Workshops

But you’ll feel alive! Alive!

Take a little break, meet some folks, learn a lot

Jump to a Workshop

Creature Fur Workshop with Russ Adams Creature Suit Workshop with Russ Adams PRACTICAL SELF-DEFENSE Shift Your Perspective with Lindsay Wagner SWORDPLAY & STAGE COMBAT TAI CHI VOICE ACTING WRITER'S TWO DAY WRITER'S HOURLY

The Art of Magic with Curt Anderson and Jon Armstrong

Beginner Magic Workshop

World-renowned magicians Jon Armstrong and Curt Anderson are teaming up once again to teach two small groups of Dragon Con members the art of magic!

The first one-of-a-kind class is the Beginner Magic Workshop, where you’ll not only learn the secrets behind some mind-blowing magic but also how to perform these effects for maximum amazement! Curt and Jon will teach you everything you need to know to wow your friends and family and will provide one-on-one instruction to ensure you’ve got everything down before the workshop ends.

The Beginner Magic Workshop will be two 90-minute sessions. The first session is on Thursday at 1 pm. and the second session is on Friday at 1 pm No magic experience is necessary to take part, though those who are already magic fans will get to improve their skills and hear two pros talk shop.

In the first session, participants will learn the foundation of illusion, how to perform the mechanics and basic sleight-of-hand behind some incredible feats of magic, the psychological structure of building deception, and how to best perform in front of an audience. The second session will delve into more advanced techniques and skills, and Jon and Curt will review and help you perfect your work from the first session.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED WILL BE PROVIDED! In addition, you will have access to digital instructions to brush up on what you learned after Dragon Con is over. As a special thank you for attending the workshop, you’ll also be given access to additional tricks to learn from the comfort of your own home. The workshop is open to almost all ages (10 years young or older) and skill levels.

Sign up fast! This will be a very limited seating workshop to ensure every participant gets the personal instruction they need.

Jon Armstrong and Curt Anderson are award-winning professional magicians whose combined credits include performing on The Today Show, Penn and Teller’s Fool Us, and Masters of Illusion as well as being a magic consultant on several shows, including Supernatural, Arrested Development, The Mentalist, and Shut Eye. You can learn more about Jon at cardjon.com and Curt at magicurt.com.

Intermediate Magic Workshop

World-renowned magicians Jon Armstrong and Curt Anderson are teaming up once again to teach two small groups of Dragon Con members the art of magic!

The second one-of-a-kind class is the Intermediate Magic Workshop. Are you already able to do some magic, or did you take the workshop last year? This workshop will teach you some brand new tricks, improve your skills, and help you grow in the art of magic. Not only will you learn more amazing new routines, but you will also learn ways to make the magic you already know present much better. This Intermediate Workshop will also teach you how to better learn magic in general, so your magic journey can continue on your own.

The Intermediate Magic Workshop will be two 90-minute sessions. The first session is on Saturday at 11:30 am. and the second session is on Sunday at 11:30 am.

In the first session, participants will learn how to take the foundations of illusion, sleight-of-hand and presentation learned in the first session (or elsewhere) and build on them to help bring your magic to more of a professional level.

The second session will delve into more advanced techniques and skills, and Jon and Curt will review and help you perfect your work from the first session.

Sign up fast! This will be a very limited seating workshop to ensure every participant gets the personal instruction they need.

The Beginning Workshop will be in 2 – 90 minute parts.

When: Thursday at 1 pm and Friday at 1 pm.
Location – Hilton – Room 309/310
Cost = $100
Class limit – 24

The Intermediate Workshop will be in 2 – 90 minute parts.

When: Saturday at 11:30 am and Sunday at 11:30 am.
Location – Hilton – Room 309/310
Cost = $100
Class limit – 24

Creature Fur Workshop with Russ Adams

Russ Adams is an award-winning special effect artist known to world-wide audiences for his work on the SyFy network’s hit television show, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge. Generous and grateful to his fan base, Russ is one of the most recognizable personalities on the show. Russ was selected from nearly a thousand artists to appear on Season 1 and his wit and presence quickly made him a fan favorite.

