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Fannish Dodo. Copyright Lynn Perkin 2005

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Programming  

 

Preliminary Program Grid for

This is the Preliminary program schedule. may or may not actually be on these items, but probably will. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, modifications to the program can occur throughout the convention.

Friday 4:00 pm: Pick Your Poison: Standalone, Trilogy, or Series (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Cathy Green (M), Jeanne Adams, Joshua Benjamin Palmatier, Mark Roth, Natalie Luhrs
For reader and writer alike, there are strong opinions on the value of a story that is one and done versus settling into a universe and its characters for a while. Panelists discuss the benefits and challenges of each. When do you know that a story wants to be one or the other? Does writing individual stories set in the same universe count as a series? Are duologies becoming more common?
Friday 4:00 pm: A Maker's Playlist (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:L. Penelope, Morgan Hazelwood, Ty Drago (M)
Authors such as Marie Lu have spoken lovingly and openly about the playlists used when writing or editing their books. Panelists explore the role of music in their creative process. Does anyone create in silence? Does changing up a playlist disrupt the creative workflow or inspire it by setting a new mood and openness to different points of view? What music inspires your novel, poetry, artwork, or reading?
Friday 4:00 pm: Game Demo: Abducktion (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Jefferson
Participants:Perrianne Lurie (M)
A 15-minute light strategy game for adults of duck matching, a UFO, and logic! Players are all interns on an alien UFO, working for an intergalactic corporation that has one main function: abducting ducks. (For research purposes, duh). But, ducks need to be collected in specific formations, and you'll have to use spatial logic and cunning to rearrange your ducks before your opponents to win! Abduct (collect) ducks in specific formations by using action cards to move your (or your opponent's) ducks around. Each player gets an individual stream board that can hold 10 ducks. Put the ducks into patterns by moving them around with action cards. When your ducks in a single color match a pattern on one of the shared formation cards, you earn the card and abduct the ducks into the UFO. Grab more ducks out of the UFO and try to make another pattern before the cards run out.
Friday 4:00 pm: Presentation: Lawrence Schoen (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Lawrence M. Schoen (M)
Presentation: Lawrence Schoen
Friday 5:00 pm: Author Reading: Irette Patterson (Ends at: 5:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Irette Patterson reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 5:30 pm: Romance in SFF (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders, Jean Marie Ward, Jeanne Adams, Joan Wendland, L. Penelope (M)
Romance is an integral part of many great SFF stories. And it is a versatile storytelling tool too - sometimes driving the story or perhaps just one piece of the narrative tapestry. What are these different approaches and what romantic scenarios are most familiar and compelling to readers? How have audience expectations changed over time? Panelists will get to the heart of our beloved genre.
Friday 5:30 pm: Introducing the Cozy Fantasy (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Bill Lawhorn (M), Randee Dawn, Sarah Avery
Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes, a 2023 Nebula Awards Best Novel finalist, is an example of a relatively new subgenre being called "cozy fantasy." These stories generally feature heartwarming characters, little to no danger, and low stakes. They are like settling down with a warm fluffy blanket and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies in your most comfortable reading nook. What are some other examples and favorite cozy fantasies and why are they growing in popularity?
Friday 5:30 pm: Author Reading: Joshua Palmatier (Ends at: 5:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Joshua Benjamin Palmatier
Joshua Palmatier reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 5:30 pm: Exquisite Corpse Writing Challenge (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Hildy Silverman, Ian Randal Strock, Mary G. Thompson (M)
Watch the creative process in action as our panelists work together to build a story from start to finish!
Friday 6:00 pm: Author Reading: Doc Coleman (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Doc Coleman reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 6:30 pm: Author Reading: Darrell Charles Schweitzer (Ends at: 6:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Darrell Charles Schweitzer
Darrell Charles Schweitzer reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 7:00 pm: The Art of the Book Review (Ends at: 7:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders, Karlo Yeager Rodriguez, Michael Dirda, Natalie Luhrs
  A good book review and reviewer can be a reader's best friend. Learn about the world of book reviews and the skills for crafting them. What is different about reading with a critical eye versus for pleasure? Where can you find good reviews? What can authors gain from reading (or writing) these critiques?
Friday 7:00 pm: Anthology Builder (Ends at: 7:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Alex Shvartsman, Ian Randal Strock, Mike McPhail, Neil Clarke
There's an art and a business to building a great anthology. Editors reveal their most important lessons for constructing an anthology that is both readable and marketable. How do editors come up with a theme and properly curate their anthologies? How do the stories get picked? And ultimately, what sells and what does not?
