What other things go bump in the night? Or during the day? Dip your toes in the water and explore other cultural perspectives in the Horror genre.
Category: Writer’s Lounge
Writing Media Tie-Ins – Multiverse Con!
Want to work with licensed properties? Find out how to get your foot in the door from tried-and-true professionals! Your dreams of fan fiction could become a reality!
Crafting Your Author Brand – Multiverse Con!
The importance of personal brand identity is not something that should be overlooked, especially for authors. Let us help you navigate through the beginning steps, from proven experts in the field.
Demonic Pacts: Medieval Origins to Modern Popular Media + William Shakespeare in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman – Multiverse Con!
The nature of deals and bargains are an intriguing subject, which has pervaded storytelling throughout the ages. Here, we have both modern and classic examples to compare.
Cross-Genre Horror: Multiverse Con!
Horror is a lot of spooky fun, but do you want to know what’s MORE fun? Mixing it with other genres! What crazy alchemical story combustions can we make that actually work well?
Erotica and the Academy – Multiverse Con!
If you want to pursue writing erotica as a profession, there’s hurdles to overcome in knowing where to start. Why is erotica typically forbidden in later education, and given different industry treatment than other art forms?
Science Fiction Becoming Science Fact – Multiverse Con!
What was once considered fiction is rapidly becoming a reality! Will the results of scientific evolution become a dreamscape or dystopian nightmare?
Power, Politics, Prophecy, & Prequels – Multiverse Con!
What are the dynamics of the four major P’s, and how do they impact storytelling?
Selling at Conventions – Multiverse Con!
So you’ve written a book? Great! Time to hit the street and up your marketing game by working with conventions and festivals! Learn how to sell yourself in person with industry tips from the professionals!
Kill It Already! When Should We Let a Franchise Die? – Multiverse Con!
The do’s and don’ts of bringing a story franchise back to life. Avoid industry mistakes that bring down even the titans, and delve into details of what makes fictional universes evergreen!
Why Do We Love a Bad Superhero? – Multiverse Con!
When heroes are the villains, what do you do? Where do you go? What about when villains become heroes? Shit has really hit the fan with this delightful inversion of tropes!
The Evolution of Fantasy – Multiverse Con!
Explore the origins of the fantasy genre in mythology and history. Storytelling not only reflects the values of a culture, but can also change them!
Antagonists of Horror – Multiverse Con!
Villains are bad enough on their own – but villains in the horror genre? That’s taking it to a whole new level! How do we understand these monsters and what makes them tick?
Multitude of Multiverses – Multiverse Con!
Want to play around with multiple timelines and alternate realities? Here’s how to write it well!
Writing for Horror RPG’s – Multiverse Con!
Love horror and gaming? Want to write for an existing franchise like Arkham Horror or White Wolf? Here’s how to get your foot in the door!
Adults Save the Day – Multiverse Con!
Discussing the YA boom and how it’s affected the industry – what do audiences look for when they grow older?
DiviniTea: Tea and Tarot – Multiverse Con!
My first experience in the “MEET” track at Multiverse! Fun occult vibes, and a tea leaf reading demonstration!
The Oft-Neglected Support Character – Multiverse Con!
While main characters are the primary focus of the story, there’s a whole world of friends, enemies, and everything in-between. How do you bring an ensemble cast to life?
Eroticism and Horror – Multiverse Con!
While these genres may seem drastically different on the surface, they share more in common than you think…
Writing Believable YA Horror – Multiverse Con!
What makes this genre so unique and riveting? How to deliver spooky thrills and ‘bumps in the night’ to young audiences with unforgettable experiences!
Making Bank: Multiple Income Streams for Authors – Multiverse Con!
The “starving artist/creator” doesn’t have to be you! Utilize these methods to your advantage – so you can live with the dream job you’ve always wanted!
Writing the Short Horror Story – Multiverse Con!
Master the art of short fiction from these experts, and gain tricks of the trade from those who specialize in the horror genre! What eerie story will be written by you next?
The State of Publishing – Multiverse Con!
Publishing options are not limited to the “Big Five” – explore other options which are thriving more than ever!
Antagonists of Horror From All Around the World – Multiverse Con!
How do other cultures perceive horror? What haunts and pervades the minds of different regions and history, and why?
How to Get Into Working on Licensed Properties – Multiverse Con!
Do you love MTG, Pathfinder, and DC comics? How would you like to work with them? Find out how to play inside already established fictional playgrounds, and get paid for it!
You’ve Typed the End, Now What? – Multiverse Con!
Take your book to the next level and make it SHINE! Understand the function and value of connections you build with others during your writing journey.