Russ is also the author of the popular how-To series, A Workshop with Russ Adams.

Name: Creature Fur Workshop

Cost: $50 – includes kit worth $55-65

(Please note that we have reached the original 2o person limit. However, we were able to obtain a larger room for the workshop and open up 20 more spots! Please note that there are no remaining complimentary kits available. Those kits were allotted for the first 20 people that signed up for the workshop.)

Hosts: Russ Adams (Creature Designer)

Date & Time: Friday, 10 am

Run Time: Approx. 1.5 hours

Objective:

The goal is to educate new creatives on the proper use and handling of faux fur/hair fabric. In this workshop, we hope to dispel any misconceptions or fears associated with fur-work. Using key techniques and quality materials can be a huge game-changer for future creations.

Discussion

National Fiber Tech Fur
How It’s Made
4-Way Stretch
Why Quality Matters.
Patterning
Fur Direction
Plotting Patterns to Reduce Waste
Fur Cutting Methods
Using Scissors
Using Razor Blade
Correcting Mistakes
Sewing Long and Short Pile Fur
Hand Stitching Methods
Machine Sewing
Trimming Fur with Scissors and Clippers
Styling Fur
Volume
Sculpting
Combing and Brushing
Cleaning Fur
Tricks of the Trade – Example: using a damp cloth to move fur/hair aside when installing or using a zipper.
Q&A

Tool Kit: A $55-65

LIMITED TO THE FIRST 20 SIGNUPS

1 Reusable Tote bag
1 sample of NFT 5-7” Fur (Random Color)
1 pair of Thread Snips
Escape Design FX Business Card
eBook copy of Creature Fur & Hair by Russ Adams

Important Information:

Cost: $50
Limited to 20 people (Please note that we have reached the original 2o person limit. However, we were able to obtain a larger room for the workshop and open up 20 more spots! Please note that there are no remaining complimentary kits available. Those kits were allotted for the first 20 people that signed up for the workshop.)
When: Friday, 10 am
Room: Galleria 8

Creature Suit Workshop with Russ Adams

Creature Suit Builds

Final workshop length: 1.5 hours

Day and Time: Friday, 4pm – 5:30pm

Cost: $100

Class size: 25

Final class meeting: At Dragon Con.

A beginners focused master class on building creature suits. Centering on a maquette, workshop
attendees will learn to construct a creature suit. This will begin as 3-Saturday private Facebook Group workshops. Live stream will be from 1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time, Aug 12, 19, 26 and finish with the final segment at Dragon Con.
This workshop includes
1.) Armatures and Materials
2.) Research and Rough Design
3.) Muscle Suit
4.) Patterning Muscles
5.) Spandex body suit.
6.) Foam Fabrication & Muscle Placement
7.) Sewing and attachment
8.) Skinning your suit
9.) Fur Types
10.) Patterning Fur
11.) Cutting Fur
12.) Sewing Fur
13.) Suit Assembly
14.) Styling Fur

When complete, attendees of this workshop should have constructed a scaled down maquette of the muscle suit they designed.
The final meeting of the workshop will take place at Dragon Con 2023 where projects will be critiqued. We will also discuss any issues encountered during the builds.
• A material list will be provided to workshop attendees by email, before class begins. This list will also be on the private Facebook Group.
• Access to Private Facebook Group will be provided to sign ups via email prior to the first class.
• 1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time, Aug 12, 19, 26 for Facebook Live Streams.

Important Information:

Cost: $100
Limited to 25 people
When: Friday, 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Room: Hilton 315

Practical Self-Defense with Keith R.A. DeCandido

Fourth-degree black belt Keith R.A. DeCandido gives a guide to some basic
self-defense techniques that can be useful in difficult situations. No previous martial arts training required. Recommend that attendees wear comfortable street clothes and shoes.

This is a free workshop, so come on by and check us out!