Friday 7:00 pm: Author Reading: Ty Drago (Ends at: 7:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Ty Drago
Ty Drago reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 7:00 pm: Memorial and Tribute for Erica Ginter (Ends at: 7:55 pm) Truman
Participants:
Join friends and family to celebrate the life and fandom of WSFA's Erica Ginter who passed away in 2023.
Friday 7:00 pm: Game Demo: Thurn & Taxis (Ends at: 8:55 pm) Jefferson
Participants:
In Thurn & Taxis, players build post office routes across Bavaria and the regions around, collecting bonus points in various ways. The board shows a map of all the cities, with roads leading from each one to some of its neighbors. There are various colored regions around the board, most with two or three cities, and a large region with all the Bavarian cities in the center. Players build postal routes from city to city to city so that each city is adjacent to the next city on the route and there is a road connecting these two cities. Each route must consist of at least three cities. Players may build only one route at a time. Routes are represented by melded city cards arranged in the order of the route.
Friday 7:00 pm: Finding Our Monsters or Creating Them (Ends at: 7:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Darrell Charles Schweitzer, Hildy Silverman (M), Jennifer R. Povey
Readers crave a good monster, and speculative fiction has produced many iconic examples. But from Mothman to Bigfoot to Chupacabra, there's nothing like the enduring lure of the cryptid. These monsters have become more popular in recent years and as intriguing as ever. Panelists discuss the beauty of these monsters for readers and writers and why we are so drawn to them.
Friday 7:30 pm: Author Reading: Richard Sparks (Ends at: 7:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Richard Sparks reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 8:00 pm: Author Reading: Scott Edelman (Ends at: 8:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Scott Edelman
Scott Edelman reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 8:30 pm: 30 years of Babylon 5 (Ends at: 9:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Jennifer R. Povey (M), Perrianne Lurie, Scott H. Andrews
It's been 30 years since Babylon 5 debuted. It is still considered a seminal science fiction show that paved the way for modern space operas on TV such as Farscape, the Battlestar Galactica reboot, and The Expanse. Panelists will discuss the show, its impact, and their favorite characters and plots. What was innovative at the time? What aspects of the show still resonate?
Friday 8:30 pm: Sarah Pinkser Concert! (Ends at: 9:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Sarah Pinsker
GOH Sarah Pinsker performs for Capclave!
Friday 8:30 pm: Author Reading: Meridel Newton (Ends at: 8:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:
reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 8:30 pm: The Arts and Alternative History (Ends at: 9:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Carolyn Ives Gilman , James Morrow (M), John Ashmead, Martin Berman-Gorvine, Tom Doyle
We love imagining the ripple effects of worlds changed by a single shift in culture or missing political figure. The influence of our greatest authors, artists, and composers is no less compelling. Panelists discuss what alternate histories emerge when the arts change course. What other realities are possible when we do not lose certain brilliant artists so young? Can the fickle tastes of one prominent patron change the artistic history of an era?
Friday 9:00 pm: Author Reading: Adeena Mignogna (Ends at: 9:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Adeena Mignogna
Adeena Mignogna reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 9:30 pm: Author Reading: Paul Haggerty (Ends at: 9:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Paul Haggerty
Paul Haggerty reads from recent and upcoming works.
Friday 10:00 pm: Weird Tales at 100 (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Darrell Charles Schweitzer (M), John Ashmead
Weird Tales magazine was an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger. The first issue came out in 1923 and ran through 1954 with several attempts over the years to revive it. Now published by Weird Tales Inc., Weird Tales #366 – Swords And Sorcery Issue came out in 2022. Let's celebrate and take a look back at this piece of SFF history.
Friday 10:00 pm: Creating a Believable Legal System for Your Fantasy (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Cathy Green (M), David Keener, Mary G. Thompson
Disputes are going to arise in your imagined world, and someone has to resolve them! There are hundreds of examples of how legal systems work in real life, but what about in the societies you create? How can you develop a legal system that is both realistic and also relevant to the story (and not an obstacle to your pacing and plot)? Panelists discuss what makes for a believable (or not) fantasy legal system.
Friday 10:00 pm: Open Discussion: Black Mirror (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Truman
Participants:Randee Dawn (M)
Season six of Black Mirror marked both a return to "classic" Black Mirror stories as well as a preview of new directions the anthology could explore in future seasons. Join your fellow fans to discuss this newest season and attempt to rank the best (and worst) episodes.
