Writercon 2006 took place July 21-23, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Select (Perimeter) in Atlanta, Georgia.

On this page:

• Guests
• Schedule
• Panel and Workshop Descriptions
• Fan-Led Events
• Special Events
• And More...
• Writercon 2006 Team
• Share Your Memories

Guests

Anna Louise Genoese

Anna Louise Genoese is an award-winning professional editor with Tor Books, the world’s largest publisher of fantasy and science fiction. She originated Tor Romance, a very successful line of paranormal romance novels which has produced some of the most popular books in this genre. Anna also writes articles, lectures, and writes a popular blog discussing the ins and outs of the publishing industry.

Susan Sizemore

Susan Sizemore is a New York Times bestselling author of romance and science fiction novels and short stories. Her work includes both The Laws of Blood and The Primes Universe series of vampire romance novels. Her short stories have appeared in several science fiction and fantasy anthologies, and she has contributed essays to The Anthology at the End of the Universe: Leading Science Fiction Authors on Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Stepping Through The Stargate: Science, Archaeology and the Military in Stargate SG-1. She is a past winner of The Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart award, and has been nominated for two Romantic Times awards.

Rhonda V. Wilcox

Rhonda Wilcox is a Professor of English at Gordon College in Barnesville, GA. She is the author of Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and is the co-editor (with David Lavery) of Fighting the Forces: What’s at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has also written numerous essays on popular culture including “There Will Never Be a Very Special Buffy: Buffy and the Monsters of Teen Life” in The Journal of Popular Film and Television as well as the chapter on “Television” for The Greenwood Guide to American Popular Culture. Professor Wilcox also edits the journal Studies in Popular Culture, was one of the founding editors of Critical Studies in Television, and serves on the editorial board of Intensities: The Journal of Cult Media. She is also the co-editor (with David Lavery) of Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies.

Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine has been writing and publishing novels and short stories since 1991. She is the author of the popular Weather Warden urban fantasy series. Her new series, the Morganville Vampires, debuts in Fall 2006 with Glass Houses. She is also the author of Sacrifice Moon an official Stargate: SG1 tie-in novel, writing as Julie Fortune. Rachel has contributed essays to several anthologies on popular culture including Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show, Five Seasons of Angel: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Vampire, Farscape Forever!: Sex, Drugs and Killer Muppets, and Finding Serenity: Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly.

Schedule

Thursday

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Krewe of Writercon (Restaurant Patio)
4:00 pm: Volunteer Orientation for Registration
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Registration
7:30 pm – whenever: Filk Circle (Hospitality)
9:30 pm: Volunteer Orientation

Friday

8:30 am: Volunteer Orientation for Registration
8:45 am – 1:00 pm: Registration
10:00 am: Opening Ceremonies
10:15 am – 1:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• A Demon-Hunting, Helpless-Helping, Dysfunctional Family: Natural and Chosen Families
• Calling All Muses: Overcoming Writer's Block
• The Good Stuff: Selected Authors Read from their Fic

• Crossing the Red Sea: Editing, Revision, and Finishing Touches
• Go With the Narrative Flow: Pace, Rhythm, and Flow
• A World Without Shrimp: The Importance of Place

10:30 am: Hospitality Opens
1:00 pm: Volunteer Orientation
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Firefly Unzipped
2:00 pm: Magic Box Opens
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• Who Are You People? Characterization
• We Could Make a Collage or a Mobile: Mixing and Maxing Genre Conventions
• Notes from the Ivory Tower: Writing Critical Essays

• Haven't I Seen you Somewhere Before? Character Archetypes
• Authorial Support: Recs, Constructive Criticism, Feedback, Archival
• Drabblemania!: Or, Short is Good, Too

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pitch Session I (pre-registration required)
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Vids!
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: SGA – Slashing Stargate Luv
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Erotica panels and breakouts

• Erotica Panel

• Erotica Breakouts:
• Het, Kink
• How to Write a Lousy Sex Scene
• Slash, Femslash
• Gay Sex for Straights

