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Writing Activities at Arisia 2019
Jan. 21st, 2019 01:58 pmThis past weekend I attended Arisia 2019, an annual sci-fi and fantasy convention in Boston. The con program has a number of different tracks, including one specifically about writing with panels that include both writers and editors (more details in the pocket program here). I enjoy this track because it's like writer-advice speed dating. For the price of a one-day workshop at a writing center or adult-education school, I can get perspectives and ideas from lot of different people, who vary in terms of genre, experience, and role in the writing process. Here are some of the panels I attended and lessons I learned.
Tricks for Self-Editing: This leader of this small-group seminar described an approach where writers use colors and symbols to mark up hard copies of their manuscripts. She suggested that writers color code their sentences (or in novels, paragraphs) to make sure each sentence or paragraph is helping to achieve one of two key story story elements: 1) developing character or 2) advancing the main plot. It should also achieve one of these other elements: 3) advancing the setting, 4) advancing a subplot, or 5) establishing an emotional theme. She also suggested putting boxes of various shapes around potentially problematic words or phrases: adverbs, filter words, uses of the progressive or past-perfect tense. These uses may not be problematic in specific situations, but the boxes can help identify when certain techniques are being overused. As a very visual person, I like this sort of thing.
Writing Outside of Comfort Zones: This was probably my favorite session from the whole conference. The moderator,Smith College professor Andrea Hairston, did a great job of setting the stage by describing the importance of narratives to individual identity, how the narrow American mythology leaves the stories of some groups out and commodifies the stories of others, and how caricatures and stereotypes can become so ingrained that it can be difficult to distinguish them from character. The other panelists shared their experiences being black, queer, legally-blind and with having ADD or non-visible physical disabilities, experiencing sexual assault, or being an "invisible bisexual" (I know a thing or two about the last one). This prompted a lot of useful questions for me to think about in terms of creating three-dimensional characters.
Tricks for Self-Editing: This leader of this small-group seminar described an approach where writers use colors and symbols to mark up hard copies of their manuscripts. She suggested that writers color code their sentences (or in novels, paragraphs) to make sure each sentence or paragraph is helping to achieve one of two key story story elements: 1) developing character or 2) advancing the main plot. It should also achieve one of these other elements: 3) advancing the setting, 4) advancing a subplot, or 5) establishing an emotional theme. She also suggested putting boxes of various shapes around potentially problematic words or phrases: adverbs, filter words, uses of the progressive or past-perfect tense. These uses may not be problematic in specific situations, but the boxes can help identify when certain techniques are being overused. As a very visual person, I like this sort of thing.
Writing Outside of Comfort Zones: This was probably my favorite session from the whole conference. The moderator,Smith College professor Andrea Hairston, did a great job of setting the stage by describing the importance of narratives to individual identity, how the narrow American mythology leaves the stories of some groups out and commodifies the stories of others, and how caricatures and stereotypes can become so ingrained that it can be difficult to distinguish them from character. The other panelists shared their experiences being black, queer, legally-blind and with having ADD or non-visible physical disabilities, experiencing sexual assault, or being an "invisible bisexual" (I know a thing or two about the last one). This prompted a lot of useful questions for me to think about in terms of creating three-dimensional characters.
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The panelists emphasized the importance of being brave and trying new things and that everyone almost certainly gets some things wrong in their depictions, citing examples from their own work. The important thing is to own, and not deny, your bullshit, and to focus on your next project and opportunities to do things better. The group also talked about how to find, vet, and appropriately use sensitivity readers (and the importance of not generalizing from one person's experience). They also reminded everybody to take advantage of museums and their staff: these are professionals that want to share the histories and experiences of particular groups.
The Past in Present Tense: Escaping Flashbacks: This was the most technical session I attended. Two grizzled veteran sci-fi writers and a novice writer moderator debated when, if ever, to use flashbacks and flash-forwards, and how else to successfully deal with time jumps.
( More under the cut )The con also features a lot of other sci-fi and fantasy activities: book, movie, music and video game panels; costume contests; video and board games; movie, TV, and anime screenings; and the like. They also have some maker stuff. I attended a block printing workshop, which turned out to be another highlight of the con for me. I cut a mold and printed this design befitting my namesake.
