Programming Schedule Listing
Coming Soon!
Tentative Event List
Afrofuturism: What Is It & Why It's Important
Exploring what defines Afrofuturism and its significance in speculative fiction. Also, discussing emerging and popular Afrofuturist authors and their works.
Because I Said So: Internal Logic in SFF
This expert panel of writers will discuss how they determined the rules of the worlds they've built, why it's important to be consistent, and when it's okay to break your own established rules.
Best Book I Read Since the Last InConJunction
Join us again as our panel of readers and authors shares their top books they've read since 2023's InConJunction. Books do not need to be new, but they must make the panelist top list of books they've read since the previous convention. We'll gather our list ahead of our presentation and have copies of it for folks who want one.
Chapel Service
Open to all.
Charity Auction
Benefiting Indy Reads and the PourHouse.
Closing Ceremonies
We'll see you next year!
Combat and Self-Defense for Writers
A basic introduction to self-defense in general, followed by a discussion of what is possible (and practical!) in combat. Designed for writers but with practical demonstrations, with time for questions and answers. I practice Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Dutch Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I assist with personal self-defense at my local gym.
Composing Lyrics
A discussion of the basic form for effective lyrics, how to build a song and when to use a chorus or bridge.
ConLang Class: Building Fictional Languages
In this workshop, we'll take a look at the building blocks of real-world languages and how we can use them to create believable fictional languages.
Cosplay Contest
Creativity come to life!
DC vs. Marvel: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
A panel discussion of DC and Marvel comics, movies, television series and video games. This panel will explore the history of these companies, their characters, their rivalries, future direction, and impact on fans and pop culture.
Filk circles
I'm ready to once again do the filk circles. last year was a good success considering and I feel we're gaining momentum. Aiming for a better set this year!
Foundations of Fiction
This workshop is designed to break down and identify the Foundations of Fiction so they can be used to strengthen your writing. The Foundations of Fiction may be applied to all genres of fiction as well as screenwriting and comic-book writing. This workshop will also cover why an understanding of the Foundations of Fiction is extremely instrumental to good writing at any stage of the writer's journey.
From Point A to Point X: Time Travel Dos and Don'ts
This panel will discuss how to effectively implement time travel in stories without breaking your story.
Getting Steamy in SFF
Our panelists will discuss best practices for writing romance scenes in speculative fiction.
Horror Films for Weirdos
Join us as we take a look at some of the most "what the heck?!" moments in some of the weirdest horror films. From a haunted piano that snacks on people, to semi-trucks that hold people hostage, there's no end to the strangeness in these films! If you like weird, odd - and often hilarious - horror movies, this is the panel for you!
How to Save the World: Writing High-Stakes Fiction
Whether your problem is an evil mastermind, an imploding star or melting ice caps, it can be difficult to balance the flow of your narrative when the entire world is at stake. This expert panel of writers and editors will discuss how to maintain the tension without overwhelming the reader while driving home a satisfying ending.
Joined at the Pen: Co-writing, Editing and the Line Between
We will discuss the benefits and cautions of co-writing, as well as how to be a good writing partner and/or editor.
Legit Uses of AI for Writers and Artists
Copy/paste the description of your character into an AI image generator to see if it matches your vision of the character? Do a Google image search for images of a "thing" you want in your story? Using Google Maps to street-walk down the place your story will take place to make accurate descriptions? Are these all legit uses of the technology, or are they pushing the bad edge? What else might you do, and where do you draw the line?
Librarians: Guardians of Free Speech
With government and conservative groups banning books at an alarming rate, librarians are at the forefront of the fight for free speech. Join us for a discussion with librarians and activists to discuss what dangers we face, what is being done and what we can do to keep books in our libraries.
Opening Ceremonies
Welcome to InCon 43! Meet our guests!
Pagan Service
Open to all.
Rap With the Con Chair/Meet the Circle of Janus
What was your favorite part of InCon 43? What can we do better last year? And what is the Circle of Janus?
Reading by Author TammyJo Eckhart
TammyJo will be reading from the first two books of her new adult science fiction series Almost Partners.
Reading the Movies
We know the book is usually better, but what happens when the book is based on the movie? Come explore the wild world of movie novelizations as we ask questions like: Why did so many '90s movies get a book? Are some of these good, actually? Who's writing these things? and How many authors does it take to adapt Free Willy into a 90-page book?
Retro Video Games for Weirdos
Would the sport of golf be improved by the addition of ninjas and dragons? How does learning how to type help defeat zombies? Learn the answers to these strange questions and more as we examine some of the weirdest video games of the past.
Star Trek & Star Wars: Using the Force to Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before
This panel will discuss the various facets of Star Trek and Star Wars lore, specifically the books, films and TV shows. It will also discuss the rivalry and comradery between fans of both franchises, and where they meet in the middle.
Sustainability in Cosplay
This is exactly what it sounds like: a panel where cosplayers give advice to other cosplayers on how to approach cosplay from a more sustainable angle, especially as the "TikTok-ification" of cosplay has led it to a lot of the same problems fast fashion has today. I addition to explaining how to source and reuse materials for cosplay, the panel also goes over ways to be a more sustainable congoer for anyone who attends them, cosplayers or not.
The Art of Book Covers in 2024
Despite publishing being 500 years old, the past 20 years have seen more changes to the landscape of publishing than any other time in history. E-books, print on demand, self-publishing, BookTok - things evolve at a breakneck pace, and even for readers keeping up can be a challenge. Yet despite the constant evolution, book covers remain one of the most important marketing aspects for any book. The tools and aesthetic may have changed, but a book cover can make or break whether a book rises to the top, or gets swept away in an oversaturated market. We will go over the current state of book covers, technical considerations, how to create or commission a cover, and how niche genres play a role for both authors and readers.
Through a Side Door: Speculative Stories and Moving Through Trauma
Since their inception, science fiction and fantasy have used allegory as a way to process through and expose the issues of their era. Classic stories like 1984 have been lauded as predicting the future, when in reality they reflect cyclical issues plaguing the author's time. Speculative fiction is also a shorthand for creators to process through traumatic experiences with distance. By camouflaging what they endured through the avatars of unicorns and space pirates, the reality of that pain becomes clearer even if the face and shape is different. In this roundtable discussion, creators as well as fans talk through how speculative fiction has helped them come to terms with their pasts and the uncertainty of the future.
Weird Science
Celebrating 20 years! With Science Guest of Honor Dr. Rob Pyatt!