Author Archives: fictorians

– Guest Post by VictoriaMorris

I’m fairly new to the comic con scene. My first foray was a two hour visit to Emerald City Comicon here in Seattle, just so I could get a feel for the crowds I figured I would have to deal with — in preparation for the trip south later that summer for the 2013 Phoenix Comicon. Since the noise and the commotion only made me happy to be there, I figured I was good to go.

Phoenix proved it could bring its own unique spin. First, it is HOT. And when I say hot, I mean, I’ve lived in Arizona, and have wonderful memories from that time. But Phoenix at the end of May, beginning of June feels like you’re the egg frying on the sidewalk. The convention planners are smart though, and as they grew, they moved operations into the convention center — handy, since that’s right across the street from the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The Hyatt runs misters along the outside of their building, making the walk much more comfortable. And it’s literally just one crosswalk away to the front doors of the southwest’s inner geek heaven.

The main floor of this con, where you’ll find the artist, author, and comic alleys, is built below ground. It’s cool, comfortable, and seriously easy to navigate. Within minutes, I knew my way around, and was more than comfortable to assume the job I had traveled 1,200 miles for: to assist at The Coppervale Marketplace booth with James A. Owen.

I spent then, and continue to spend now, the majority of my time at James’s booth. For some, I’d bet you’d think that would be boring — especially when the likes of Richard Dean Anderson, Nichelle Nichols, or John Barrowman are high on the special guest lists. Believe me, being at this booth is anything but boring.

My first year there, I got to play photographer for James as he met Dean Cane. Superman meeting an actor who played Superman. Super cool, right? Oh it gets better! That year, Terry Brooks was also a Guest, and he came to visit with James not once but twice. Right there, just hanging out. He invited James to dinner with he, his wife, and his sister. Just a small gathering, and let me tell you — watching an author you admire bounce like a kid in a candy store because an author he admires invited him to dinner… yeah, that doesn’t stink. When it came time for that special meal, I made sure James wasn’t sidetracked by adoring fans or the thousands of comic books in his path to the doors. And while James chatted with friends, Terry came down. He smiled that endearing smile, and asked if I would be joining them. I shook my head. Oh no, thank you Terry, but this night is for you and James. I waved them off and went back to the booth. Have you ever met Karma and shaken her hand, right while you knew you were? I knew right then and there, Phoenix Comicon would always be my favorite event.

Each of the last three years I have traveled to work the show. No longer just a hand at the booth, I took over most of James’s con planning because of the ease I found in Phoenix. And I know a lot of that is because they do such a wonderful job taking care of their guests, artists, authors, and every single one of the 55,000-80,000 attendees.

This last year they rearranged things to make the lower levels easier for everyone — celebrity guests were all moved upstairs, giving the lower level several more rows to work with that had been designated as line-place-holders in the past.

They also changed management. And with that came a high focus on guest comfort. At least three times a day, we had a staff member come by the booth to ask if we needed anything. And when we did, we had it within minutes.

From a fan perspective, I noticed they were much happier with the newer setup. I always have wonderful conversations with the people who come to Coppervale’s booth. We usually have a lot in common. It probably doesn’t hurt that I could talk about a certain series of books every single day for the rest of my life and still not get enough of them. But here, I always find new friends, get to show them some amazing art, and even sell them books that I truly cherish. Sometimes I think I’m getting more out of the deal than they are.

Every one of the three years I’ve attended, Phoenix has made me feel like I’ve come back home. Every warm home, both literally, and in heart. I couldn’t put a number on how many people living there are friends to me now thanks to this convention. And because of that, I will attend for as long as I am able to.

Some other additions: Last year, Phoenix added a Fan Fest event that took place in December. Though smaller, and more focused on the comics side of the show, it was a success, and Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest 2015 will again take place at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. This year it runs December 4-6.

The important information: Phoenix Comicon updates their site well, and is currently set to the Fan Fest event.

Where: For Phoenix Comicon: Phoenix, Arizona

Venue: Phoenix Convention Center

When: June 2-5, 2016

Costs:

Attendees – If like past years, Comicon 2016 passes will come available for sale in December once Fan Fest concludes, with a cheaper sale price ($45 last year for Full event) running through the new year. After the holidays, the badges will go up to regular and at-the-door price. ($55-$60)

Hotels sell out quickly. The Hyatt will start taking reservations in January for the con block of rooms. There are several other options; The Renaissance, and The Sheraton for example, but they too will sell quickly. Should you wish to attend, plan accordingly.