Friday 10:00 pm: The Writer's Toolkit (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Adeena Mignogna (M), Ian Randal Strock, Ken Altabef, Mike McPhail, Morgan Hazelwood
When staring at a blank page, it helps to have a few tips and techniques to fall back on. What are common tools that writers can use to further their craft? What resources serve as helpful refreshers when stuck or seeking inspiration? Are there common prompts or skills to help kick off a good writing session? How might a new writer refine advice that does not quite work for their style into something that properly clicks?
Saturday 10:00 am: Rejections Happen (Ends at: 10:55 am) Eisenhower
Participants:A. T. Greenblatt, Scott Edelman (M)
The life of a writer involves hearing many variations of the word "no." Rejection comes with the territory but that does not make it easier to experience. Panelists discuss coping with rejection, how to continue writing through them, and what you can learn from receiving a no.
Saturday 10:00 am: State of Horror (Ends at: 10:55 am) Washington Theater
Participants:A.C. Wise (M), Hildy Silverman
It is a good time to be a horror fan. The genre is drawing bigger audiences while gaining interest even from those who normally shy away from the dark side. Panelists take a look at the current mainstreaming of horror in books, movies, TV, and games. What makes horror so interesting right now and where is it going? How are creators bringing in new fans or reviving common mythologies and horror tropes?
Saturday 10:00 am: Author Reading: Sarah Avery (Ends at: 10:25 am) Monroe
Participants:Sarah Avery
Sarah Avery reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 10:00 am: The 2023 Hugo Awards (Ends at: 10:55 am) Wilson
Participants:Lawrence M. Schoen, Perrianne Lurie, Sam Lubell (M)
This year's Worldcon is in Chengdu, China (currently scheduled for 18 - 22 October). This is a rare opportunity to discuss the nominated Hugo finalists at a Capclave before the winners are announced. Panelists discuss the nominees and predict their winners!
Saturday 10:30 am: Author Reading: Keith R.A. DeCandido (Ends at: 10:55 am) Monroe
Participants:
Keith R.A. DeCandido reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 11:00 am: Author Reading: Sarah Pinsker (Ends at: 11:25 am) Monroe
Participants:Sarah Pinsker
Sarah Pinsker reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 11:30 am: Finding Your Level (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:
The speculative fiction we love comes in several lengths - short story, novelette, novella, and novel (as well as flash and micro fiction). Panelists discuss their experience writing long- and short-form stories. Do writers have a length they write best at? Can you write an epic story in short story format? How do you figure out what your ideal story length is? How do you train yourself to write longer or shorter?
Saturday 11:30 am: How to Change Your Reading Diet (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:A.C. Wise, Mary G. Thompson (M), Michael Dirda, Sarah Avery
Reading ruts happen! Panelists discuss the best ways to diversify your reading habits to find new gems and genres that you'll love next. Where can you find new sources for your TBR list? What are tips for sifting through new titles to find something you love? How many pages should you give a book or story before moving on?
Saturday 11:30 am: Author Reading: Karlo Yeager Rodriguez (Ends at: 11:55 am) Monroe
Participants:Karlo Yeager Rodriguez
Karlo Yeager Rodriguez reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 11:30 am: Occupational Hazard (Ends at: 1:25 pm) Truman
Participants:David Keener (M)
In this workshop on character development, participants will start by defining an SF or Fantasy occupation…and then exploring the type of person who might take on that job. Participants will also focus on key areas such as character goals, high-level story arcs, challenges, obstacles, and limitations.  
Saturday 11:30 am: Run With the Chair (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Atrium
Participants:Aaron Pound (M)
The chair is going to run six miles, as recorded by his running watch. It will take him between an hour and an hour and a half. Anyone who wants to is welcome to join him. Meet in the lobby at the start of the session and we will leave within the first five minutes. Route to be determined.
Saturday 11:30 am: Judging a Book By Its Cover (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Joshua Benjamin Palmatier (M), Mike McPhail
There's more to choosing the visuals of a book than meets the eye. What are the elements to consider in creating and choosing a book cover? How has this evolved in recent years and what are past and current trends? Our panelists reveal the unique business of book design and share their design triumphs and horror stories.
