Gearing up for Wiscon
I’m getting the last of the packing done for wiscon and making arrangements so the kitties are taken care of while we’re gone. Once again we get to spend the nicest weekend (weather wise) for a while indoors at a convention *sigh*. I’m gonna have to find time to hit the Farmer’s Market on Saturday. I’m on the second version of this post (the first being eaten when the power burped) so hopefully I don’t forget anything.
Fri 9:00 - 10:15PM Senate A
NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL
Moderator: Nora Jemisin. Other Participants: K. Tempest Bradford, Moondancer Drake, Nnedi Nkemdili Okorafor, Naamen Gobert Tilahun
Writers of color working in F/SF face unique challenges, it's true. But, at the end of the day, being a 'person of color' is only one aspect of what makes up our identities as writers and, while it's very flattering to asked to be on panels, most of these panels never crack the ceiling of Race 101. With that in mind, wouldn't it be nice for multiple writers of color to sit on a panel that isn't about race at all? Here's our chance to do just that. So, what are we gonna talk about, instead? Practically anything! Presented in game show format, NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL brings together writers of color to get their geek on about any number of pop culture topics (perhaps chosen from a spinning wheel of fortune)-none of them race related.
Moon’s thoughts: I’m really looking forward to this one. I admit, I’m not the most skilled at trivia, but the panelists have come up with a fun way to work the event, and it’s sure to be a blast. The only bad part is that this is schedule right before my reading so I’ll have to dash off to make it on time soon as we are done, no time to chat.
Fri 10:30 - 11:45PM Assembly
Broad Universe Rapid Fire
Moderator: Nancy Jane Moore. Author’s Reading: Nancy Jane Moore, J. Kathleen Cheney, Tina Connolly, Lori Devoti , Moondancer Drake, Gwynne Garfinkle, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Kathryn Sullivan, Katherine Mankiller, Morven Westfield, Phoebe Wray
Moon’s thoughts: I’m hoping that this late at night we’ll still get plenty of folks wanting to come to listen to us read. Maybe we should bring some snack to lure folks in. *wink*
Sun 10:00 - 11:15AM Assembly
Dealing With Your Male Answer Syndrome
Moderator: John H. Kim. Other Participants: Suzanne Allés Blom, Moondancer Drake, John Helfers, Stef Maruch
Although it's not absolute, there's a strong tendency among masculine people to always want to have the definitive answer for everything, even if they don't necessarily know. In panels and elsewhere in life, it can be hard for men to admit they don't know things. Why is this? How can men deal with the pressure (either internal or external) to always have the right answer? How do women and other non-masculine folks deal with Male Answer Syndrome? If you think the answers to all these questions are obvious, then you need to come to this panel!
Moon’s thoughts: I’m still a tad unsure how we’re going to format this conversation even after talking with the other panelists, but I guess we’ll figure it out when we get there.
Sun 4:00 - 5:15PM 623
Take Back the Sci-Fi
Moderator: Beth A. Plutchak. Other Participants: Moondancer Drake, Mikki Kendall, Shira Lipkin, Katherine Mankiller about this item. Simple link for Firefox/gmail users.
Sexual assault and rape frequently get used as symbolic plot devices with no consideration about the realities of how these events effect survivors and the people around them and the larger social realities of this epidemic. Sometimes these stories get told well but often they perpetuate social myths and stereotypes that normalize predatory behavior and make survivors complicit. How do authors work to create a culture where stories that perpetuate rape myths are not acceptable? Examples?
Moon’s thoughts: I admit I don’t know a lot about the books and movies that have such topics just because as a rape survivor I can’t read or watch these when topics like rape are handled badly. I do, however, have strong ideas about this topic as a writer and a reader.
Mon 10:00 - 11:15AM Assembly
Getting it Wrong Gracefully
Moderator: Nora Jemisin. Other Participants: Alan Bostick, Moondancer Drake, Vylar Kaftan, Mary Robinette
There’s an antiquated idea among the age old writing tips that an author should only write what they know. Stepping outside what is familiar is not impossible, not if you really want to make a difference. In the world of spec fic, authors have the freedom to go beyond what they know to create endless possibilities within their fiction. The purpose of this discussion is to not only talk about the logistics of writing about folks unlike yourself, but to talk about how a writer handles the inevitable moment when what you’ve written offends someone. What to say and what not to say, and in the case where you stumble over your brain and get defensive, something we all are guilty of at one time or another, how to pull yourself back to recover with a sincere apology.
