Master Classes
Master Classes are held on the Friday of Can*Con and cost $20 to participate.
Telling a Shared Story: Writing Compelling RPG Adventures
Presented by Geoff Gander
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Whether you're writing for your gaming group, or trying to break into the RPG industry, crafting story-rich adventures that leap off the gaming table into your players' minds is something anyone can learn! This 2 hour workshop will cover the basic elements of good RPG story structure and setting design, including how much background is needed, how to avoid railroading, how to maintain pacing to keep players interested, and more. Participants will also receive a sample adventure template to help them craft their own adventures! Time permitting, these principles will be put into practice by developing an adventure outline.
Write A Story In A Weekend
Presented by David Schultz and Brandon Butler
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Develop writing skills and draw on inspiration from other workshops to craft a story over Can*Con weekend! In this workshop you will learn tips and techniques to quickly turn your ideas into effective stories. Optional prompts will provide an opportunity to develop key skills and immediately deploy content from other Can*Con workshops, deepening the knowledge you've gained. A second session of this two-part workshop on Sunday afternoon will provide optional feedback and critique to participants, and prizes will be awarded for various categories. Subject to the interest of participants, those who complete a story over the weekend will have the option of including their story in a specialized Can*Con anthology created for the event, to be published in paperback and ebook formats.
Hacking Your Productivity in a World of Distraction
Presented by your local NaNoWriMo coordinators, Kaitlin Caul and Helena Verdier
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Everyone struggles with the need to be productive at some point in their life. In an ideal world, there would be a simple, quantifiable, quick-fix answer to the question of “how to be productive.” But since we all supposedly live in ‘reality’, it’s of course never that easy. Effective productivity in creative endeavors involves both internal and external factors. From limiting distractions to building a constructive mindset, finding the productivity “sweet spot” depends first and foremost on an awareness of your limitations and strengths. In this Master Class, the three local coordinators for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) will break down the lessons they’ve learned about productivity while writing 50,000 words in 30 days a total of 23 times combined. Together we’ll address what productivity means, what influences your ability to become and remain productive, and other tips and tricks for how to deal with the wild world of distractions.
Speculative Futurisms
Presented by Derek Newman-Stille
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Participants will be asked to look at a new technology that either has been developed or is being considered for development. They will then ponder how that technology may change humanity’s engagement with the world around them. This activity will help participants to consider techniques for creating powerful speculative fiction, imagining different worlds and the social changes that come about through changes in technology. Prepare to look at technology in a new way and create a new future.