This year I’m an editing special guest at the Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium. LTUE is an annual creator conference for science fiction and fantasy, and this year it’s all virtual, so you don’t have to be local (or travel to) Utah County to attend! Because I’m a special guest, I’m on an unusually large number of panels, some for my expertise in folklore and some for my experience as an editor and book designer. If you’re tuning in to LTUE (register at LTUE.net), stop by a panel or two!
LTUE is a relatively inexpensive conference that can introduce you to a wide range of topics, author perspectives, and community resources.
Thursday
Coffee, Tea, Me: The Culture of Drinking Coffee and Tea (4:00 PM)
Coffee and tea are common drinks throughout the world. Many places have ceremonies, rituals, and traditions, both formal and informal, that revolve around these drinks. What are these traditions, and how do they vary in different times and places around the world? (Other panelists: Guest of Honor Alaya Dawn Johnson, Christine Tyler, and Newell Wright)
Copyediting for Immersive Worldbuilding (7:00 PM)
You’ve built a world for your story, but have you thought about how to present that world’s elements on the page? Not all dragons must be Dragons, and imaginary worlds feel more real with internal consistency. Learn how to use capitalization, italics, and linguistic consistency to help immerse readers in your world the way your characters experience it. Then learn how to communicate your choices to any editors you work with on your book, whether you’re self-publishing or using a traditional publisher. (This is a presentation, not a panel, so it’s just me talking, and I’ll do a Q&A at the end.)
Friday
What Different Revision Drafts Are Supposed to Do (10 AM)
Developmental, character, line, and copy edits? What are they and what do they mean to the manuscript? (Copanelists: Kaela Rivera, Jessica Guernsey, Emma Heggem, and Suzy Bills)
Horror: The Great Morality Tales (1:00 PM)
From its beginning, the horror genre has often been used as a guide for morality, indicating dire consequences for some actions. Yet some argue that this is an outdated form of horror. A discussion about the good, the bad, and the ugly, concerning the use of horror as morality tale. (Copanelists: Peter Orullian, Laya V. Smith, Michaelbrent Collings, and Courtney Alameda)
So Let It Be Written: Contract Law and Society (3:00 PM)
Since Babylonian times, contracts have been an important tool for enforcing agreements between parties; a tool so powerful, that it’s even used as the basis for magic systems and computer languages. How did contract law come to be, and how does it continue to influence societies? (Copanelists: Stanley Wheeler, L. Palmer, Kenny Baldwin, and J. Anne Campanile)
Creator Chat with Kristy S. Gilbert (5:00 PM)
An informal chat with yours truly! (This is essentially a kaffeeklatsch, for those of you more familiar with that term.) A small group of people will have an intimate discussion on whatever topics you want to discuss. This session will be held in a private chat room. Signups will be posted the morning of the chat. Space is limited to 12; first come, first served.
Saturday
Developmental Editors (11:00 AM)
What they do, how to find them, and when to use them. (Copanelists: Nic Nelson, Amy Michelle Carpenter, Brittany Passmore, and Emma Heggem)
You Can Judge a Book by Its Cover (12:00 PM)
Why do some books look more appealing than others and how can I change mine? The unconventional art of using your book cover to enthrall potential readers and make more money. (Copanelists: Dan Haring, Joe Monson, Scott E. Tarbet)
The Freelance Editor and You: About the Freelance-Author Relationship (1:00 PM)
Find out what it’s like to hire and editor yourself. What is the relationship like, what are things to know, and what are things to watch out for? I’m the moderator for this panel, so if there’s something in particular you want covered, reach out and let me know in advance! (Copanelists: Nic Nelson, M.A. Nichols, Christine Nielson, and Barbara Lund)
I Sense Something: Adding the Senses (4:00 PM)
An editing pass many include focusing on adding descriptions of sight, sound, taste, smell, and more. Learn how to incorporate those descriptions to create vivid experiences in your writing. (Copanelists: Charlie Pulsipher, Jessica Guernsey, Michaelbrent Collings, and Stephen Gashler)
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