Important Information:

When: Friday, September 1st, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Where: Hilton 404-405

Grab the Gauntlet: How to Write Good Genre TV for Everybody with Emily Andras

Have you ever wanted to write sci-fi or fantasy for television? Now is the time, particularly if you have a unique take or diverse voice! In this interactive Master Class, Emily Andras will detail how to start script-writing, get hired into a TV Writers Room, and develop a killer pitch to sell your own show. She’ll explain what makes a ‘hot’ genre series in 2019 and dish on navigating networks, producers, and building a fandom, while sticking to your vision and challenging the system from the inside out.

Fun and frank, this writing workshop is inclusive for writing amateurs to serious professionals, all are welcome.

Important Information:

Day & Time: Friday, August 30th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Where: Hilton 309-312
Class size is limited to 75 people, and pre-registration is required.
Fee does not include a Dragon Con Membership
Dragon Con members receive a $100 discount off the $225 fee
No refunds for the workshop will be granted after August 1st, 2019

Registration Closed

Shift your perspective; experience the difference with Lindsay Wagner

The event will explore one of the most empowering realizations Ms. Wagner has had in her life. That is, “Our experience of any life circumstance is a function of personal perspective, more than the circumstance itself; that as our perspective changes so does our experience.” It is an Illusion that these perspectives which cause us to view and react in ways that rob our natural joy and greatest potential are real, are…’Just who I am.’ We are very intelligent, divine creations, and just as the body has the capacity to heal, so do our hearts and minds.

Important Information:

When: Saturday, September 2nd @ 1 pm

Where: Hilton 309

Limit: – 40 people

Price: $30

Swordplay and Stage Combat with Robert Chapin

Robert Chapin (Ring of Steel, The Hunted) will be bringing his epic sword-fighting workshop to Dragon Con! Learn the basics of swordplay and fight choreography in this hands-on two-hour class.

Robert is a swordplay/stage combat instructor in Hollywood with over 40 years of experience working on films like Hook and Army of Darkness. He has also worked with stars such as Karl Urban, Robin Williams, Marc Singer, John Saxon, Dante Basco, and Richard Lynch. Robert has taught classes at ULCA, Strausberg, the Inosanto Academy, Westside Fencing Center, Gascon Academy, National Wushu Training Center, various Highlander conventions, and has been certified with the SAFD, SBFD, and FDC (societies of American, British, and Canadian Fight Directors).

Practice weapons will be provided. Bring comfortable clothes you can move in, sensible shoes, and water. Capes, puffy shirts, and a whimsical but tragic backstory are optional

Important Information:

Class 1 –

Cost: $50 + tax
When: Friday, September 1st, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Hyatt Regency V
Length: 2 hours
Limited to 20 participants

Class 2

Cost: $50 + tax
When: Saturday, September 2nd, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Hyatt Regency V
Length: 2 hours
Limited to 20 participants

Tai Chi Workshop

“Tai Chi is a powerful healing art, a moving meditation, and a non-contact martial art all in one. Once you learn Tai Chi and Chi Kung, you can practice these ancient Chinese healing art forms anywhere, anytime, and for the rest of your life. “When I discovered Tai Chi, I found an exercise that satisfied my physical, mental and spiritual needs equally. After 30 years of practice, I feel Tai Chi contains within its structure, principles that are key to unlocking our greatest potentials.” Erin Gray

Erin Gray’s one hour workshop will be an introduction to the theory and practice behind Chi Kung and Tai Chi. The first half of the class will include 8 simple Chi Kung exercises, combining breath and gentle movements. Chi Kung, the art of energy, is also the foundation behind Tai Chi. These Chi Kung movements will open and balance the channels of energy running throughout your body and improve the function of your organs. In the second half of the class you will learn the principles behind Tai Chi, and the first five movements of the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Core form as taught to me by Grandmaster Dr. Carl Totten at the Taoist Institute. . Much like Yoga, Tai Chi calms your mind, enlivens your spirit, and strengthens and relaxes your entire body. Unifying mind, body, and spirit through the practice of Tai Chi develops your awareness, and awakens your true nature which brings peace, balance, and happiness into your life.