Social Media – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Terry Maggert, Catherine Lundoff, Melissa McArthur, Bobby Nash, Cat Rambo – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta First off, is social media mandatory for writers? Absolutely – especially if you want a career. Yes, yes, I can already see you rolling your eyes or sighing in complaint. I understand that it’s far more appealing to remain…
Advanced World-Building: Creating Culture – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Dana Cameron, Roshani Chokshi, Sargon Donabed, K.D. Edwards, Violette Meier – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta Observe others and their social quirks. How do people in cultures view themselves? How does everyone else perceive them? There are many sub-cultures within cultures. If you live in a country, there are regions where people may think or…
Craft of World-Building – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Troy Carrol Bucher, Roshani Chokshi, Sean Hillman, Jen Lyons, E. J. Stevens, Sheree Renee Thomas – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta When it comes to world-building, there are macro and micro elements. In other words, some things only need a general description, whereas others will need fine-tuned details. It’s your job as the writer to…
How to Stop Worrying & Love Podcasting – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: John G. Hartness, Cat Rambo, Shannon Strucci You may be wondering, how is this pertinent to writers? The answer is simple: marketing. Whether you realize it or not, if you want the word of your books, short stories, poems, etc. to sell, then the majority of advertising falls on you. Podcasting is one…
Got Noir? – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Tiara Janté, James Nettles, Alex R. White, K. Ceres Wright; WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta What is Noir? A standard definition is: a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity. However, our guests describe it in a more poetic sense: a potentially hopeless ending, existentialism, and tough…
Writing the Anti-Hero/ine – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Sean Hillman, Stuart Jaffe, Misty Massey, James Nettles, Delia Remington – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta First off, what is an Anti-Hero/Heroine? It’s often a central character (if not your main protagonist) who does not exhibit particularly heroic traits. Examples would be Deadpool, Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad), Captain Jack Sparrow, Severus Snape, Walter…
Writer’s Burnout & How to Revive Yourself – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Marc L. Abbott, Paige L. Christie, K.D. Edwards, Kyoko M, Linda Mercury – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta We’re two-third’s into NaNoWriMo, and I’m sure that many of you are feeling the burn! Looking for something to refresh your brain or stir your creative muse? Try looking for a new perspective on your…
Flash Your Fiction / Pub Pitch – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Robby Hilliard, John Edward Lawson, Melissa McArthur, James Nettles – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta Flash your fiction! How short can you go? This may sound like an odd challenge for a writer, since many of us dream of writing a full-length novel. However, the concept is not without merit! First off, what…
Write Fast! – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Chris A. Jackson, Bobby Nash, Irette Patterson, Peter Adam Salomon, L. Marie Wood – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta This was such a great panel – learning to write fast without losing quality! That’s something that can be very intimidating for a lot of writers (myself included!) So I thought, what better time to feature…
Why do we like to be Scared? – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Marc L. Abbott, Robert Jeffrey, Misty Massey, Shannon Strucci, Kenesha Williams – Geek Horror Program Director: L. Marie Wood The essence of fear is the unknown. There’s a scene in a movie where a father and child are quickly leaving their home, and the father urges his son “Don’t look behind you – only focus…
Beyond Ghosts & Goblins – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Scott Hawkins, Rena Mason, Melissa McArthur, E.J. Stevens, Kenesha Williams – Geek Horror Program Director: L. Marie Wood Horror is not limited to monsters who go bump in the night – the realm of fear is far more versatile and expansive. What are some examples of these unusual varieties? A lack of privacy,…
Where Horror Lives – Multiverse Con!
Guest Speakers: Valjeanne Jeffers, Bobby Nash, Delia Remington, Alex R. White, & Kenesha Williams – Geek Horror Program Director: L. Marie Wood How much does Setting contribute to the Horror genre? In some cases, a normal, non-frightening environment can be more unsettling due to the familiarity and unexpected elements involved. Think of a basic furniture…
Harry Potter: A Study in World-building
Oh wow… where do I begin? If J.R.R. Tolkein is the king of world-building, then J.K. Rowling is undoubtedly the queen. Before any of you start on me with Game of Thrones, I’m going to need some hard evidence of when George R. R. Martin invented his own fictional language. (Not gonna lie, still a…
Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Contrast
What makes the stories of Sherlock Holmes so intriguing? Many would argue that it’s the air of mystery surrounding an engaging plot filled with surprise twists and deadly games of wit. While that is certainly a legitimate case to be made, I believe the true reason goes deeper. Bear in mind that I will be…