• 11:00 A.M. Saturday
  Creating Settings
  How are they created? How can they be used to fill out the background of the story giving texture and detail without overwhelming the plot? The writers will talk about where the settings came from and how they were developed. At the end of the discussion the audience can choose a picture, list words describing a setting based on it and write a paragraph putting the words together and voila: a setting is created.
  Karl Schroeder, William Jones, Violette Malan (M), Marcy Italiano
• 4:00 P.M. Saturday
  Science Fiction Gaming
  Most young people play video games more than they read or watch television; how much has science fiction been a part of this new medium?
  Tobias Buckell (M), The Ferrett, Karl Schroeder, John Scalzi
• 11:00 A.M. Sunday
  Gluten-Free Fantasy
  Most medieval cultures didn't have chainmail, swords, horses, or wheat. Yet the overwhelming majority of medieval cultures in fantasy do. What do we stand to gain by breaking the bonds of Europe on our collective imagination? And what's so scary about bolas, sled-dogs, and rice?
  Justine Larbalestier, Scott Westerfeld, John Scalzi, Karl Schroeder, Jim Frenkel

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Personal Note

The art of procrastination raised to new heights. Here we see Michael Skeet, Peter Bloch-Hansen and David Nickle avoiding writing while on retreat at Hart House Farm in the rolling Caledon Hills. Hugh A.D. Spencer is approaching from the left to punish them for their laziness. Over the years I've hosted many writing retreats here. Food is included; water pistols are extra.