11:00 pm – whenever: We Dorkazoid Spuffy Shippers

Saturday

9:30 am: Magic Box Opens
9:30 am: Hospitality Opens
10:00 am – 11:30 am: Inner Lives Characterization Workshop I
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• Bringing the Funny: Humor
• Separated at Birth? Collaborative Writing
• Down the Rabbit Hole: Submitting Your Work

• Putting Words in Other People's Mouths: Dialog
• My Eyes!: Read and Fix the Badfic
• Writer's Salon

11:30 am: Pitch Session II (pre-registration required)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Vids!
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: BPAL Gather
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Original Fiction with Familiar Faces
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Filk as Fanfiction
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• Drinking from the Well of Souls: Writing Original Fiction
• Not Fade Away: Virtual Seasons
• Underwriting for Tearjerking: Creating Emotion without Sentimentality

• Cold Dead What? A Lecture on Vampire Physiology
• I'll Just Be Over Here, Twiddling My Thumbs: Writing Ensemble
• Gateway for Lost Souls: The Ins and Outs of Fandom

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Slashers of the World Unite
7:00 pm: Magic Box closes
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Shindig! the Sequel
11:00 pm – whenever: MST3K

Sunday

9:30 am: Magic Box Opens
9:30 am: Hospitality Opens
9:30 am: Scholarship Signout
10:00 am – 11:30 am: Inner Lives Characterization Workshop II
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• Beginnings, Middles, and Ends: The Challenge of Longer Forms
• First Church of Joss: Representations of Religion
• Proper Comma Placement Saves Lives! Making Grammar Work for You

• Going Pro: Writing for Money
• Mean Girls VS the Cult of Nice: Concrit in Action
• Rabbit Stew: How to Turn Your Plot Bunnies Into Something Tasty

1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Doctor Who: Fear the Impossible Satan Pit
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Feedback – Good, Bad, Ugly
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Panels and Workshops

• What's the Worst that Could Happen? Plot
• Crossover Free-for-All: Writing in Multiple Fandoms
• A Purely Scientific Spell: Magic, Science, and Technology

• The Problem of Evil: Why we Love the Bad Guys/Girls
• Dear Sir or Madam: How to Write a Query Letter
• The Good Stuff: Selected Authors Read from their Fic

6:30 pm: Closing Ceremonies and Auction Awards
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Turkey Readings (Hospitality)
8:00 pm: SGA Video Screenings
8:00 pm – midnight: Dead Plot Bunny Party (Hospitality)

Panel and Workshop Descriptions

Friday

10:15am - 11:30am

A Demon-Hunting, Helpless-Helping, Dysfunctional Family: Natural and Chosen Families
Moderator: Rhonda Wilcox
Panelists: Crevette, Miss Murchison, NWHepcat, RevDorothyL
What makes a family? Who’s in (as kin), who’s out, and how can you tell? Is it always about blood? How do the shows portray different kinds of families and family relationships? From kinship to fellowship, let’s talk about families.

Calling All Muses: Overcoming Writer’s Block
Moderator: Yin
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Essene, Lizbeth Marcs
This panel reunites the same suckers who did it at WriterCon ’04 – you get to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Expect a spirited discussion of tricks and techniques to help you climb over the barriers that sap your writing mojo. We’ll play around with a couple of writing exercises and discuss ways to boost your creativity as well as your confi dence.

The Good Stuff: Selected Authors Read from their Fic
Moderator: Time of Change
Come hear your favorite authors read from their work and maybe discover a new favorite in the process.

11:30am - 1:00pm

Crossing the Red Sea: Editing, Revision, and Finishing Touches
Moderator: Spiralleds
Panelists: Anna Genoese, Gwynnega, Peacockharpy
After you type that last period and hit save, the fun’s just begun. Whether it’s fixing that pesky plot hole, looking for continuity throughout, or checking details of geography and plausibility, all fiction can use a little work. This panel will cover the topics close to every beta-reader’s heart, and it just might help anyone who uses a beta-reader too.