Vender booth –
Artist Alley – All pricing to be set after Fan Fest.
Author Alley –

Guest Writer Bio:
Victoria lives on the edge of a misty magical forest in the Pacific NorthWest with one husband, two daughters, a big white dog and one huge resident bald eagle that likes to circle over her house when she brings in the groceries. A lifelong artist and writer, Victoria is building a universe inside her head that has taken form in a six book fantasy series, with a middle grade trilogy on the side. While illustrating the world and all its characters is always on her mind, she draws portraits in her spare time to relax. Find out more at www.VictoriaDMorris.com.

Community

August 27, 2015

fictorians

Guest Posts The Writing Life The Writing Process No Comments

A guest post by Brandon Plaster.

Lenalia Like many writers, I was caffeinated in a not-so-counter-culture coffee shop the day that I became serious about writing. It’s not that I knew what I was writing at the time, or that there was anything special about the day, mayhaps a Saturday. It was just that I felt the threads of productivity resonating and for whatever reason my stream of conscious was somewhere completely dislocated from my body, having some sort of wild acid-free paper trip. That trip just happened to be perfectly timed.

Co-occuringly, assembling in the minds of several well-placed strangers was the idea of forming a writing meetup. This coalignment of events, seemingly disparate, was what brought about the makings of my first book, Lenalia.

When I attended that first writing session with twitchy eyes and torpid creativity, I had no idea how important the group would become to me. I went in selfish and simple, thinking that it would be a way for me to write consistently and receive critique. Though I certainly cannot undervalue those two benefits of the group, as feedback and consistency are key, the community was so much more.

I spent close to two years attending and helping lead the weekly meetup. The constant flux of its peripheral members allowed for me to experience a plethora of writing styles and techniques while the persistence of its core members gave me insights into how writers evolve their work and themselves over time. My critiques not only allowed me to help others, but it showed me how to analyze story and characters separate from prose. My writing went from playdough to playful, from full of errors to airless and concise. In every interaction I had with the group was another piece of stimuli that helped shape my work and myself.

And those were just the direct benefits. It turns out, the group was full of people. Living, breathing, unique, some odd, mostly even people. People that were striving and struggling through the same writer’s block or character collapse as me. Seasoned and raw writers that helped form a support network, making me realize that writing doesn’t have to be a solitary sport.

So now, even when alone, as I sit sipping on the brewed aromas of a midnight latte, my body withering into the dust that sifts through the hourglass of my life, I can rekindle thoughts of my first community, knowing that it helped define me as a writer.

Guest Writer Bio: BrandonPlaster

Brandon Plaster is an engineer and artist with a passion for storytelling. He is focused on creating media and mediums that engage, entertain, and challenge wide audiences. With a background in Applied Mathematics and Optics, Brandon worked for three years in the space industry on computer graphics, robotics, and radio communication system design, before redirecting his focus to creative human-centered computing.In March, 2015, he released his debut novel, Lenalia.

The Importance of Author Mentors

August 24, 2015

fictorians

Contracts Critiques Editing Ideas & Plotting Interacting With Professionals Networking Outlines Petra Klarbrunn Professional Behavior Starting a Career 2 Comments

A guest post by Petra Klarbrunn.

Most beginning authors I know think that a mentor is someone who will look over your latest screed and give you feedback and editing suggestions. While it is something that a mentor may do for you, that’s actually the job of an editor and/or critique group.

So what does an author mentor provide? I’m glad you asked.

Questions at all stages. As mentioned, you might be lucky enough to have a mentor who has enough time to read over your epic novel. The majority of mentors are working professionals, so they’re busy working on their own epic space opera trilogy. They don’t have time to line edit your work. They do make time to answer specific questions for you. Say you’re having a problem with your opening hook. You can ask your mentor to look at a couple of paragraphs and get feedback from someone who knows how to write opening lines that propel the reader forward. Even better, they can provide a couple of different takes and have them go over why one is better than the other.

Contracts. Mentors can give you some feedback on contracts, explaining what the egregious portions are and what they actually mean. They may suggest contract modifications or recommend that you take the contract to a specialist lawyer, especially if the contract is from one of the Big 5 publishers.

Plotting. Some mentors can go over your plot outline and make suggestions. One of my mentors found a serious flaw in a novella that would have had me spinning my wheels for weeks until I discovered it. Don’t send a forty-page plot outline to your mentor. Send a bullet-point list so they can see how you build up towards the third act.

