EasterCon 2008

[Tirellan]

EasterCon 2008

Of particular note for sf/f/h writers is that there is a free writers workshop on Mon 24th. Tutors will be drawn from The T-Party, London's premier writers group for SF/F/H and will include double World Fantasy Award winner Bruce Holland Rogers

[Tirellan]

Update - there are still slots available in the workshop, but Bruce Holland Rogers is not able to take part

[Tirellan]

We have 4 places left

[Montague]

Hi, I'm a newbie so sorry for the daft question, but what / when is EasterCon?

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by Montague

Hi, I'm a newbie so sorry for the daft question, but what / when is EasterCon?

This is it!

Orbital 2008 - Orbital, 21-24 Mar 2008: Radisson Edwardian Hotel

[Ian Whates]

Originally Posted by Montague

Hi, I'm a newbie so sorry for the daft question, but what / when is EasterCon?

Hi, Montague,

Welcome to the Chrons.

Eastercon is the UK's premier science fiction convention, which has been held over the Easter weekend for many years (Next year's will, I believe, be the 60th).

Each year the convention is held at a different venue (this year, London Heathrow; 2007, Chester; 2006, Glasgow; 2009 will be in Bradford) and is organised by different groups of individuals from within British fandom.

Each convention has 'Guests of Honour', whose weekends are paid for by the convention and who feature heavily in the program, as do many other writers and industry figures. If you follow the link provided by SJAB, you'll see this year's impressive list of GofHs. If you then follow the link from the site's menu and look at the membership list, you'll see many other familair names listed.

The weekend will typically include panel discussions on various topics, interviews, speeches, quizzes, a great deal of silliness and a great deal of time spent in the bar.

Eastercon also hosts the ceremony at which the annual British Science Fiction Association Awards are presented.

That gives you the dry info, but, trust me, it doesn't do the event justice... Eastercon has to be experienced to be appreciated!

[Montague]

Hi

Thanks for the info. Probably another daft question but...

Is the forum worthwhile? Perhaps more importantly, what is it that the T-Party can offer to an aspiring author?

[Figures]

I'll be going to my first Eastercon this year, having booked for Saturday and Sunday. Won't know anyone there, or what to fully expect (although I've done San Diego Comic Con a couple of times so it shouldn't be a complete culture shock) but I'm sure I'll have fun

[Tirellan]

The T-Party hope to offer direct and practical advice to aspiring authors on how to improve their work up to a publishable standard, and then advice on where to send it.
If you look at the T-Party website The T Party - Home you will see that there are a number of writers there with good short fiction sales (F+SF, Interzone, Black Gate, Postscripts), and with agents - though no books with major publishers yet.

[John Jarrold]

I've been head down on work since I was last here, and I'm now preparing for Eastercon - see some of you there! Then I'll be back here as usual!

Onwards!

[Ian Whates]

As those who have studied the program may have noted, John (Jarrold) and I are both on a panel aimed at aspiring authors at 12.00 on the Friday, "So You Want to be an SF Writer?", where I'll have the dubious pleasure of moderating and attempting to keep the likes of John in order!

Hope to see some of you there.

[Figures]

I've come to conclusion that I'm more an aspiring fantasy writer than SF, as whilst I do the odd piece with Aliens, it's probably really space fantasy rather than science fiction (not that I've ever really respected genre boundaries with my writing - I'm like one of those kids who mixes all their playd'oh into one huge brown pile). So would I get any benefit from it? I'm currently planning on only going on the Saturday and Sunday as whilst I saw it on the programme, I felt it would be (naturally) be more geared to SF writers.

Plus, I'd probably go to it and get depressed as you list all the no-no's that I'm currently doing ;-)

[John Jarrold]

I'd imagine much of the panel wil be useful for all aspiring writers. Take your lumps and move on!!!

[Troo]

Definately attend this one, Figures. Ian and John together certainly know their stuff, and - as John says - a great deal of it will undoubtedly be applicable to any writer.

[neilwilliamson]

Originally Posted by Figures

I've come to conclusion that I'm more an aspiring fantasy writer than SF, as whilst I do the odd piece with Aliens, it's probably really space fantasy rather than science fiction (not that I've ever really respected genre boundaries with my writing - I'm like one of those kids who mixes all their playd'oh into one huge brown pile). So would I get any benefit from it? I'm currently planning on only going on the Saturday and Sunday as whilst I saw it on the programme, I felt it would be (naturally) be more geared to SF writers.

Don't get hung up on definitions of SF and Fantasy at this stage, Figures. They're both catered for equally, and often at the same time, in Eastercon panels, and any advice for writers will apply to you whatever you define your fiction as being.

I've always found that I've come out of an Eastercon full of enthusiasm, rather than being dejected in any way.