Saturday 12:00 pm: Author Reading: A.T. Greenblatt (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:A. T. Greenblatt
A.T. Greenblatt reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 12:00 pm: Game Demo: Ticket to Ride (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Jefferson
Participants:
With elegantly simple gameplay, Ticket to Ride can be learned in under 15 minutes. Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route. "The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket – each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get additional Destination Tickets," says Ticket to Ride author, Alan R. Moon. "The tension comes from being forced to balance greed – adding more cards to your hand, and fear – losing a critical route to a competitor."
Saturday 12:30 pm: Author Reading: Randee Dawn (Ends at: 12:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Randee Dawn
Randee Dawn reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 1:00 pm: The State of Queer SFF (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders, Jennifer R. Povey (M), Joshua Benjamin Palmatier
Publishers have been steadily making space for fiction with queer characters and themes despite bans and censorship on authors and titles. There is still a long way to go, but more LGBTQ people are showing up in stories in joyful, fully formed, and also mundane ways. Panelists discuss the strides (and setbacks) in recent years and how readers, authors, and publishers can counter attacks against queer stories.
Saturday 1:00 pm: Presentation: Thomas Holtz, Jr. (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. (M)
Presentation: Thomas Holtz, Jr.
Saturday 1:00 pm: Author Reading: Sunny Moraine (Ends at: 1:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Sunny Moraine reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 1:00 pm: I'll Have Some Mystery with My Speculative Fiction (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Charles Gannon, Joan Wendland, Sarah Pinsker, Ty Drago
Adding a good old fashioned whodunit to a science fiction or fantasy story can add an intriguing and fun element. What makes for a good setting and plot for an SFF mystery? How do you balance providing enough clues to interest the audience without making the solution obvious? What are the tropes and potential pitfalls and where can you find great examples of this done well?
Saturday 1:30 pm: Author Reading: Sherin Nicole (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Sherin Nicole reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 2:00 pm: Author Reading: Lawrence M. Schoen (Ends at: 2:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Lawrence M. Schoen
Lawrence M. Schoen reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 2:30 pm: A Little Perspective: POV in Fiction (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders, Jean Marie Ward, Scott H. Andrews
Who tells your story is as important as how it is told and what is in it. Changing the point of view can completely transform how a story is received. Panelists discuss options for experimenting with perspective, how to know what is most effective for a story, and why styles such as second-person are worth your consideration.
Saturday 2:30 pm: The Pilot and the Future of Personal Technology (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Adeena Mignogna, David Keener, John Ashmead (M), Sarah Pinsker
Sarah Pinsker's novel, We Are Satellites, introduces a brain implant called the Pilot that offers the power to split one's mental focus into multiple streams of attention. This method of true multitasking ability raises questions about the future of virtual reality and similar advancements in personal technology. What is the evolution from cell phones and smart glasses to brain implants? What tradeoffs inevitably follow?
Saturday 2:30 pm: Author Reading: Danielle Ackley-McPhail (Ends at: 2:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Danielle Ackley-McPhail reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 2:30 pm: Creating Audiobooks for Fun and Profit (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Truman
Participants:
Learn the ins and outs of professional-level audiobook production from an author who has created dozens of audiobooks, both self-recorded and with professional narrators and producers. Topics include: step by step audiobook setup with ACX, finding a narrator, the pros and cons of shared revenue vs. pay-by-hour, working with narrators, and more.  
Saturday 2:30 pm: What Are We Learning From Pandemic-Era Conventions? (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Inge Heyer, Morgan Hazelwood, Perrianne Lurie, Sam Lubell (M), Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Three and a half years after the onset of COVID-19, conventions are still dealing with how to pivot on programming logistics as well as procedures and safety policies for attendees and participants. Which experiments are working and which did not go as planned? What long-lasting resources or protocols have emerged? How have these adjustments affected the ways in which fandom gathers?
Saturday 3:00 pm: Author Reading: Zin E. Rocklyn (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Zin E. Rocklyn reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 3:30 pm: Author Reading: L. Penelope (Ends at: 3:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:L. Penelope
L. Penelope reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 4:00 pm: Tell Me a Story: The Art of a Public Reading (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Karlo Yeager Rodriguez (M)
Learning to effectively read your own work publicly is a skill worth nurturing. It can connect the audience with your stories, and it can be a powerful marketing and engagement tool. What makes for a good public reading experience? What techniques make a difference and help it feel less intimidating? What platforms (podcasts, events, audio narration, etc.) are out there for authors to read their own work?
