LibertyCon

Schedule and recommendations

I will be at LibertyCon this weekend, so I thought I’d re-share some relevant information ahead of the con.

It’s a 12-hour drive for us and I am once again, grateful beyond words that honorable husband likes to drive. I’ve got my checklist ready: lapboard, AR glasses, cables, the laptop, the iPad, a notebook, all geared toward getting some important stuff done.

Pantsing the beginning for the sequel to Threading the Needle has yielded about ten thousand words, but it’s not staying in the space western genre. I have enough for its own book but it’s leaning toward being set on Earth which would make it dystopic. Like Snape with the Dark Arts, it’s too much of a temptation, one I’m not sure you’ll appreciate. My dark is not your dark. As background events, referenced lights, it’s one thing; as the main action, another. And I’m not sure I want to switch protagonists. But the Muse needs to run her course, so I did.

My very vague idea (fake detail) of a showdown for the climax has stuck its tongue out at me repeatedly. None of my imaginary friends are talking to me, at least not about things we need to be talking about. Instead they’re running rough-shod over genre requirements. For example, I’m pretty sure that Dame Leigh and Muhonen (Talia’s mysterious benefactor) either knew each other in the past (hello second-chance Romance) or would get to know each other now, but how many people are interested in a Romance between older people, even if confined to a sub-plot, bodice-ripping optional.

I’ve got my off-screen events more fleshed out than my on-screen ones and my re-read of The Warrior’s Apprentice as a primer on setting up a double-cross from a single-viewpoint failed—too many conveniences and too much reliance on Miles’s personality that doesn’t work for Talia. So it’s back to the drawing board with a deep dive into some historical references.

I’ve promised myself I’ll have the references and inspiration read and the notes integrated on this trip. I do have 24 hours trapped in a car after all. Brain, cooperate please, cooperate.

Ideally, I’ll have the eight plot milestones figured out in some detail and then work on filling things in and the seeding sequence as well. I also really, really, really need to figure out the series sequencing. And a sci-fi solution since this is crunchy sci-fi not just a western in space. I really don’t care if I end up rewriting the whole thing since I rarely stick to an outline, as long as it’s going in the right direction. I fully expect to either discover a better story of figure a better way to get from point A to point Z as I write, and that’s just fine. As long as it’s flowing.

I should have known that starting with plot (what I wanted to happen) wasn’t going to work, but apparently I needed to learn the lesson that I write characters first, yet again. That’s when Brackett meant when she said:

“Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they strike against each other until finally there’s an explosion—that’s Plot.”

―Leigh Brackett

After the travel day , we get a much-needed day to recoup before the craziness of the con kicks in.

Here is my schedule. Friday is my crazy-busy day.

For those of you who may have questions about conventions, I do have an archive of posts on this topic:

Why you should (or shouldn't) attend a con

Conventions when you’re not 21 any more.

Big Con or Small Con?

Promo Smarter: Master UBLs, Landing Pages, and Reader Magnets

To access posts older than four weeks, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. To get my posts delivered via e-mail, become a subscriber.

If you have questions or would like to see a topic addressed (whether about conventions or anything else writing related), feel free to drop it in the comments or to reach out via PM.

For those interested in AI-related topics, particularly in terms of “fair use” and copyright, I highly recommend Mrs. Sarnow’s panels:

I have the sads because I have panels opposite every single one of hers. Even though I’ve been to both of the AI and copyright talks in the past, I was really looking forward to refreshing my knowledge. If you can make her panels, they are well worth your time. You will come out far better informed and educated. She really is an excellent speaker and her expertise is the manner is profound. Dare I say she’s my favorite panelist.

For those with an interest in gaming, I highly recommend Mr. Urbanek. He is also an excellent panelist and speaker who is well worth your time.

One of the things I love about both of these pros is that they won’t waste your time. They are definitely in the great minds category.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Here is the full guest list.

See you there!