Presented by Sienna Tristen and Avi Silver
Time: 9:30-11:30am

Crafting a believable fictional language can seem like a daunting task—but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re curious about how to add a little linguistic magic to your speculative storytelling, we encourage you to join Sienna Tristen and Avi Silver of The Shale Project for an interactive conlang (constructed language) workshop. This two-hour session will cover an overview of the uses of language in fantasy/scifi settings, techniques and processes for crafting custom-fit secondary world languages, and end with a collaborative language-building exercise. After all, the best way to learn is to try for yourself! No experience necessary; whether you’re a novelist, screenwriter, DM, or other creative, all are welcome.

Presented by Tonya Liburd
Time: 11:45-1:15pm

Heard of the Chicago Manual of Style? Did you know there’s no up-to-date Canadian equivalent for creative writing? If you’ve struggled to maintain consistency in your manuscript during editing, or in explaining your formatting decisions to an editor or proofreader (especially concerning non-Western languages or dialects in a manuscript), then this Master Class can help! 

Using resources from her training as a professional copy editor, Tonya Liburd will guide you through and clarify the steps necessary to edit and create your own style sheet, whether you’re new to editing or experienced, have never worked with a style sheet before, or even if your novel is still a twinkle in your eye. A focused presentation and practical exercises will help you achieve consistency in your work without compromising the spirit of the dialect or language you are using (ex: Patois, AAVE).

Presented by Julie E. Czerneda
Time: 2:00-4:00pm

Join biologist and SF author Julie E. Czerneda to build an alien able to survive under specific, otherworldly conditions, from its structure to society, based on what we know of living things on this planet. Your creations will meet in first contact scenarios and yes, anything goes!

Maximize your learning and join all three of this year's master classes for a great price!

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Grammars and Grimoires: Building Languages for SFF Worlds

with Sienna Tristen and Avi Silver

11:45 am - 1:15 pm

Editing for the Rest of Us: Style Sheets for Creative Writing

with Tonya Liburd

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Alien by Design

with Julie E. Czerneda