Saturday 4:00 pm: Writing in Other People's Universes (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Charles Gannon, Jean Marie Ward (M), Mark Roth
Whether writing for comics, venturing into tie-in novels and other adaptive media, or championing fan fiction, writing good stories in a known world requires a unique skill set. Panelists discuss what it takes to create compelling narratives for a universe not their own and how to push the limits without crossing the guidelines of the borrowed universe.
Saturday 4:00 pm: Author Reading: James Morrow (Ends at: 4:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:James Morrow
James Morrow reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 4:00 pm: Better Beta Reading: Both Sides of the Pen (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Truman
Participants:Morgan Hazelwood (M)
So you've been asked (or offered) to beta-read for someone. Or maybe *you're* the one looking for beta readers. As the writer: Where do you find them and how do you get the feedback you're looking for? As a beta reader: If they don't tell you, what sort of feedback should you give? Plus, how to give feedback that helps — and stay on speaking terms with the author. Optional: Bring a single-page double-spaced writing sample to be beta-read.  
Saturday 4:00 pm: Game Demo: Earth (Ends at: 5:55 pm) Jefferson
Participants:Zenlizard (M)
Earth, the soil that supports and sustains our beautiful planet, Earth. Over thousands of years of evolution and adaptation the flora and fauna of this unique planet have grown and developed into amazing life forms, creating symbiotic ecosystems and habitats. It’s time to jump into these rich environments and create some amazing natural synergies that replicate and extrapolate on Earth’s amazing versatility and plethora of natural resources. Create a self-supporting engine of growth, expansion and supply where even your unused plants become compost for future growth. Earth is an open world engine builder for 1 to 5 players with simple rules but tons of strategic possibilities. With its encyclopedic nature and the enormous number of unique cards and combinations, every single game will allow you to discover new synergies and connections, just as our vast and fascinating world allows us to do!
Saturday 4:00 pm: A Celebration of Octavia E. Butler (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Andy Duncan
Now a posthumous New York Times best selling author, Octavia E. Butler is finally reaching a wider audience of fans who have discovered her influence on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Today, her works are the source materials for award-winning graphic novel adaptations and multiple media projects spanning her career as both novel and short fiction writer. Panelists discuss the life and stories of Butler and the legacy of her talent.
Saturday 4:30 pm: Author Reading: Alex Shvartsman (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Alex Shvartsman
Alex Shvartsman reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 5:00 pm: Author Reading: Charlie Jane Anders (Ends at: 5:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders
Charlie Jane Anders reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 5:30 pm: Exploring Oppression in Speculative Fiction (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Carolyn Ives Gilman (M), Jennifer R. Povey, Joan Wendland
Science fiction and fantasy have never shied away from exploring the origins and consequences of fascist and oppressive societies. Whether a familiar secondary world or overt description of modern autocracies, these stories endure for the cautionary tale and the lessons they tell through the "what if." Panelists discuss how these stories have evolved over the years and the techniques used, including satire, to effectively explore how oppression shapes individuals and cultures.
Saturday 5:30 pm: Interactions of Sound & Light: Extraordinary Physics & Many Uses (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:John Ashmead (M)
Light and sound have had a close relationship since the first stroke of lightning triggered the first sound of thunder. But it is only lately that science has entered the picture. From sonoluminescence (light emitted by imploding bubbles), to the use of the acousto-optic effect to use sound to control lasers, to polarons & plasmons (quantum particles which are strange hybrids of sound and light), we look at the science of sound and light as it is now — and how it might evolve in the future.
Saturday 5:30 pm: Author Reading: Tom Doyle (Ends at: 5:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Tom Doyle
Tom Doyle reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 5:30 pm: Open Discussion: Doctor Who 60th Anniversary (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Truman
Participants:Brick Barrientos, Cathy Green
There will be four Doctor Who specials in November with David Tennant as the 14th Doctor. Take a look back at previous Doctors as well as a discussion of the return of Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor.
Saturday 5:30 pm: To the Heart of the Matter (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Jeanne Adams (M), L. Penelope
Creating a connection between the characters and the reader is important. It can drive the emotional journey or heighten the stakes for the reader to keep them turning to the next page. Panelists discuss how authors think about this link between character and reader and the techniques to make these connections work.
Saturday 6:00 pm: Author Reading: Kenneth Altabef (Ends at: 6:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Ken Altabef
Kenneth Altabef reads from recent and upcoming works.