Go With the Narrative Flow: Pace, Rhythm and Flow
Moderator: Savoy Truffle
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Byrne, Xanphibian
While plot will get your story to the dance, it’s style that picks out the perfect dress and shoes. Join our panelists for tips and insights on finding your own style and ways to bend your words to create the pace and rhythm your story demands. From lush, lyrical writing to terse, spare prose, each story demands to be told in the appropriate way – learn to make your action scenes more tense, your love scenes more sensual and your dialogue scenes more realistic.

A World Without Shrimp: The Importance of Place
Moderator: NWHepcat
Panelists: Susan Sizemore, Ascian3, Avrelia, Mosca
How much do setting and place affect the rest of the story? Does it make a difference whether you’re in Sunnydale or Neptune or big-city LA? At an evil law firm or in a spaceship? A high school or a magic shop, a hotel or a rented storefront office? And what happens when the usual suspects end up in unusual places? Talk about setting, the extra character.

3:00pm - 4:30pm

Who Are You People? Characterization
Moderator: NWHepcat
Panelists: EntreNous, Herself_nyc, Moosesal, Salieri
Almost every part of storytelling flows from characterization – if you don’t know your characters, you can’t tell their stories. Our panel of distinguished, award-winning and very cool writers will help you explore your personal connection to your characters as well as the methods of presenting them inside your own story architecture.

We Could Make a Collage, or a Mobile: The Mixing and Maxing of Genre Conventions
Moderator: Kalima
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Anna Genoese, Ascian3, The Deadly Hook
In the generically-inclined world of today’s television, do “pure” genres still exist? What sets them apart? How do our favorite shows adhere to and/or twist and combine typical genre conventions? And where does the fan fiction fit in? Talk about categories and classifications and whether they work for what we love and do.

Notes From the Ivory Tower: Writing Critical Essays
Rhonda Wilcox
The geeky side of fandom: it’s not all about the stories, you know. Sometimes, you need to make an argument, whether it’s an episode analysis or an exploration of a theme or trying to explain to others why your view is, of course, the correct one. What does it take to write a clear and persuasive essay.

4:30pm - 6:00pm

Haven’t I Seen You Somewhere Before? Character Archetypes
Moderator: The Deadly Hook
Panelists: Susan Sizemore, Ascian3, Avrelia, Denny_dc
We see them, over and over. Variations on a theme, or classics with a new twist. Who are they, what do they do, and what do they mean? Compare, contrast, and discuss the archetypical characters found in any or all of the shows under consideration, and variations on the archetypical themes.

Authorial Support: Recs, Constructive Criticism, Feedback, Archival
Moderator: Spiralleds
Panelists: Chrislee, SweptAwayBayou, Laura/drinkthepoison, Viciouswishes
Fanfic doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There’s a reason to dust off that story languishing on your hard drive, and that is the readership. This panel is devoted to the activities in fandom that support and encourage writers. By drawing attention to fic and giving the authors the input they need, these unsung heroes of fandom keep the stories accessible to readers and keep authors on their toes.

Drabblemania! (Or, Short is Good, Too)
Moderator: Crimsonhue
Panelists: Colleen, SunnyD_lite, Vampirefever
Not every story has to be an epic, and there’s a lot to be gained by writing a complete story in 100 words. This session will discuss the battle over terminology, as well as the challenges inherent in conveying story information in the fewest words possible. Our panelists will talk about vignettes, character studies, linked drabbles, and the unending pain of rewriting and revising.

8:00pm - 9:30pm

Erotica
Moderator: Viciouswishes
Panelists: Fer1213, EntreNous, Luvsbitch, Mosca
We’re just here for the smut, right? Join our panelists for tips on making your writing sizzle. No matter the flavor, your sex scenes can be hot hot hot! Specialized workshops will follow this panel.