“Scientific studies show that Tai Chi helps chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, & diabetes. It also improves balance, prevents falls, & reduces stress,” says Dr. Paul Lam.

Please wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in and be prepared to be either barefoot, wearing socks, or flat shoes. If you have foot problems and have to wear your tennis shoes and inner supports, that’s fine.

Important Information:

All three classes cover the same material. If you would like to attend multiple sessions, please purchase each session individually
Fee does not include a Dragon Con Membership
Dragon Con members receive a $100 discount off the $120 fee
No refunds for the workshop will be granted after August 1st, 2023
Workshop sizes are limited to 25 and pre-registration is required

The schedule is as follows:

Fri – 4:00pm – 5:00pm Hilton 404/405
Sat – 2:30pm – 3:30pm Hilton 404/405
Sun – 2:30pm – 3:30pm Hilton 404/405

Voice Acting: Master Class

Voice Acting: Master Class

Who wants to be a Hero…and a Villain?! (A two-day voice over masterclass workshop for animation & video games. Presented by Voice Actors Dino Andrade, Greg Houser and for the 1st time, Special Guest Connor Elias Andrade!)

Choose either a morning or afternoon workshop Thursday, August 31st & Friday, September 1st:
MORNING Workshop: Part One: Thurs, 9am-1pm and Part Two: Fri, 9am-1pm
AFTERNOON Workshop: Part One: Thurs, 3pm-7pm and Part Two: Fri, 3pm-7pm
Cost – $80

Click here to sign up!

Dream of a career in voice over for original animation, anime & video games? Voice actors Dino Andrade (World of Warcraft, Street Fighter 6, Batman: Arkham Asylum), Greg Houser (Evangelion, One Piece, Tales of Vesperia) and special guest Connor Elias Andrade present a fun, full-participation, two-day immersive, voice over master class that covers it all!

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME for attendees with kids interested in animation voice over, new to the workshop this year, Dino’s son, 13-year old voice actor Connor Elias Andrade (Grizz from We Baby Bears and Toddler Groot from Spider-Man: Maximum Venom) will be joining Dino & Greg to work with younger participants and give his first-hand perspective and experience as a child voice actor!

Over two days you will learn the VO acting techniques you must know to make it in original animation, Anime, or video games!

Thursday (Morning or Afternoon) – Part One

Fundamentals of Voice Acting
How to Discover the Different Character Voices Within You
Visualization techniques that Make Characters & Scenes Come Alive
Video Games Acting Techniques & Styles

Friday (Morning or Afternoon) – Part Two

Anime & Live Action Dubbing Techniques
The Art of Creating Great Villains
Audition Techniques
Course Concludes with a Casting Session & Table Read of an Authentic Production Script

Whether participants have lots of acting experience or none at all, everyone is guaranteed to have a blast at this interactive, fun, informative and enlightening peek into the REAL world of Voice Over for young and old!

Your Instructors:

Actor & Animation Voice Over Teacher Dino Andrade:

Voice actor Dino Andrade is a busy guy with leading, supporting and guest role in numerous ongoing shows, movies and shorts including My Dad The Bounty Hunter, Eva The Owlett, We Baby Bears (with his son Connor), Loud House, Chickenhare And The Hamster Of Darkness, Bidoof’s Big Stand, Stillwater, The Queen’s Corgi’s, The New Looney Tunes, Sofia The First, Guardians Of OZ, Vampirina and more. In video games Dino is known for over 14 years of World Of Warcraft, plus Batman Arkham Asylum, Evil Dead The Game, Wasteland 3, Prey, Star Trek Online, Brutal Legend and the just released Street Fighter 6, Minecraft Legends and the soon-to-be released Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game.

