NWCgenericcrop250sqbbNorwescon is this weekend, Thursday – Sunday at the Doubletree by the SeaTac airport. This is one of my favorite cons every year — if you’re going to be there, come say hi!

I’ll be in the dealer room for most of the show, hawking my wares (and sharing a table with the lovely Scott Gable from Broken Eye Books). But if you can’t find me there, I’m probably off doing one of these things:

Thursday 8-9pm  (Cascade 3&4)

Iconic Characters

With Jeff Harris, Matt Youngmark, Logan L. Masterson, Minim Calibre

What makes a comic book character truly iconic? Is it the writing? The gimmick? Or merely the amount of promotion that goes into it? Also, can iconic characters fade? Come listen to our panel talk about iconic characters and what we think makes them truly iconic!

Saturday 11am-noon (Cascade 9)

How to Be an Author on the Internet

With Tori Centanni, Annie Bellet, Matt Youngmark, Nicole Dieker, Ryan Macklin

And how not to be. Navigating social media as a professional can be challenging, but it can also be a fun way to bring a human face to your “brand”—as long as you don’t come off like a spambot trying to sell your book. Our experts talk about common mistakes and pitfalls authors make on social media and how to avoid them, as well as best practices for utilizing social media, email, and blogs, and creative ways to help you connect with—not alienate—readers.

Saturday 6-7pm (Cascade 9)

SF/Fantasy Battle Royale

With Matt Youngmark, Erik Scott de Bie, K. M. Alexander, Peter Orullian

Who would win in a fight? A fast-paced, bracket-style, breathtakingly unscientific showdown to determine this year’s Ultimate Fictional Champion. Ready…? Fight!

Saturday 7-7:30pm (Cascade 1)

Reading: Matt Youngmark

It says in the program guide that I’ll be reading from Time Travel Dinosaur, but SURPRISE! Instead I’ll be reading from my brand new novela-length Chooseomatic game, U, Robot.

Sunday 11am-noon – Cascade 2

Crowdfunding for Artists

With Vandy H. Hall, Matt Youngmark, Matthew ‘Fish’ Dockrey, Joy Day

There are lots of crowdfunding options for art and comics, from project-oriented sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to general support like Patreon and PayPal tip jars. What works when?

Sunday 2-3pm  (Cascade 3&4)

Technology & Comics

With Elizabeth Guizzetti, Matt Youngmark, G. Willow Wilson

Have new kinds of technology made producing comics easier or harder? What are these new technologies? How much should you expect to shell out for a drawing tablet, software, and other accessories? And how much is too much?

Sunday 3-4pm (Cascade 12)

Level Up Your Self-Publishing Skills

With Elliott Kay, K. M. Alexander, Matt Youngmark, Ryan Macklin, Annie Bellet

How do you find a good editor or cover artist? What’s your pricing strategy? Does free work? What are the best keywords to use? How do you get reviews? This panel discusses the best practices for putting out a professional product and the current strategies for finding success.