9:30pm - 11:00pm

Erotica Breakout • Kink
Moderator: Luvsbitch
Kinky sex can spice up a story and add depth between two characters. But are you falling prey to error and cliché? Find out all about the real deal.

Erotica Breakout • How to Write Het
Moderator: Fer1213
Boy meets girl. It’s an old story, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t infuse it with excitement. Het sex is the topic for this session; find out how you can improve your depictions of it.

Erotica Breakout • How to Write a Lousy Sex Scene
Moderator: Yin
A tongue-in-cheek look at the “don’t”s of writing erotica.

Erotica Breakout • How to Write Slash
Moderator: EntreNous
If you rearrange “subtext”, it spells buttsex! Hone your slash-writing skills with ideas from this session.

Erotica Breakout • How to Write Femslash
Moderator: Mosca
Femslash moves beyond the occasional girlkissing in canon to the realm of the erotic and wholly female. Bring the hot to your f/f pairings with these
ideas.

Erotica Breakout • Gay Sex for Straights
Moderator: Viciouswishes
Back by popular demand, this session corrects the misconceptions often held by straight people trying to write Teh Gay. Last time, the explanations included toys and props. This time, who knows?

Saturday

10:00am - 11:30am

Bringing the Funny: Writing Humor
Moderator: Stoney
Panelists: Crazy Diamond Sue, Crevette, Germaine_pet, Mad Poetess, The Brat Queen
“Tragedy is easy; comedy is hard.” No kidding. At its core, humor is about truth – that’s what makes it both funny and universal. Our laugh-out-loud troupe of comedians will discuss humor techniques such as shock and surprise, juxtaposition, exaggeration, satire, meta-humor and more, while cracking you up. If not, they’re all fired.

Separated at Birth: Collaborative Writing
Moderator: Xanphibian
Panelists: Byrne, Ladycat, Wesleysgirl
What could be more fun than writing fanfic? Why, writing it with your friends! Come chat about co-writing, roleplaying, comment-tagging, and all the places between.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Submitting Your Work – Tips, Tricks and Tools
Anna Genoese, Yin
You will fail to sell 100% of the stories you don’t submit. This workshop will give you tools and techniques for maximizing your submissions. We’ll discuss the personal impact of repeated rejection and how to refine your attitude and thicken up your skin, as well as looking at ways to minimize your submission time in order to maximize your writing time. The importance of writers’ guidelines and knowing your market will also be discussed.

Inner Lives Characterization Workshop I
Herself_nyc
Discovering who your characters are, and what it is they most want, will unlock the story you’re trying to tell--or the one your characters have in them, that you may not be consciously aware of yet! The Inner Lives exercises, developed by the novelist Regina McBride, will help writers discover ways to create three-dimensional, intriguing, realistic characters by using the five senses to tap the subconscious imagination. Whether you’re writing fanfic or original fiction, Inner Lives will help you access the essence of character, which leads to action and incidence in your story. Please be prepared for the workshop by deciding on a point of view character you will work with during the session. Registration required.

11:30am - 1:00pm

Putting Words in Other Peoples’ Mouths: Dialog
Moderator: Colleen
Panelists: Susan Sizemore, Kalima, NWHepcat
Dialog brings your story to life – it reveals characterization and motive, it sets mood, intensifi es conflict and creates tension. Our panel of dialog all-stars will discuss the part dialog plays in their stories, as well as what they’ve learned through years of work. They will discuss using dialog to drive the story, reinforce themes and will discuss craft issues such as making dialog appropriate to the character and avoiding the pitfalls of writing dialog.

My Eyes! Read and Fix the Badfic
Moderator: Soundingsea
Panelists: Crevette, Fer1213, Yin
Back by popular demand, this hilarious activity from last WriterCon’s beta workshop will have you in stitches again. Will his orbs be chocolate? Will she smell of vanilla? Will the carpenter and the blond vampire buy curtains together? Try to fix the badfic, if you dare.

