Where Are Your Parents, Kid? Writing the Family – When sending a scrappy protagonist off on their adventures, many creators start by doing away with those pesky parents, but what can be gained from keeping them and other family members in the story? Beyond that, why do we as readers… Read more
Across genres, writers draw on legends, mythology, and folklore for inspiration and sometimes subversion in their work–both in individual stories, and across their entire careers. Sometimes we adapt that folklore faithfully and use it foundationally in our work; other times it’s a jumping-off point, a faint outline, a passing reference…. Read more
Living in space isn’t easy: it takes a lot of know-how to keep the vacuum at bay, and there are plenty of ways to build an unsuccessful habitat. What are important things to think about when you’re building a city on the other side of the sky? What factors has… Read more
Described as an “entertaining and mind-bending adventure into the deep history of urban life,” Annalee Newitz‘s latest book explores the rise and fall of four ancient cities: Çatalhöyük in Central Turkey, Pompeii in southern Italy, Angkor in Cambodia and Cahokia, near the Mississippi River. Why did these once great cities… Read more
Four past GoHs. One programmer-turned-Dungeon-Master. A time-sensitive search for a lost piece of godhood, before its power runs amok. Join players Marie Bilodeau (author, HELL BORN), Mark Robinson (storm chaser, The Weather Network), DongWon Song (agent, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency) and Arley Sorg (co-editor, Fantasy Magazine) as they venture into… Read more
Another timely event coming from Can*Con! A lot of being a professional creative is out of our control, which admittedly … kinda sucks. Issues with publishers, lack of sales, deals falling through, and more can put a serious block on not just your career, but also your energy to continue… Read more
Yet another virtual Can*Con event looming! As the nights get longer and colder, book lovers turn to words that soothe the soul. What’s bringing you solace these days? What are those stories that feel like coming home, or perhaps escaping it for a while? Join our panelists for a cozy… Read more
Can*Con online events continue fast and furious! Caribbean nations have a unique, complex history carved by colonialism, cultural mixing, revolution and more. Particularly in sci-fi, fantasy and horror, the way that Caribbean diaspora authors incorporate these influences into their writing is diverse and multilayered. How do the emerging writers on this panel explore… Read more
Greetings fair writer! Can*Con and Ottawa’s NaNoWriMo coordinators invite you to join them for an RPG-style word crawl fundraiser in support of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Together with a party of fellow scribblers, you’ll explore a dungeon by completing a series of writing goals and word sprints. Each task… Read more
Is there something you’ve been dying to know about the world of publishing? Want the perspective of an industry insider? Can*Con will bring your questions to three amazing literary agents: 2020 Guest of Honour Sara Megibow (KT Literary), 2017 Guest of Honour Kim-Mei Kirtland (HMLA), and 2020 Special Guest Emmy… Read more