Moon’s thoughts: I think this panel has great potential which is why I suggested it. With the author “white flight” that happened around racefail09 and the current mistakes perpetrated around Mammothfail, this seemed an important conversation to have.
Mon 11:30AM - 12:45PM Capitol/Wisconsin
The SignOut
Come and sign your works, come and get things signed, come and hang out and wind down before you leave.
Authors: John Joseph Adams, Barth Anderson, Eleanor A. Arnason, Melodie Bolt, F. J. Bergmann, Alex Bledsoe, Suzy Charnas, Richard J. Chwedyk, Lori Devoti, Moondancer Drake, L. Timmel Duchamp, Carol F. Emshwiller, Eileen Gunn, Anne Harris, Deborah Lynn Jacobs, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Sylvia Kelso, Marianne Kirby, Ellen Klages, Naomi Kritzer, Ellen Kushner, Ann Leckie, David D. Levine, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Kelly McCullough, Sarah Monette, Nancy Jane Moore, Pat Murphy, Larissa N. Niec, Nnedi Nkemdili Okorafor, Jennifer Pelland, Sarah B. Prineas, Mary Robinette, Margaret Ronald, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Geoff Ryman, Fred Schepartz, David J. Schwartz, Ekaterina G. Sedia, Nisi Shawl, Delia Sherman, Kristine Smith, Jennifer K. Stevenson, Caroline Stevermer, Kathryn Sullivan, Catherynne M. Valente, Monica Valentinelli, Joan D. Vinge, Morven Westfield, Laurel Winter, Phoebe Wray, Patricia C Wrede, Doselle Young, Janine Ellen Young about this item. Simple link for Firefox/gmail users.
Moon’s thoughts: It means more than I can put into words to be coming to Wiscon this year as a published author since Wiscon was the place where I got first fired up to write (ya’ll can blame Nora, Nisi, and Tempest for this :P among others). It’s an honor to be at the Sign Out with such wonderful authors (and not just because I don’t have to play waitress this year, I swear). This could be the best Wiscon yet.
Fri 9:00 - 10:15PM Senate A
NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL
Moderator: Nora Jemisin. Other Participants: K. Tempest Bradford, Moondancer Drake, Nnedi Nkemdili Okorafor, Naamen Gobert Tilahun
Writers of color working in F/SF face unique challenges, it's true. But, at the end of the day, being a 'person of color' is only one aspect of what makes up our identities as writers and, while it's very flattering to asked to be on panels, most of these panels never crack the ceiling of Race 101. With that in mind, wouldn't it be nice for multiple writers of color to sit on a panel that isn't about race at all? Here's our chance to do just that. So, what are we gonna talk about, instead? Practically anything! Presented in game show format, NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL brings together writers of color to get their geek on about any number of pop culture topics (perhaps chosen from a spinning wheel of fortune)-none of them race related.
Moon’s thoughts: I’m really looking forward to this one. I admit, I’m not the most skilled at trivia, but the panelists have come up with a fun way to work the event, and it’s sure to be a blast. The only bad part is that this is schedule right before my reading so I’ll have to dash off to make it on time soon as we are done, no time to chat.
Fri 10:30 - 11:45PM Assembly
Broad Universe Rapid Fire
Moderator: Nancy Jane Moore. Author’s Reading: Nancy Jane Moore, J. Kathleen Cheney, Tina Connolly, Lori Devoti , Moondancer Drake, Gwynne Garfinkle, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Kathryn Sullivan, Katherine Mankiller, Morven Westfield, Phoebe Wray
Moon’s thoughts: I’m hoping that this late at night we’ll still get plenty of folks wanting to come to listen to us read. Maybe we should bring some snack to lure folks in. *wink*
Sun 10:00 - 11:15AM Assembly
Dealing With Your Male Answer Syndrome
Moderator: John H. Kim. Other Participants: Suzanne Allés Blom, Moondancer Drake, John Helfers, Stef Maruch
Although it's not absolute, there's a strong tendency among masculine people to always want to have the definitive answer for everything, even if they don't necessarily know. In panels and elsewhere in life, it can be hard for men to admit they don't know things. Why is this? How can men deal with the pressure (either internal or external) to always have the right answer? How do women and other non-masculine folks deal with Male Answer Syndrome? If you think the answers to all these questions are obvious, then you need to come to this panel!
