SF&F fandom has been my intellectual home for six decades, and I'm not done yet. My focus at cons is on the science and writing panels. I travel in my RV to various conventions, and read and listen to SF&F lit, but am almost unversed in the media forms, having so often lived overseas or out away from media reception. Needing to make a living, I relegated my writing to hobby status, but have never given up. Currently, I'm taking up my WIP once more in a serious way.
Sessions auxquelles Judy Roberta Johnson participe
Vendredi 16 Février, 2024
Science fiction and fantasy give authors and their readers the chance to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations. Yet, even the Starship Enterprise came back to Starfleet in San Francisco between voyages. What are the challenges and opportunities presented by staying close to home?
Samedi 17 Février, 2024
"Own Voices" deserve to be heard, and people, especially underrepresented people should get to tell their own stories. But, does that mean we can only write about characters that look like us and have the same background? Taken to a logical extreme, can men ever write authentic female characters? Where are the lines when it comes to "writing the other?" When does the folk process become cultural theft or exploitation? What is the role of "sensitivity readers" in all this, and can they help of...
It's a familiar accusation for many writers. We're told our work is "woke" or someone tries to ban our books. But SF and Fantasy have always been political. We'll talk about holding off the dreaded accusation, "That's Too Political."
Dimanche 18 Février, 2024
"Nobody is the villain in her own movie," except some people are. But more often than not they are somewhere nearer the middle of the scale, kind and decent sometimes, thoughtless or cruel in other circumstances. And, sometimes, even good people are left with nothing but bad choices. Can you write satisfying adventure stories without twirling mustaches and capes flapping in the breeze?
Vendredi 14 Février, 2025
Samedi 15 Février, 2025
Sessions auxquelles Judy Roberta Johnson assiste
Vendredi 16 Février, 2024
From science to history to magic, the world is full of source material for writes if you only know where to look. Our panel of writers, game designers and fellow travelers will discuss how they develop their background to make their creative endeavor more realistic.
Isaac Asimov wrote provocative fiction about the about the role of robots in a futuristic society. His three Laws of Robotics made for fascinating reading. Time has marched on and we are on the cusp of modern automation. Are these laws still relevant? Come find out!
What is the data? We demand proof and yet accept the pretext of anecdotal testimony in making serious decisions in life. How does data move from raw data to information to scientific theory and thought? Come listen to our panel of experts discuss this rather torturous process.
The terrible news about the risks of climate change are almost impossible to dodge, as are the attempts to "greenwash" the organizations and institutions that are responsible for the current situation and essential to resolving it.
Samedi 17 Février, 2024
Fighting in Fiction: Writing a Knockout Scene is an engaging and interactive panel with demonstrations of live techniques to discuss the realities of fighting, such as how and why people lose consciousness, surviving group attacks, weapon disarming, and much more. The intention of the panel is to help authors have a greater knowledge of physical conflict so they can bring more dramatic realism while avoiding common errors. This panel, which began at RadCon has been offered to standing r...
Most authors and creators in this space know both the good kind of pirates (yarr!) and the bad kind of pirates (yoink!). This presentation will discuss the ins and outs of copyright creation, registration, and enforcement. It will also discuss costs, remedies, DMCA takedowns, and fair use.
Learn the history of the picnic and taste samples of a typical 19th century picnic. Discussion will center on the recipes, etiquette, and traditions around picnics.
Fantastical tales! Venture into the realm of creative writing where sci-fi, fantasy, and magic intertwine. Join us for a journey through storytelling, character development, and world-building, and unlock your potential to craft captivating tales from other dimensions.
Consent is mandatory for most interactions. Come join a conversation with people who deal with consent in everything from their professions, to daily encounters with friends. Ask questions about anything that may confuse you on the subject and learn language that will make getting and giving consent a more natural process.
Fighting in Fiction: Weapons distills down key concepts to help authors craft accurate and thrilling scenes. Come learn how MythBusters got it wrong when analyzing Samurai sword fighting because they were missing one critical fighting concept. We’ll discuss guns, knives, daggers, sticks, ranges, movement, disarming techniques, and much more! This panel is interactive, so please ask questions throughout! Afterward, you’ll be primed to avoid key errors and write thrillin...
A panel to discuss importance of great characters-how to design them, avoids tropes, create unique characters in stories. Also discuss good and bad characters in books & media. Breaking stereotypes and goals for characters. Discuss issues (example why is a strong woman often tagged stubborn instead of strong).
Writers, artists and crafters face many challenges as we produce our creations. Sometimes we're asked if it's a "real career" or "just a hobby," but that ignores the other needs we can fulfill by writing, painting, and crafting.