Saturday 8:30 pm: Trivia Night! (Ends at: 10:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Brick Barrientos (M)
Join your host Brick Barrientos for an evening of trivia!
Saturday 8:30 pm: Mass Autograph Session (Ends at: 9:25 pm) Atrium
Participants:
Capclave's regular Saturday night group signing! We will also present the WSFA Small Press Award and the winner of the BSFS Amateur Writing Contest. 
Saturday 9:30 pm: Award Ceremony (Ends at: 9:55 pm) Atrium
Participants:
Celebrate the winners of the WSFA Small Press Award and BSFS Amateur Writing Contest.
Saturday 10:00 pm: Eye of Argon (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Hildy Silverman (M)
Eye of Argon is back! Join us for a so bad it's good (but still bad) live interactive performance of this convention classic.
Saturday 10:00 pm: The Forever Life (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Charles Gannon, Darrell Charles Schweitzer, Ian Randal Strock
Many works of speculative fiction feature characters who are or seek to be live forever (or nearly so). Whether it is an extended life existence in science fiction or an ancient being in fantasy and horror, what themes emerge from tales of immortality? How does it affect characterization and plot? What lessons for living can we learn from these explorations?
Sunday 10:00 am: Modern Book Bans (Ends at: 10:55 am) Eisenhower
Participants:A.C. Wise, Andy Duncan, Jeanne Adams (M), Mark Roth, Sam Lubell
There has been an alarming trend of censoring and banning books in public libraries and schools often targeting LGBTQ, Black, and Latine stories and authors. Banned Book Week, a campaign promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, starts on Sunday, October 1st. Who is behind the current book bans? How can we support the freedom to seek and to express ideas in our public spaces? Are there books that should be banned or have limited access?
Sunday 10:00 am: Friendships in Science Fiction and Fantasy (Ends at: 10:55 am) Washington Theater
Participants:A. T. Greenblatt, Lawrence M. Schoen (M), Martin Berman-Gorvine, Randee Dawn
Romance is great and who doesn't love a good archnemesis -- but what about your friends? Our panelists discuss the value of best friends, loyal quest-mates, and found family in science fiction and fantasy.
Sunday 10:00 am: Author Reading: Ef Deal (Ends at: 10:25 am) Monroe
Participants:
Ef Deal reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 10:00 am: Game Demo: Holotype (Ends at: 11:55 am) Jefferson
Participants:Perrianne Lurie (M)
A fast-paced light-strategy worker placement board game about paleontology for 2-5 players. Players use their Paleontologist, Grad Student and Field Assistant workers to gather fossils, do research and publish new Dinosaurs and Marine Reptiles as Holotypes. Personal and semi-collaborative Global Objectives feature modern paleontology concepts such as cladistics and taxonomy. The player with the most Victory Points from publishing Holotypes, completing Personal Objectives and contributing to Global Objectives wins.
Sunday 10:00 am: State of Small Press Publishing (Ends at: 10:55 am) Wilson
Participants:Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Neil Clarke, Sarah Avery (M), Ty Drago
Small press publishing is steadily evolving with new trends emerging for editors and authors alike. Panelists explain the ins and outs of small press publishing today. What's new and exciting in small press publishing? What are small presses doing that larger publishers cannot or will not do? Which types of small presses are reaching the widest audience?
Sunday 10:30 am: Author Reading: Michael A. Ventrella (Ends at: 10:55 am) Monroe
Participants:
Michael A. Ventrella reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 11:00 am: Author Reading: A.C. Wise (Ends at: 11:25 am) Monroe
Participants:A.C. Wise
A.C. Wise reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 11:30 am: Guest of Honor Interview(s)! (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Charlie Jane Anders, Sarah Pinsker
What's better than one GOH interview? How about two at the same time! Join our guests of honor Sarah Pinsker and Charlie Jane Anders in conversation together.
Sunday 11:30 am: Constructing Your Magic System (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Jeanne Adams, Ken Altabef, L. Penelope, Scott H. Andrews (M)
Magic is an important element of fantasy stories. Unless you want to end up in 'a wizard did it' world for how every problem is resolved, your magic systems needs to be constructed with a set of rules. How should you begin constructing this system? What is the cost of using magic? How powerful do you want the magic to be? Panelists discuss these and other considerations for creating a compelling magical world.
Sunday 11:30 am: Open Discussion: Star Trek (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Truman
Participants:Inge Heyer (M)
There has been a boon in Star Trek properties in recent years. Join your fellow fans to discuss the state of the Star Trek franchise.