Additionally, Andrade has lent his voice to such high-profile properties as The New Looney Tunes (as Speedy Gonzales), Fortnite, Demon Souls, Dishonored 2, Shimmer and Shine, Call of Duty, Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter, and Guitar Hero. Anime fans know him for his starring roles as Ya-Ya Ma in Jo-Jo’s Bizarre Adventure, Willy in MFKZ, Kenshin in Sengoku Basara and Ragou in Tales of Verperia, as well as his guest appearances in Weathering With You, Night is Short, Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle, Hellsing Ultimate, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and the upcoming FLCL Grunge.

Online Dino recently starred in Zuzabaland as Zuzu, Dutch the Dog in Get My Goat for the Dreamworks TV YouTube Channel, and Enormous Coal in Hanazuki. On television, Dino has provided sound-a-likes for both the short-lived CBS series $h*! My Dad Says and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. Dino has also been heard in both radio and television campaigns for Kellog’s Rice Krispies as the iconic voice of Pop of Snap, Crackle and Pop fame!

Voice Actor Greg Houser

Greg is proof that anyone from any background can become a voice actor. He originally joined the voice acting ranks through his background in IT and Engineering (no, seriously). Earning advanced degrees from Pennsylvania State University and studying drama with the Walnut St. Theatre, the Wilma Theatre, and the People’s Improv Theatre.

Without ever leaving his native Philadelphia, Greg has had a fun career behind the mic for over 18 years providing vocal talent for companies such as American Express, Dupont, Lockheed Martin, CBS, Honda of America, Virgin Mobile, Petsmart, and both the MBA & NBA. In the anime world, he’s had the privilege to be cannon fodder for titles such as Evangelion, Ikki Tousen, One Piece, Shiki, and Tales of Vesperia. (alongside Dino Andrade).

The need to relocate to Hollywood (and/or any of those other entertainment centers of the world) for a career in voice over is rule #1. Greg is living proof that rules are made to be broken!

Child Voice Actor Connor Elias Andrade

The son of voice actor Dino Andrade, Connor has been voice acting since he was 8 years old. Connor stars as Grizz on the Cartoon Network hit series We Baby Bears. Connor also stars in AppleTV’s Duck & Goose as Duck, as well as lead roles in Disney’s Eureka, and Nickelodeon’s Deer Squad & Casagrandes and guest roles in Disney’s Amphibia. Connor has also voiced such iconic characters as Toddler Groot for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom and Baby Shark in Pink Fong and Baby Shark’s Space Adventure and Linus of the Peanuts Gang on the Conan O’Brien Show. Connor also voiced Golden Boy on Superwings and Petey for Blaze and the Monster Machines. Feature work includes Perdito in The Big Wish, Sweatpea in Sam Sam, and the Funk Kid in the Trolls 2: World Tour short Tiny Diamond Goes Back to School. A second generation voice actor, Connor has worked on numerous additional projects from commercials for Kellog’s, Google and TurboTax to video games such as Shenmue III,where he worked side-by-side with his father, voice actor Dino Andrade.

Actor & Animation Voice Over Teacher Dino Andrade

Voice actor Dino Andrade is probably best known to video game fans as The Scarecrow fromBatman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham Underworld. Dino is also known as the voice behind Professor Putricide, Mimiron, High Tinkerer Mekkatorque, The Mad Bomber, The Death Knight Gnomes, and more from World of Warcraft & Hearthstone!

Additionally, Andrade has lent his voice to such high-profile properties as Dishonored 2, Prey, Star Trek Online, Goldie & Bear, Sophia The 1st, Shimmer and Shine, Call of Duty, Dungeons & Dragons: neverwinter, Brutal Legend, Guitar Hero, Pocket God, and Nerf-N-Strike. Anime/gamer fans know him for his starring roles as Kenshin in Sengoku Basara and Ragou in Tales of Verperia, as well as his guest appearances in Hellsing Ultimate and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Online Dino recently starred as Dutch the Dog on Get My Goat for the Dreamworks TV YouTube Channel. On television, Dino has provided sound-a-likes for both the short-lived CBS series $h*! My Dad Says and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. Dino has also been heard in both radio and television campaigns for Kellog’s Rice Krispies as the iconic voice of Pop of Snap, Crackle and Pop fame!

