If you’re involved with publishing or books in some way or another, you likely know that BEA (BookExpo America) is in Chicago this year (May 11-13). What you may not know is that there’s another literary event overlapping as well. The Nebula Conference is in Chicago on May 12-15 and will feature seminars and panel discussions on the craft and business of writing.
There is no one path to being a writer (except for the work of writing and revising). Some of us have gone through MFA or PhD programs. Some of us come from backgrounds in journalism or advertising. We are lawyers, teachers, therapists, burlesque dancers, parents, doctors, baristas, puppeteers. We have varied experiences, perspectives, and skill sets. Conventions and conferences give us the opportunity to learn from one another, and the Nebula Conference has assembled an impressive array of topics that are timely and relevant.
Here’s a sampling of the programming options for writers who register for the Nebula Conference Weekend:
Best Practices for an Author Website
Commissioning, Working With, and Compensating Expert Readers
Understanding Translation
Fighting the Harassment Game
Patreon
Podcasting for Writers
Language as Rebellion
Historical Research from the Margins
The Moral Responsibility of the Storyteller
Day Jobs for Writers
What Teens Are Looking for in YA Literature
The Future of Racism
Promotional Bootcamp
BarCon and other Secret Handshakes
So you want an assistant…
Western Narratives, There is No Single Voice in The West, So Why Do Only Hear From One?
Defense Against The Dark Arts: Protecting Yourself and Others From Harassment Online
Literary EstatesPart I and II (pre-reg required)
How to Give an Effective Reading
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the annual SFWA Nebula Conference will be held at the Palmer House and will include professional programming, receptions, and an awards banquet and ceremony with Toastmaster John Hodgman.
On May 13, a mass autographing session will also take place at the Palmer House that is FREE and open to the public. You can view the list of participants here. (I’ll be there with Stephen signing copies of Geek Parenting! Stop by and say hello!)
While the organization sponsoring the weekend, SFWA, is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres, the programming and speakers participating in the conference are pertinent to all manner of professional writers. From freelancing to social media, digital assets to agents—these topics transcend genre and will be presented by professional writers, editors, lawyers, and social media specialists.
More information about the SFWA Nebula Conference can be found at: http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/2016-nebula-conference/
