Expanded Universe author Aaron Allston has updated his appearance schedule to note just where he’s going to be at both Celebration VI and Dragon*Con. As we’ve said before on the blog and the podcast, Allston is a fantastic guest to sit down and listen to. If you’ve got a chance to see one of his panels or writing workshops, you owe it to yourself to do so.
Celebration VI
- Friday 10:30 am-11:30 am, Behind the Scenes Stage (W414 ABCD): What’s Coming From Del Rey.
“Acclaimed Star Wars authors Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, Drew Karpyshyn, James Luceno, and Timothy Zahn join Shelly Shapiro of Del Rey and Jennifer Heddle of Lucasfilm to reveal what’s coming next in best-selling Star Wars fiction.” - Friday 2:30 pm-3:30 pm, Star Wars University (W300):
Laying Down Tracks: A Different Way to Write Your Novel.
“Most people writing their first few novels start with an outline, or just a sense of how the early chapters should progress, and then write straight through to the end. But that’s not necessarily the best method for all novelists. In this seminar,New York Times bestselling author Aaron Allston (X-Wing: Mercy Kill) discusses an alternate method of novel writing intended to capitalize on each writer’s individual strengths and passions. This method helps bypass some causes of writer’s block, invokes ‘flow state’ writing, and prevents the sort of discouragement that can kill a novel. If you’ve ever wondered whether the standard novel-writing methods are holding you back, come to ‘Laying Down Tracks.'” - Friday 6:00 pm-7:00 pm, Barnes & Noble Booth (Booth #129):
Signing. Aaron Allston, Troy Denning. - Saturday 3:00 pm-4:00 pm, Barnes & Noble Booth (Booth #129):
Signing. Aaron Allston, Troy Denning. - Sunday, 11:00 am, Del Rey Booth (Booth #910):
Del Rey 2012 Star Wars Sampler Signing.
Drew Karpyshyn, Timothy Zahn, James Luceno, Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, John Jackson Miller.
Dragon*Con
- Friday 2:30 pm-3:30 pm, Seminar 4:
Talk to Me: Dialogue.
“Aaron Allston discusses the art of writing dialogue — to improve characterization, to influence the reader’s responses, and to deliver the emotional wallop your story needs.”
Room: Hanover A-B (Hyatt). Additional seminar charge will apply. - Friday 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Seminar 5:
Description.
“Have your descriptive passages become blocks of text that stop your story cold? Aaron Allston discusses techniques to transform those passages into memorable experience that propel your story to its conclusion.”
Room: Hanover A-B (Hyatt). Additional seminar charge will apply. - Friday 5:30 pm-6:30 pm:
Meet Your Favorite Star Wars Authors.
“Have a burning question for your favorite authors? They’ll be here to talk to you!” Panelists TBA.
Room: A706 (Marriott) - Saturday 1:00 pm-2:00 pm, Seminar 8:
Ruining Your Career Before It Gets Started.
“Aaron Allston walks you through the minefield of deadly career-killers, including query letters that spell doom, research practices that murder a writer’s reputation, ‘everyone knows’ fallacies that lead novices and even experienced writers into quicksand, and fan interactions that are pure poison.”
Room: Hanover A-B (Hyatt). Additional seminar charge will apply. - Saturday 2:30 pm-3:30 pm, Seminar 9:
Style and Mood.
“Aaron Allston talks about establishing and sustaining the tone of a novel — how to switch from technique to technique, like a pitcher switching from a curve ball to a fastball, in order to make the readers experience exactly what you want them to.”
Room: Hanover A-B (Hyatt). Additional seminar charge will apply. - Saturday 5:30 pm-6:30 pm:
Masculinity in Star Wars.
“Vader, Han Solo, Luke, Lando — just what does it all mean, and where was the Maker going with chivalry, patriarchy, and the definition of masculinity?” Panelists TBA.
Room: A706 (Marriott) - Sunday 11:30 am-12:30 pm:
Literature of Gaming.
“The world of gaming has provided a grounding for a number of books. We’ll discuss what makes it popular and writing for a preconceived world.” Panelists TBA.
Room: Greenbriar (Hyatt) - Sunday 2:30 pm-3:30 pm, Seminar 14:
Unclogging Your Plot.
“Aaron Allston describes the Thirteen Deadly Sins that can grind your novel’s plot to a halt — how to detect them, understand them, and bulldoze them out of your way.”
Room: Hanover A-B (Hyatt). Additional seminar charge will apply. - Sunday 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Seminar 15:
Showing Off Your Manuscript.
“Aaron Allston discusses ways to put your fiction before the eyes of others, including advance readers, workshoppers, editors, and agents. We’ll also talk about the hazards of showing off your manuscript, including submission mistakes, hurtful reviews, and loss of creative energy.”
Room: Hanover A-B. Additional seminar charge will apply. - Monday 2:30 pm-3:30 pm:
Discussion of Mercy Kill with Aaron Allston.
“Just what the title says — Allston discusses his latest Star Wars novel, the long-awaited continuation of the X-Wing series, released August 7.”
Room: A706 (Marriott)
If you’re going to be at Dragon*Con, I strongly encourage you to attend both the Expanded Universe multi-author panel as well as the Mercy Kill panel.