Writers’ Salon
Peacockharpy
If you’ve ever submitted your story to a beta, you know that the critique process can turn a good story into a great one. The Writers’ Salon is like a face-to-face beta session, in which your story will be discussed by a small group of people who are passionate about writing. We’ll give your story an honest critique, and you’ll do the same for our stories, and then we’ll all go home energized and ready to rewrite. We’ll also discuss how to set up your own writing critique groups, whether online or face-to-face. Prior registration required.

3:00pm - 4:30pm

Drinking from the Well of Souls: Writing Original Fiction
Moderator: Ethrosdemon
Panelists: Susan Sizemore, Gwynnega, Herself_nyc
Fanfic brings us together, but many of us also enjoy writing about our own characters (or want to start). Get the scoop on avoiding the dreaded Mary Sue, building a believable environment for the characters to inhabit, and telling the stories that work best in a world of your own creation.

Not Fade Away: Virtual Seasons
Moderator: The Brat Queen
Panelists: Barb C, Dragonwriter17, Justhuman, Mad Poetess
A virtual season aims to handle the ensemble and arcs on the scale of a show itself. Look behind the curtain at the nuts and bolts of this undertaking. How does a virtual season model itself after a TV show’s structure? What are the different approaches to joint authorship and organization? What vision guides the themes and keeps the characters consistent across multiple writers? Panelists from several virtual seasons will answer these questions and more.

Underwriting for Tearjerking: Creating Emotion without Sentimentality
Alicia Rasley
Using samples from fan fiction, author Alicia Rasley will demonstrate how subtlety can paradoxically create more emotion than overwriting.

4:30pm - 6:00pm

Cold Dead What? A Lecture on Vampire Physiology
Irfikos
It’s tough to be a vampire: foreheads that can go all bumpy at the most inopportune moments, expensive dental bills, a complete inability to get a decent tan and an all-liquid diet. With all the different myths out there, it’s hard to separate the truth about vampires from the rumors we pick up on the streets. Well, now you don’t have to be embarrassed to ask. We’ve got the straight scoop on what goes on in a vampire’s body. We’ll let you know what canon says about it and what experts have to say on the matter. Don’t believe the rumors. Come get the facts!

I’ll Just be Over Here Twiddling My Thumbs: Writing Ensemble
Moderator: Lizbeth_Marcs
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Barb C, Colleen
Servicing a large cast of characters requires forethought, organization and stamina. We’ve gathered a group of writers who take on these challenges and make it work; they’ll discuss the pitfalls of ensemble writing, the joys and challenges of group dynamics and the technical details of keeping it all straight during the process.

The Gateway for Lost Souls: Fanthropology
Moderator: Nikitangel
Panelists: Anna Genoese, Rhonda Wilcox, Laura/drinkthepoison, Scarlettgirl, Sweet_Ali
Who are we, and what do we do that makes us “fans”? What differentiates a “real” fan from a non-fan? What are the different types of fans, and what do they do? After the curtain closes on a kiss, a smile, a rainy alleyway battle, where do all the fandoms go? What happens to fannish practices once there’s no new canon material to work with? What attracts you to a new fandom? In other words, what are y’all up to these days? This session is an invitation to engage in some unabashed navel-gazing, and have fun thinking and talking about various aspects of fan culture.

Sunday

10:00am - 11:30am

Beginnings, Middles and Ends: The Challenges of Longer Forms
Moderator: Alicia Rasley
Panelists: Anna Genoese, Susan Sizemore, Gwynnega, Wesleysgirl
Long, or novel-length, stories carry with them a set of challenges unique to the form – how do you open with a bang, keep the pace tight throughout and end with a satisfying conclusion? Our panel, made up of both writers and editors, will explore the techniques that make beginnings sharp and memorable, keep middles from bogging down and create logical endings that deliver on all their promises.

