Hello folks! I’ve been quiet here lately: heads down writing two novels this past year and doing volunteer work for SFWA, but If you’re going to be around Boskone (Boston, MA Feb 9-11) come say hi! I’ll be on the following programming items:
Fri 2:30 PM 1 Hr Harbor 2 44 The Nuts and Bolts of Chapters
Do you even need chapters? How long should a chapter be? Should you title your chapters or just number them? Where do you break a chapter, and how do you write a good cliffhanger? How do you write chapters with multiple character points of view? So much to discuss for such a small topic!
Sat 10:00 AM 1 Hr Harbor 2 59 Poorly Depicting Modern Tech in SFFH
“Spool the tapes!” Technology changes so quickly that it’s not always possible to predict what tech will still be in use twenty years from now. We share beloved examples of our favorite authors missing the mark at predicting future technology.
(I’ll be moderating that one, it seems! Probably to keep me from dominating the panel with a furious rant about things nobody but me cares about…)
Sat 11:30 AM 1 Hr Harbor 2 23 How “Hard” Does Hard SF Need to Be?
We all use the term “hard science fiction,” but what is it and what are the boundaries? Must these stories conform rigorously to our current understanding of physics/biology etc, or can the author make reasonable (or at least plausible-sounding) extrapolations? What do we do with FTL? If we allow divergence from what is known, where is the borderline between science fiction and fantasy? Where does this leave the sub-genre science fantasy? Panelists will discuss these ideas with reference to published works.
And finally, if you find yourself wandering aimless at night but itching to write, I’ll be hosting…
Sat 10:00 PM 1 Hr Marina 3 52 Late Night Write-Fest
Feel like staying up late? Do you like warm beverages? Do you want to sit quietly in a room with a bunch of other people banging away on laptops or scribbling feverishly in notebooks? This is the place for you!
John P. Murphy 