Moon’s thoughts: I’m still a tad unsure how we’re going to format this conversation even after talking with the other panelists, but I guess we’ll figure it out when we get there.
Sun 4:00 - 5:15PM 623
Take Back the Sci-Fi
Moderator: Beth A. Plutchak. Other Participants: Moondancer Drake, Mikki Kendall, Shira Lipkin, Katherine Mankiller about this item. Simple link for Firefox/gmail users.
Sexual assault and rape frequently get used as symbolic plot devices with no consideration about the realities of how these events effect survivors and the people around them and the larger social realities of this epidemic. Sometimes these stories get told well but often they perpetuate social myths and stereotypes that normalize predatory behavior and make survivors complicit. How do authors work to create a culture where stories that perpetuate rape myths are not acceptable? Examples?
Moon’s thoughts: I admit I don’t know a lot about the books and movies that have such topics just because as a rape survivor I can’t read or watch these when topics like rape are handled badly. I do, however, have strong ideas about this topic as a writer and a reader.
Mon 10:00 - 11:15AM Assembly
Getting it Wrong Gracefully
Moderator: Nora Jemisin. Other Participants: Alan Bostick, Moondancer Drake, Vylar Kaftan, Mary Robinette
There’s an antiquated idea among the age old writing tips that an author should only write what they know. Stepping outside what is familiar is not impossible, not if you really want to make a difference. In the world of spec fic, authors have the freedom to go beyond what they know to create endless possibilities within their fiction. The purpose of this discussion is to not only talk about the logistics of writing about folks unlike yourself, but to talk about how a writer handles the inevitable moment when what you’ve written offends someone. What to say and what not to say, and in the case where you stumble over your brain and get defensive, something we all are guilty of at one time or another, how to pull yourself back to recover with a sincere apology.
Moon’s thoughts: I think this panel has great potential which is why I suggested it. With the author “white flight” that happened around racefail09 and the current mistakes perpetrated around Mammothfail, this seemed an important conversation to have.
Mon 11:30AM - 12:45PM Capitol/Wisconsin
The SignOut
Come and sign your works, come and get things signed, come and hang out and wind down before you leave.
Authors: John Joseph Adams, Barth Anderson, Eleanor A. Arnason, Melodie Bolt, F. J. Bergmann, Alex Bledsoe, Suzy Charnas, Richard J. Chwedyk, Lori Devoti, Moondancer Drake, L. Timmel Duchamp, Carol F. Emshwiller, Eileen Gunn, Anne Harris, Deborah Lynn Jacobs, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Sylvia Kelso, Marianne Kirby, Ellen Klages, Naomi Kritzer, Ellen Kushner, Ann Leckie, David D. Levine, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Kelly McCullough, Sarah Monette, Nancy Jane Moore, Pat Murphy, Larissa N. Niec, Nnedi Nkemdili Okorafor, Jennifer Pelland, Sarah B. Prineas, Mary Robinette, Margaret Ronald, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Geoff Ryman, Fred Schepartz, David J. Schwartz, Ekaterina G. Sedia, Nisi Shawl, Delia Sherman, Kristine Smith, Jennifer K. Stevenson, Caroline Stevermer, Kathryn Sullivan, Catherynne M. Valente, Monica Valentinelli, Joan D. Vinge, Morven Westfield, Laurel Winter, Phoebe Wray, Patricia C Wrede, Doselle Young, Janine Ellen Young about this item. Simple link for Firefox/gmail users.
Moon’s thoughts: It means more than I can put into words to be coming to Wiscon this year as a published author since Wiscon was the place where I got first fired up to write (ya’ll can blame Nora, Nisi, and Tempest for this :P among others). It’s an honor to be at the Sign Out with such wonderful authors (and not just because I don’t have to play waitress this year, I swear). This could be the best Wiscon yet.