Virtual FantasyCon 2014: The Line-Up

Fantastic panels on world-building with your world's economy and politics (which may sound dry but is astonishingly rich), advice on writing sword-fights, a look at how digital fiction affects story creation, the baffling absence of female friendships, and an absolute must-read discussion of editor and author relationships.

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: Editing dreams and editing nightmares

Editors are people, and get to see everything – so this is how to work with them and make their lives easier, which will make your life easier.
Simon Spanton (m, Gollancz), Nicola Budd (Jo Fletcher Books), Abigail Nathan (Bothersome Words), Gillian Redfearn (Gollancz), David Moore(Abaddon Books)

The editor's role is often misunderstood - from thinking that's the person who fixes the commas and typos, to characterising them as vicious monsters who make authors cry. Five editors get together here to explain what they really do and how this traditionally fraught relationship can be the best creative collaboration ever. Superbly moderated by Simon Spanton (seriously, he should give classes on moderation), they talked first about working on the manuscript, and then their role once the manuscript is ready.

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: SFF and Politics

There is nothing more glorious than to defeat your enemy by transparent democratic process, and hear the lamentation of the other sides’ whips. Can SFF make political process dramatic and heroic, or will it always come down scheming viziers and noble warriors?
Lizzie Barrett (m), Jaine Fenn, Foz Meadows, Catherine Hill, Adrian Tchaikovsky [with interjections and digressions from Megan]

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: Where are the female friendships?

Kirk and Spock, Luke and Han, Frodo and Sam – epic friendships between men are common in fantasy, but friendships between women, or platonic relationships between men and women that stay that way – are much thinner on the ground. The panellists discuss why it matters and examine some of the rare exceptions.
Roz Kaveney (m), Mhairi Simpson, Glenda Larke, Charlaine Harris, Den Patrick [with rather more interjections from Megan than usual]

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: How to write sword fights, and authors that keep attacking each other

Writers who also happen to be swordfighters discuss the myths and realities of the sword in fiction – and demonstrate their skills with the blade!
Marc Aplin (m), Fran Terminiello, Juliet E McKenna, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Clifford Beale [with Megan's interjections - here, obviously, not just yelling out during the panel]

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: Your fantasy world's economy ~ a rich seam to tap

But Does It Make Sense?
Economics of fantasy systems. If Smaug holds all the gold and it gets liberated, what does that do to the economy?
Leila Abu el Hawa (m), Kari Sperring, Kate Elliott, Tom Pollock, Anne Lyle

Virtual FantasyCon 2014: When Fiction Goes Digital

What happens in the age of the digital story? Do stories look the same? How does form intersect with function, beyond a trip to the e-reader?
With Glen Mehn (m), Jenny Barber, Farah Mendlesohn, Marc Aplin, Laurel Sills, Del Lakin-Smith [with occasional asides from Megan]