? If “human nature” is, for the purposes of a particular SF/F work, imagined differently, reinterpreted, or done away with altogether, how does that happen without losing the interest of potential readers?
with D.H. Aire, Carl Cipra, Mary Fan, Andrew Hiller

Reading
Friday, November 24, 9:45 PM-10:15 p.m.
I’ll read the opening section of “How Val Finally Escaped from the Basement,” a short story appearing this month in Analog.

The Psychology of Fear: Why Do We Love Horror?
Saturday, November 25, 12:30 PM – 01:30 p.m.
Panelists will discuss the enduring quality of horror tales. Why do we love being scared when the world is already a pretty darn scary place?
with Margaret Carter, Meg Eden, Meg Nicholas, Jay Smith

How The Twilight Zone Embraced ‘Less is More’
Saturday, November 25, 6:45 PM-7:45 p.m.
In 1959, Rod Sterling’s television anthology The Twilight Zone engrossed audiences with thrilling stories of all sorts. In 2017, many episodes of the five-season series and its various spin-offs are still intense, captivating, and even scary, often thanks to the show’s ability to say as much as possible with very few special effects. Our panelists talk about their favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone and how the minimalist style made it more effective and memorable.
with Elektra Hammond, Steve Kozeniewski, Karen MacLeod, Alanna Morland

If you’re also be at Chessiecon, stop by and say hi!

A week from tomorrow, I’ll be at Capclave, a local con I’ve attended ever since Disclave died and Capclave was born.

If you want to track me down, here’s where I’ll be when not schmoozing in the bar or con suite—

So You Want to Be A Writer
Friday, October 6, 5:00 p.m., Salon A
Authors discuss how they became a writer, and why you should(n’t). Writers share their experiences and offer advice to those interested in becoming a professional writer. Pay it forward.
with Brenda Clough, Bud Sparhawk, and Alan Smale

Reading
Friday, October 6, 9:00 p.m., Bethesda
I haven’t yet decided what to read. I might put it up to a vote!

Abusing Authors
Sunday, October 8, 10:00 a.m., Rockville/Potomac
Panelists answer whatever questions the audience has on writing, editing, character development, agents, and others. Includes many non-writer-parts-of-being-a-writer, such as being your own boss, setting schedules, and so on.
with Lawrence M. Schoen, Sarah Avery, Michael Ventrella, Ian Randal Strock, and Will McIntosh

Reading Outside Your Genre for SF/F Writers
Sunday, October 8, 3:00 p.m., Bethesda
Panelists discuss the non-genre works that have influenced them and why it’s important to read outside of genre.
with M’Shai Dash, Natalie Luhrs, Malka Older, and James Morrow

Hope to see you there!