Networking. Often overlooked, having someone who can provide introductions within your genre can give you a leg-up on your peers. One of the complaints about writing is “it’s about who you know that counts.” While exceptional writing can do your introductions for you, getting introduced to a busy editor at a convention or via email can at least give your work a better chance at getting looked over by a publisher. Introductions can also provide opportunities to get into anthologies or to work on collaborations.

Blurbs. Receiving a blurb from a bestselling author or a celebrity can push your work to the top of the shopping cart. Stephen King gave a relatively unknown author named Jack Ketchum a glowing blurb and recommendation. Now Mr. Ketchum is a bestselling author and screenwriter.

Giving back. Most mentors say that the main reason they choose to be a mentor is to give back to the community. Because most authors are genuinely nice individuals, they want others to succeed. Sometimes mentors didn’t have anyone they could ask questions of, and they want to help new authors with the craft. And who knows? Perhaps one day they will ask their mentee for a blurb or two.

Petra Klarbrunn Bio: Petra battles with her four cats daily for the use of her laptop. She writes in the romance, erotica, bizarro, horror, and academic fields using multiple pseudonyms. Her diet consists mainly of tofu and espresso.

My Peeps. My Tribe.

August 6, 2015

fictorians

Author's Perspective Interacting With Professionals Networking Reflection Starting a Career The Writing Life The Writing Process No Comments

A guest post by Sherry Peters.

There is nothing like finding a group of people you can be yourself with. You know, the people with whom you can drop your filters, let out your weirdness and have those bizarre conversations that with anyone else would raise eyebrows—if not arrest warrants. They’re also the people who will support you at your readings, and sympathize when the rejections come. They understand what it means to be a writer, and what writing means to you. They are your peeps, your tribe.

I will never forget finding my tribe.

I’d been writing for several years, and I’d connected some with local writers, and while I felt more comfortable with them than I did with other people, I still wasn’t truly myself.

In the summer of 2005, I attended the Odyssey Writing Workshop. I’d been writing for years, but I’d only been writing fantasy for two years. I was still wary of the whole crowd. I expected to be on the outside, because I was always on the outside. What I found was a group of people who understood me like no one ever had. My weirdness fit with theirs. I knew I could be myself, and it was okay. It was the first time I had ever truly felt fully accepted for who I am.

But Odyssey was in New Hampshire and my classmates were from all over the U.S. Only a couple of us were from Canada. The internet is amazing, because thanks to e-mail we all stay in touch, and not just with my class, but all Odyssey alumni.

I grew my tribe when I attended Seton Hill University to get my M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction. Having my peeps from Odyssey helped me. I already felt more comfortable, and I instantly connected with more people who understood me, and whom I understood.

That was great, and e-mail and the internet is awesome, but once again, it was all long-distance.

I admit, it was difficult to find my tribe back home. In part, it might have been because I have my writing friends from Odyssey and Seton Hill. In part, it was because I am an introvert and tend to have difficulty going out and meeting new people. Mostly it was because I had not yet met any local writers I had anything in common with.

That all changed in May 2008. First it was one local writer, and soon it was another, and then another. And sometimes I met local writers through my friends in other cities who knew people in my home town that I didn’t.

I have ended up with a great group of writing friends, my own local writing community. My peeps. My tribe.

I have a group of writers I connect with at readings and at dinners. We talk about writing. We geek-out at the movies. We get together several times a year for writing retreats and at our homes, spending the weekend quietly writing and noisily talking about writing, our works-in-progress, and our struggles and triumphs in the publishing industry.

We share resources. Calls for submissions, but also research resources. We all have our own areas of expertise and we know we can contact any other person in the group if we need to tap into that expertise.

Without my local writing community, I would not continue to write and pursue this madness we call publishing.

Most importantly, at least for myself, I have found a place to belong. I am accepted for who I am. And that means everything to me.

Guest Writer Bio: Sherry Peters is a Certified Life Coach who works with writers at all stages of their writing careers looking to increase their productivity through pushing past the self-doubt holding them back. Sherry graduated from the Odyssey Writing Workshop and earned her M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her debut novel, Mabel the Lovelorn Dwarf, placed 1st in the 2014 Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards in the YA category. It has also been nominated for a 2015 Aurora Award. For more information on Sherry or her workshops, visit her website at www.sherrypeters.com.