Voice Actor Greg Houser

The need to relocate to Hollywood (and/or any of those other entertainment centers of the world) for a career in voice over is rule #1. Greg is living proof that rules are made to be broken!

Important Information:

Who wants to be a Hero…and a Villain?! (A two-day voice over masterclass workshop for animation & video games. Presented by Voice Actors Dino Andrade & Greg Houser)

Dates:
- Morning Workshop
  - Part One – Thursday, Aug 31st (9 am – 1 pm)
  - Part Two – Friday, Sep 1st (9 am – 1 pm)
- Afternoon Workshop
  - Part One – Thursday, Aug 31st (3 pm – 7 pm)
  - Part Two – Friday, Sep 1st (3 pm – 7 pm)
Cost:
- Non-Member: $180.00
- DC Member: $80.00
Location: Westin Chastain I and J

Morning Session

Afternoon Session

Writer's Hourly Workshops

The seminars cover everything from the very basics and writing in a franchise universe, up through plotting and characterization, and even cover presenting your manuscript and strategies for success in the age of digital publishing. Why hope for success when you can learn from working writers and guarantee it?

Important:
– Fee includes All eighteen seminars listed below.
– Fee does not include a Dragon Con Membership.
– Dragon Con members receive a $100 discount off fees.
– No refunds for the workshop will be granted after August 1st, 2023.

Space is limited for each workshop. First-come, first-served.

For more information, please contact the Dragon Con Office, 404-669-0773 during office hours, Monday thru Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm EST. Or email dragoncon (at) dragoncon (dot) org.

Friday Seminars

10:00 AM Foundations of Success

New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole will help you organize yourself so you have a head start on success when you sit down to begin your writing career. He will cover everything from how to plan projects, how to make time for writing and the plethora of mistakes writers make which hold them back from becoming the best writers they can be.

11:30 AM The Compost Heap of Inspiration

Where do you find ideas and what to do with them when you do? How did you even think of this? What inspired this piece of art or story? In this workshop, writer Bethany Kesler takes a look at what inspiration actually is and how the giant compost heap of ideas in your head can be translated into workable narratives on the page.

1:00 PM Building A Solid Series:

In this seminar, New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole will walk you through the steps of creating the basis for an enduring series of stories. He will walk you through the different types of series, the various presentations and when each is appropriate, as well as the rules for character and story creation and growth that allows you to maximize the potential for both.

2:30 PM Active Diversity: The Ins and Outs of Making Your Fiction Matter to More People

Diversity in writing (and reading) matters, but why, and how does an author achieve it? What is a sensitivity reader, when might you need one, and how do you go about finding a good one? How do you write books that are diverse, engaging, and reflect the world’s complexity without offending anyone? What research should you do? How do editors and writers go about finding more diverse fiction? What do you do if you, yourself, do not feel particularly diverse? Explore definitions and tools as well as practical advice with Cat Rambo, author of space operas You Sexy Thing and Devil’s Gun.

4:00 PM Creating Reader Engagement

Creating Reader Engagement: There is a difference between stories that readers just read, and stories that pull them in and won’t let them go. In this class, New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole will share with you sure fire techniques for drawing readers in and keeping them enthralled in the story from beginning to end.

5:30 PM How Writing Fanfic can Speed Writer Development

Writing fanfic often gets dismissed as a waste of time, but it is really? Alison Richards, Writer and teacher, explains how writing fanfic can provide writers a legion of opportunities to develop and practice skills. She’ll also show you how to translate those skills over into developing your own original fiction.

Saturday Seminars

10:00 AM Focus on Romantic Comedy:

Rom-coms remain an entertainment staple. Alison Richards, Writer and teacher, will take you from the basics, including story structure, do’s and don’t, and an analysis of the “Hallmark formula.” There’s always room for emotional content in stories, and this class will bring to you the ins and outs of most of the most popular and eternal methods for doing so.