First Church of Joss: Representations of Religion
Moderator: RevDorothyL
Panelists: Rhonda Wilcox, Dancetomato, Harmonyfb, Salieri, Spiralleds, Sweet_Ali
Lots of religions and belief systems are shown, or at least alluded to, on our favorite shows. Christianity, Judaism, Wicca, Atheism—just to name a few. Come talk about the metaphysical and the divine, and how they are portrayed. How important are they to the overall themes of the shows, and how big a deal is accuracy?

Proper Comma Placement Saves Lives! Making Grammar Work for You
Moderator: EntreNous
Panelists: Agilebrit, Fer1213, Miss Murchison
Let’s slay Spike! Let’s slay, Spike! What a difference a comma makes! Proper mechanics allow your true meaning to be enjoyed by your readers. This session will offer tips on writing in the correct tense, narrating a story in a consistent person, punctuating for clarity, and keeping those pesky modifiers from dangling.

Inner Lives Characterization Workshop II
Herself_nyc
See Saturday, 10:00 am for details. Registration required.

11:30am - 1:00pm

Going Pro: Writing for Money
Moderator: Harmonyfb
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Anna Genoese, Susan Sizemore, Rhonda Wilcox
Ever wondered what was behind the glamorous facade of the full-time writer? How you get started? How you get an agent? What it pays? Whether you write short stories, novels, or academic essays, our panel of distinguished professionals will reveal the ways and means behind writing for money.

Mean Girls vs. the Cult of Nice: Concrit in Action
Moderator: Yin
Panelists: Barb C, EntreNous, Salieri
Mean, meaner, meanest! Or not. What’s the best approach to concrit? Which approach do you take? Who will win in the great battle of this panel? Come and take sides!

Rabbit Stew: How To Turn Your Plot Bunnies into Something Tasty
Itsabigrock
Bring your notebook and pencil along for a Plot Bunny Breeding Fest. Using Whedonverse scenes as inspiration, learn how to pull plot ideas, inspiration and what if scenarios from the shows and turn them into plausible extensions of canon. The panel will also briefly discuss writer’s resources, ways to research your ideas, and how to use ‘Bunny Hunting’ techniques to overcome writer’s block.

3:00pm - 4:30pm

What’s the Worst That Could Happen? Plot
Moderator: Barb C
Panelists: Rachel Caine, Herself_nyc, Itsabigrock, Lizbeth Marcs
The simple definition of plot is this: what happens in a story. It’s simple, and also not very useful. Plot, more usefully defined, is a structure made up of the significant events in a story and the things that happen because of those events’ significance. This session will explore the causality of plot; discuss what’s at stake and how it forms the story and the importance of making a scene within your work.

Crossover Free-for-All: Writing in Multiple Fandoms
Moderator: Alizarin_nyc
Panelists: Mosca, Sonyaelflady, Winterlive, Xanphibian
Many of us write in more than one fandom. This session will cover the challenges and joys of writing in new fandoms, either on their ownor crossing over with previous fandoms. Our panelists will talk about finding your way in that shiny new fandom while keeping your finger on the pulse of a beloved old one.

A Purely Scientific Spell: Magic, Science and Technology
Moderator: Ascian3
Panelists: Rhonda Wilcox, Colleen, Kalima, Lostakasha, Salieri
Does science have consequences? What’s your favorite wiretapping software? And wow, what big fancy weapons you’ve got there! From cutting-edge high-tech to flaboten, all our shows make ample use of advanced means to their ends. How well do they use it, what does it mean, and what difference does it make (if any) which means they pick?

4:30pm - 6:00pm

The Problem of Evil: Why We Love the Bad Boys/Girls
Moderator: Barb C
Panelists: Susan Sizemore, a2zmom, Irfikos
It’s wrong, and you know it. They’re bad, evil, no-good snakes. Given half a chance, they’ll happily rob you blind, and probably kill all your friends while they’re at it (and your goldfish, too). They really deserve a well-aimed stake or other weapon, or at the very least a pointed quip and disdainful glare. How is it, then, that all they have to do is snap their fingers or give us a come-hither glance, a (literally) devilish grin or a malicious cackle, and we’re upside down and halfway to Happyland without a second thought? Oh, those bad boys and girls. They hurt so good. Let’s figure out what it is we love about ‘em.

