Harrison Got Awesome at AwesomeCon – June 3-5, 2016

Once again our own Harrison Demchick, developmental editor specializing in adult fiction across many genres, got awesome for AwesomeCon! The Washington convention center this year featured celebrity guests like Adam West, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’s Brett Dalton and Elizabeth Henstridge, and Jeremy London, just to name a few. Harrison, who also happens to be the author of postapocalyptic-style novel The Listeners(Bancroft, 2012), joined these beloved actors and other esteemed panelists when he returned to speak to writers at this year’s event.

Cons like this featured ample opportunities for fun whether you are a writer or just a scifi/fantasy/horror geek (in other words, your non-writer friends and family will have plenty to do while you attend your workshops). There were opportunities to get autographs and interact with the celebrity guests as well as interesting and informative panel discussions, and so much more. AwesomeCon was held last June 3-5, 2016 at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.

Harrison gave his popular talk “It’s the End of the World as We Know It and I Feel Fine: Why Character, Consequence, and Reaction are Necessary for Conflict and Tension.” Everyone knows a good novel requires conflict and tension, but many are unclear on where it really comes from. It’s not the seriousness of the situation that causes conflict. Not even a nuclear apocalypse generates conflict on its own—not if the protagonist has a fully stocked fallout shelter he planned to spend the rest of his life hiding in anyway. A conflict only works if it acts upon the protagonist in a negative way. This addressed the true origins of conflict and tension, and how they emerge specifically from a character’s reaction and the consequences they face.

You may check the AwesomeCon website for more information, or contact Becky Mezzanotte at programming@awesomecon.com for future event info. And if you’ve written a scifi, fantasy, or horror novel that’s just waiting for you take things to the next level, reach out for a free phone consultation today.