Robots are just the latest iteration of technology designed to imitate life, augment human power, and save humans from harmful jobs. Plus they're just so cool! We give a brief history of mechanical devices and discuss their relationship to the society they were devised in.
What do editors do? How many kinds of editors are there, anyway? (And what do they do?) Who pays them, when? And, of course, why?
Hear the arguments for and against nuclear power, including how nuclear power impacts the environment, the economy, and public health.
Gail Carriger's work on the Heroine's Journey gives a great counterpoint to the Classic Hero's Journey made famous by Joseph Campbell, among others. Come ready to discover Carriger's book, or better yet, read it ahead of time so we can dig right in! (you didn't think there would be homework for Radcon, did you?)https://gailcarriger.com/books/hj/
Learn the basics of Temperament Theory and apply it to making well-rounded and believable characters. This proto-psychological framework will add depth and inform things such as body language, speech patterns, thought and motivations, interactions and dynamics, physical features, and even personal habits that can transform your written characters, your cosplay, your gaming, and your knowledge of human nature.
Do you know not to trouble with tribbles? Do you know that Jujitsu Kaisen isn't your cousins new form of karate? If so, come on down and win some $$$ pitting your knowledge against your fellow con goers.
We are a group of entertainment artists and friends who came together out of our love of creatively expressing ourselves. Based around the Seattle/Pacific Northwest area. With our performance we are able to connect with people in a new way. The time and dedication to building flow skills gives us all healthy and exciting avenues of expression. When learning a new piece, there is an ex...
Dimanche 18 Février, 2024
AI is a huge contention and some people are solidly against it. Others are totally for it, and then there are people in the middle. Explore how AI tools can serve as invaluable collaborators, offering unique insights and streamlining your workflow. Whether you're a tech-savvy author or new to the AI frontier, this session provides a possible glimpse into the future of writing.
Join us for an exploration of the intricate art of building worlds, developing characters, and weaving storylines that captivate readers across multiple books. We'll discuss plot structure, pacing, and the art of leaving breadcrumbs for future books. Let's talk about cultivating loyal readership by delivering a blend of familiarity and novelty for each book.
Regardless of which comes first when you craft a story, the characters or the world, they need to work together. But sometimes, that amazing new plot idea breaks the fundamental rules of the universe you've constructed. Sometimes, your characters just don't fit where you've put them. How do you make these elements work together?
Vendredi 14 Février, 2025
Jason strives for realism in physics in science fiction. He spends a great deal of time looking at military studies of the limits of human G tolerance and how people can actually survive reentry. He tries very hard to have no ‘magic tech’ like inertia dampening and artificial gravity in his work. In this talk we’ll discuss why ‘magic tech’ is okay to use, when it’s too much, and why writers who stick to real physics can still produce incredibly dramatic scenes.
Have a head--or notebook--full of ideas but you aren't sure where to start? Let these published authors talk about their first stories and how they got started.
Come discuss with professional authors on a critical aspect of successful writing, mindset. What we think as we approach our work has critical impact on how much we get done, how quickly we recover from failures, and what ends up on the written page. What mindsets will fire you up to write everyday, kill doubt and the inner critic, and illuminate your work lighting a fire in the hearts of your readers?
From science to history to magic, the world is full of source material for writes if you only know where to look. Our panel of writers, game designers and fellow travelers will discuss how they develop their background to make their creative endeavor more realistic.
Samedi 15 Février, 2025
What are tropes, how are they used, and how can we use them effectively as story-telling tools without falling back on the same old cliches?Tropes are one of the building blocks of stories, but they can be misused, overused, and just plain worn out. How can you use tropes effectively in your writing? What are some stories that have done to well? Let's talk about using tropes, with and without flipping them around.
Experience the art of medieval outdoor cooking with a live demonstration of preparing a hearty stew over an open fire. Discover the staple ingredients of historical diets, from root vegetables to preserved meats and herbs, while learning about the unique challenges of cooking with medieval tools and techniques.
How do animal companions support our characters? Are they wise guides, fools, or tricksters? Are they more animal-like or more human-like? How do they communicate?
Authors who understand the hero's journey, the archetypes involved, and why it resonates with the human soul will have a storytelling competitive advantage. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s With a Thousand Faces and Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey were game changers for my understanding of story. In this panel we’ll discuss the stages of the journey, the archetypes found along the way, why they're critical to know, and how the journey affects writers' stories and lives.
This presentation will discuss the arguments for and against nuclear power, including how nuclear power implants the environment, the economy, and public health.
Watch our Special Guest, Jeff Sturgeon, Create an original piece right before your eyes. The finished work can be bid on or bought outright.