Dear Sir or Madam: How to Write a Query Letter
Rachel Caine, Anna Genoese
The first thing any editor or agent will see of your work is your query. This workshop will help teach you how to write a letter and synopsis that will make editors want to see more.

The Good Stuff: Selected Authors Read from their Fic
Moderator: Time of Change
Come hear your favorite authors read from their work and maybe discover a new favorite in the process.

7:00pm

Turkey Readings (Hospitality)
Do you have a hideously bad novel stashed on your bookshelf? How about fanfic that elicits tears of blood? One story that makes you want to wash your brain with bleach? Well, we want ‘em all. Bring those turkeys to Caritas, and bring your loose change, too. We’re going to read them to you, and better yet, see if we can get you to act some of them out!

8:00pm – midnight

Dead Plot Bunny Party: (Hospitality)
We all survived, but the plot bunny didn’t quite make it. Let’s lift a glass and toast the muse while we discuss how to revive the sodding thing.

Fan-Led Events

SGA Video Screenings
Sunday • 8:00 pm
Come and enjoy the latest eps of SGA (technology permitting) and gab about all things Stargate with your hostess, Denyce.

Firefly Unzipped: A Fan Movie
Friday • 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm • Trinity I
Brought to you by krayat, lisatheobscure, and lunabee34.
With the rest of the crew out of commission, Mal and Jayne embark on what they believe will be a routine drop on Sappho, the mysterious “purple planet” at the edge of space. Little do they know that their cargo—and those who hold its secrets—will awaken their deepest erotic desires.

SGA – Slashing Stargate Luv
Friday • 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Brought to you by denyce36

We Dorkazoid Spuffy Shippers
Friday • 11:00 pm – whenever
Brought to you by Mary

BPAL Smell & Tell
Saturday • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Brought to you by harmonyfb

Original Fic with Familiar Faces
Saturday • 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Brought to you by sweptawaybayou

Filk as Fanfiction
Saturday • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Brought to you by shaddyr

Slashers of the World Unite
Saturday • 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Brought to you by itsabigrock

Doctor Who: Fear the Impossible Satan Pit
Sunday • 1:15 – 2:45
Brought to you by scarlettgirl

Feedback: Good, Bad, Ugly
Sunday • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Brought to you by nycorson

Special Events

Krewe of Writercon • Thursday • 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Restaurant Patio
Laissez le bon temps roulez on the restaurant patio and in the pool. Meet and greet for early arrivals, while you wait for registration to open.

Filk Circle • Thursday • 7:30 pm • Hospitality
Filk is a time-honored tradition in science fiction and fantasy fandoms, and we bring it to you at Writercon to celebrate the art of musical story-telling. Writercon invites all of you Filkers to bring your songs and instruments, and join in on Thursday night pre-con in the hospitality suite. Local filkers may stop by registration for a special one-night sticker to allow entrace to the suites.

Opening Ceremonies • Friday • 10:00 am
Come and help us welcome our guests and panelists to Writercon 2006!

Vids! • Friday • 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Stop by for a while and enjoy fan vids brought in by concom and attendees for our viewing pleasure.

Shindig, the Sequel • Saturday • 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
It’s a party, with music and adult beverages and special guests and LOTS of fun. We’ll have food (not a heavy meal, but lots of hors d’oeuvres, cheese, bread, fruit, etc.). Bar is cash bar this go-round (tickets would have been too expensive otherwise), but the fun and thefriends and the food are on us!

MST3K, WriterCon Style • Saturday • 11:00 pm
Join our extremely inebriated and overtired panel (Crevette, Pukajen, Anna Genoese) for MST3K. A completely random grab bag of episodes from your favorite shows, served with a heaping helping of snark,a side of obscenity and a chaser of sarcasm. Bring your sense of humor and remember: There are no sacred cows in fandom. Our panelists are equal opportunity offenders.