11:30 AM Small Press vs. Traditional: What You Need to Know

What are the main differences – both advantages and disadvantages – in working with a small press versus a major corporate one? How do you know what will work best for you, and how do you find the right publisher once you have decided? What are the signs of a bad publisher? How important is an agent if you’re publishing with a small press? Learn the nuances with Cat Rambo, who comes with experience from indie, small, and major press publications.

1:00 PM 21 Days To A Novel

New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole presents his three week program for preparing yourself to write a novel. This set of 21 exercises is broken down to give you everything from character creation to world building, practical plotting devices, dialogue development and character voice creation tools. This program is a practical, kick-in-the-pants place to start your career.

2:30 PM Folklore and Urban Fantasy: Why You Don’t Want To Step In That Faery Circle After All

What if Mount Olympus is a mega-corporation and the gods are the executive staff? What if Freddie Mercury was a siren and that’s how and why we all know Bohemian Rhapsody by heart? How do you take an age old tale and make it new? You change the setting or change the ending. You think outside the box. In this workshop, historian and writer Bethany Kesler will show you how to take elements and structures from fairytales and folklore and use them to make new stories or to add depth and color to existing fictional universes.

4:00 PM Writing Great Dialogue

The art of writing dialogue is difficult to master. In this class, Bryan Young, award-winning writer and writing teacher at the University of Utah, will walk you through great dialogue as examples, and offer principles to improve your use of dialogue and how to better reveal characters and exposition through speech.

5:30 PM Plotting

New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole unravels the mysteries of creating compelling plots. A novel is a huge undertaking, written over weeks or months, and the plot has to hold it all together. From creating an outline to maintaining flexibility, this seminar gives you the insider knowledge that will separate you from all of your peers.

Sunday Seminars

10:00 AM Finding The Story

New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole takes you through a series of exercises that will let you build a story from the barest spark through twists and turns. He’ll give you several story recipes and show you how you can work from them to create delightfully complex and engrossing stories.

11:30 AM Building Tension – Surprise Vs. Suspense

Building tension in stories can be a difficult balance between competing drives in your story. How do you know when a surprise will be more effective for the audience than the slow burn of suspense. How do you accomplish them? This class Bryan Young, award-winning author who has worked in universes ranging from Star Wars and Shadowrun to Doctor Who and BattleTech, will walk you through the process to create astounding results.

1:00 PM Advanced Characterization

If Characters are king, these techniques will teach you how to establish a dynasty. New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole reveals the advanced techniques he uses for creating characters of depth, intrigue and humanity, who manage to grow in realistic but seldom predictable ways. You’ll learn how to create the sort of characters that can carry whole sagas and keep readers locked in and waiting for each new book’s release.

2:30 PM Watching Movies to Make You a Better Writer

We all watch movies, but decoding, analyzing, and understanding movies can help us become better storytellers, no matter what medium we tell our stories in. In this class, Bryan Young, award-winning writer of work for Star Wars and Shadowrun to Doctor Who and BattleTech, will show you techniques used in the cinema and how you can adapt them to your writing style to make it more effective and keep you learning for your entire life.

4:00 PM Freelancing 101

Want to learn how to get paid to write as a freelancer? Professional writer and freelancer Bryan Young will show you how to get started, how to pick a niche, and give you a direction to head on your journey to become a professional.

5:30 PM Making The Next Draft The Best

New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole gives you a tool kit which will allow you to break down your novel, diagnose issues and substantially improve your next draft. He’ll cover the basics from how to know if you want to do one more draft, on through how to produce and package your book for sale. If you think your book isn’t quite there yet, or if you want to make sure everything is working the way it should, this seminar will provide you with techniques to answers to all your questions.