Sunday 11:30 am: Writing Through Adversity (Ends at: 12:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:A. T. Greenblatt, Sarah Avery (M), Scott Edelman
Writing is hard enough but writers are also full human beings dealing with obstacles that can make it difficult to maintain a creative practice. From financial and family responsibilities to chronic pain and other mental and physical challenges, panelists talk openly about coping with daily pressures that often interfere with one's writing life.
Sunday 12:00 pm: Game Demo: Carcassonne (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Jefferson
Participants:
Carcassonne is a tile-placement game in which the players draw and place a tile with a piece of southern French landscape on it. The tile might feature a city, a road, a cloister, grassland or some combination thereof, and it must be placed adjacent to tiles that have already been played, in such a way that cities are connected to cities, roads to roads, etcetera. Having placed a tile, the player can then decide to place one of their meeples on one of the areas on it: on the city as a knight, on the road as a robber, on a cloister as a monk, or on the grass as a farmer. When that area is complete, that meeple scores points for its owner. During a game of Carcassonne, players are faced with decisions like: "Is it really worth putting my last meeple there?" or "Should I use this tile to expand my city, or should I place it near my opponent instead, giving him a hard time to complete their project and score points?" Since players place only one tile and have the option to place one meeple on it, turns proceed quickly even if it is a game full of options and possibilities.
Sunday 12:30 pm: Author Reading: Hildy Silverman (Ends at: 12:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:Hildy Silverman
Hildy Silverman reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 1:00 pm: Fifty years of Omelas (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Andy Duncan, James Morrow (M), Natalie Luhrs, Sarah Pinsker, Tom Doyle
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin came out in 1973, and it is more relevant and beloved than ever. Panelists discuss what makes this story a classic and how we think of it in modern times.
Sunday 1:00 pm: Artificial Intelligence 101 (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Adeena Mignogna, Alex Shvartsman, Martin Berman-Gorvine (M)
So you've heard that ChatGPT is the herald of the next generation of AI chatbots? 2023 was the year that AI - and the debates around its use - hit the mainstream. But what is the impact on publishers? On writers? What are the dangerous or useful real-world applications and what are the biggest questions posed by the modern use and development of AI?
Sunday 1:00 pm: Author Reading: Jean Marie Ward (Ends at: 1:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Jean Marie Ward
Jean Marie Ward reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 1:00 pm: Help! I Have to Edit My Draft! (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Wilson
Participants:Ken Altabef, Morgan Hazelwood, Scott Edelman (M)
It's okay to admit that editing your draft is hard work. The task can feel daunting but is a necessary part of the writing process. Panelists discuss the importance of being your own best editor as well as the tips and tricks for making the editing process not so painful.
Sunday 1:30 pm: Author Reading: Sarena Ulibarri (Ends at: 1:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:
Sarena Ulibarri reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 2:00 pm: Author Reading: Jennifer R. Povey (Ends at: 2:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Jennifer R. Povey
Jennifer R. Povey reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 2:30 pm: The Business of Writing (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Eisenhower
Participants:Jean Marie Ward, Mary G. Thompson, Randee Dawn (M)
So you have written your novel. Now what's next? From marketing and accounting to contracts and distribution, what do writers need to know to manage their career and publications. What expertise should you seek out? How do you identify predatory practices?
Sunday 2:30 pm: Presentation: Inge Heyer (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Inge Heyer (M)
Presentation: Inge Heyer
Sunday 2:30 pm: Author Reading: R. Z. Held (Ends at: 2:55 pm) Monroe
Participants:
R. Z. Held reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 2:30 pm: YouCon 2024 (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Wilson
Participants:Sarah Pinsker (M), Scott Edelman, Tom Doyle
In Sarah Pinsker's novella, "And Then There Were (N-One)" SarahCon represents a multiverse of Sarahs navigating a murder mystery plot. Our panelists share versions of their own multiverse con, from their personalized programming track to events made just for every version of them.
Sunday 3:00 pm: Author Reading: Jeanne Adams (Ends at: 3:25 pm) Monroe
Participants:Jeanne Adams
Jeanne Adams reads from recent and upcoming works.
Sunday 4:00 pm: Capclave Debrief (Ends at: 4:25 pm) Washington Theater
Participants:Aaron Pound (M), Bill Lawhorn, Courtni Burleson
Stop by to share your Capclave feedback.

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