Closing Ceremonies & Silent Auction • Sunday • 6:30 pm
We bid a fond farewell to Writercon 2006. Come find out if you’ve won that silent auction item you were lusting over, give the concom some feedback to help make the next one better, and say goodbye to our guests.

And More...

The Magic Box

Once again, we are pleased to be able to provide a small vendor/merchant area to attendees and guests. Please stop by to purchase t-shirts, artwork, pins, or to have your Tarot cards read by the talented Glenna.

Silent auction bid sheets are also in The Magic Box, as is the cork message-board where attendees can pass messages, post informal get-together information, et cetera. Even during hours when sales are not taking place, The Magic Box also serves as a place where attendees can find a convention committee member for questions and answers. Stop by and say “Hi!”

Please Note: We do not expect any demonic (or wormhole-related) attacks, but attendees are advised that management cannot be held responsible for loss or injury in the event of unanticipated phenomena.

Tarot Card Readings

The Magic Box is happy to note that it has acquired a Tarot Reader; fandom’s own Professor Trelawney. Glenna will be available for 15-minute readings at a $5 charge.

Author Signings

Our special guest authors will be holding book sales/signings at times to be announced. Please check in the Magic Box for an updated list of times and locations to obtain an autograph or book from your favorites. Attendees who are professional authors and wish to sign may request a sign up time and table space at registration.

Bookcrossing Table

In the Magic Box, you’ll see a sign over a table full of books. These books aren’t lost, they’re free! The folks who brought them are hoping that you’ll take them, read them, and pass them along…and that once you get home, you’ll visit www.bookcrossing.com and join them in making the whole world a library.

Hospitality Suite

We call our con-suites (rooms 534 and 542) Caritas, and they are available to all Writercon participants. It’s a place for you to relax, to talk with other convention goers, and to grab a bite to eat or a drink whenever you feel peckish. Since we are not catering meals in the main spaces this time, we’ll have more substantial fare at lunch and dinner times on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

And, of course, we keep a well-stocked bar. There is never any charge, but we do encourage donations, as Hospitality is run from its own contributions.

If you have a spare hour this weekend, come on in! There might be cake. ;-)

Please note that Hospitality may occasionally be closed for a panel if volunteer coverage can’t be arranged.

Videos and Fannish Fun

Come on by to enjoy Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Xena, Dr. Who, BSG, Veronica Mars, Farscape, SG1, and SGA videos and episodes. We will rotate shows throughout Caritas open hours over the weekend. Lorne will not be putting in an appearance, but if you ask very nicely your hostess will sing for you.

Fabulous Fan Fiction Library

Stop in and check out the library – read something new, something comfortable, something wonderful. Bring in your own stories for others to read. Put your fic up for adoption at the end of the con, and let it find a new home and provide airplane entertainment of the very best sort! We’ll have a hard copy library, well labeled and organized, and a live-on-the-internet computer for accessing the rest of the crack!

Silent Auction

Writercon will be holding a silent auction for the duration of the convention. For the convenience of interested bidders, bid sheets are available in the Magic Box. We have a variety of fabulous items to bid on, from gift certificates to a critique of the winning bidder’s novel by professional editor Anna Genoese. Silent auction proceeds will benefit the Writercon 2006 scholarship fund.

Writercon 2006 Team

Convention Committee
Chrisjournal
Cindy
Harmonyfb
KellyHK
Kimi
Laura
Malea
Mezzibelle
MintWitch
Shaddyr
Tammy
Winterlive

Programming Committee
Harmonyfb
Scarlettgirl
Soundingsea
Superplin

Stellar Staff
AlabamaBro
Chrislee
DragonWriter17
Irfikos
Miss Murchison
Mary
Nikitangel
Time of Change
Viciouswishes

Share Your Memories

Share your memories of Writercon 2006 in the comments section below.