Important Information:

Cost for ALL seminars:

$140 + tax (member price) (pre-purchase)
$240 + tax (non member price) (pre-purchase)
$150 + tax (member price) (onsite-purchase)
$250 + tax (non member price) (onsite-purchase)

Cost for individual seminars:

$8 + tax (member price) (pre-purchase)
$108 + tax (non member price) (pre-purchase)
$10 + tax (member price) (onsite-purchase)
$110 + tax (non member price) (onsite-purchase)

Writer's Two-Day Intensive Workshop

Best-selling science fiction and fantasy writer Jody Lynn Nye directs this two-day workshop sponsored by Dragon Con. Jody has more than 50 published books and over 170 short stories to her credit, including collaborations with Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, John Ringo and Robert Asprin. She has taught at Columbia College Chicago and at numerous writing workshops for more than twenty years, and is now the Coordinating Judge for the Writers of the Future contest.

The aim of this workshop is to help aspiring writers to learn to practice their craft at a professional level. Students of every level are welcome, from beginners to those writers who are starting to sell their work. Among the subjects to be touched on during the two-day course are story structure, character development, world-building, narrative hook, research, description, collaboration, nonfiction, format, the business of writing, marketing and promotion.

Guest lecturers will speak during the course on topics involving their expertise. Among her past speakers are Toni Weisskopf, Publisher of Baen Books; Anne Sowards, senior editor at Ace Books; Kevin J. Anderson, publisher of WordFire Press and bestselling co-author of the Dune series; Rebecca Moesta, co-publisher and author of the Young Jedi Knights series; Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, author of the Saint-Germain cycle; Lynn Abbey, author and editor of Thieves’ World; and Courtney Sarnow Lytle, an intellectual property attorney and law professor. The students are encouraged to ask questions after the experts’ presentations.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, August 31, and Friday, September 1, 2023, in the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, from 9 AM to 5 PM. To sign up please visit the Dragon Con Store or contact the Dragon Con Office @ (404) 669-0773.

Each participant is asked to submit a manuscript to Jody of 2,000 to 7,000 words of a completed short story or partial novel. Novels must also include a full synopsis. All manuscripts must be submitted in standard format, double-spaced in Courier or Times New Roman 12-point type, pages numbered in the upper right corner. No handwritten manuscripts will be accepted. Your cover letter must include your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number. Jody offers an individual written critique of your manuscript. If you wish your piece to be workshopped in class by Jody and your fellow students, an electronic copy is also required, to share with other students, e-mailed as an attachment to Jody Lynn Nye, once you are notified you have a place in the workshop.

Send the manuscripts by August 1, 2023, to:

Dragon Con
Attn: 2021 Writers’ Workshop
5044 Clark Howell Hwy
Atlanta, GA 30349

Space is limited to twenty participants, first-come, first-served, at the live convention. (Jody maintains a waiting list if anyone who has been accepted drops out.) Pre-registration is required. Cost is $300.00 per person + tax, for Dragon Con members (required). Participants will need to bring pen and paper, laptop or voice recorder for taking notes, plus copies of their own work and critiques that they have made on their fellow participants’ manuscripts. (If you bring an electronic device, you may need an extension cord.) No videos of the workshop are permitted.

If, for health and safety reasons, the convention is required to go to a virtual format for 2023, the class size would be reduced to the first 10 people that purchased the class. A possible second virtual class would be offered at a later time for any above the first 10.

If you have further questions, please write to Jody Lynn Nye at jodynye@yahoo.com.

Important Information:

Day & Time: Thursday, August 31st and Friday, September 1st, 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Class size is limited to 20 people, and pre-registration is required. Jody maintains a waiting list if anyone who has been accepted drops out.
Cost $300 plus sales tax
No refunds for the workshop will be granted after August 1st, 2023
Participants will need to bring a pen and paper, laptop, or voice recorder for taking notes, plus copies of their own work and critiques that they have made on their fellow participants’ manuscripts.
If you bring an electronic device, you may need an extension cord. No videos of the workshop are permitted.

If you have further questions, please write to Jody Lynn Nye at jodynye@yahoo.com