Writers share tips at lectureship

Correspondent

Those attending the 40th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship likely didn’t expect a quiz at the start of Friday's afternoon discussion panels, especially one about dinosaurs.

Staff photo: Alisa Boswell

Jack Williamson Lectureship guest of honor Victor Milan talks about dinosaur characteristics Friday afternoon during a quiz he gave audience members and fellow lecturers about dinosaurs.

The lectureship held a series of workshops for three hours in the Golden Library at Eastern New Mexico University.

Attendees learned from author and guest of honor Victor Milan that dinosaurs are not the largest animal to have roamed the Earth, with that honor going to the blue whale. They also learned from Milan — author of “The Dinosaur Lords” — that dinosaurs built their nests as bower nests, which are similar to bird's nests.

From there, Milan sent the group off into discussion about what the appeal factor is of dinosaurs in pop culture, along with Patrice Caldwell of ENMU and a trio of Willis family members — mother Connie, father Courtney and daughter Cordelia.

"I think you have both feelings at the same time. It's a push-pull thing," Connie Willis said of dinosaurs' appeal. "It's something you're afraid of, but something you want to see."

Cordelia Willis agreed with her mother that dinosaurs have the same awe-inspiring appeal as dragons.

"Dragons are not real, but dinosaurs really did exist, and I think knowing that draws people in," Cordelia said.

There's the horrific side, but then there's the mammal side people can relate to, Caldwell threw in.

"They were the biggest creatures on the globe, and they were wiped out," Caldwell added. "I think that makes us go, 'Oh.'"

Connie Willis, whose “Crosstalk” novel is due for an October release, spoke on the writing tips panel.

“Everyone starts off with that one skill; mine was dialogue,” Connie Willis said. “I was great at dialogue from the very beginning, but I can't do description,” she said. “I had to teach myself that and I did it mostly by reading other's work. I read 5,000 science fiction stories then I could magically write one myself.”

Emily Mah, a self-publishing science fiction writer, said that writing sometimes just comes down to work ethic.

“I think the first, most important thing you need to get rid of in order to write is the conceit, this idea of misunderstood books and raw talent. It's not a secret how to write, it is not unknown how to do it, it is not magic,” Mah said.

Her advice: Let go of the fantasy and just finish your book. She said many people have this idea of novels just happening, but that is not how it works.

Walter Jon Williams, a New Mexico science fiction writer, echoed those sentiments.

“People think you have to be inspired every day, but professionals aren't inspired every day. They write every day. If you don't have inspiration then figure out the story you're trying to tell and just finish your novel,” Williams said.

During the Short Attention Span panel including Willis, Williams, and Milan, topics included science fiction day dreams, odd writing habits, and the authors’ lives before writing.

Williams spoke on his tactic for choosing names for characters.

“I generally agonize over it, if I don't just pick a name out of the air, and look in name books or even across my bookshelf,” he said.

Willis, in response to a question, said her top habit is to visit Starbucks each morning, order the same thing and read the New York Times from cover to cover.

Milan, the guest of honor, said he uses his subconscious to answer most of his problems in terms of writer's block.

“I say, 'Let go, let Leo' which is what I call my subconscious, then I just ask the question out loud and see what happens,” Milan said.

The authors gave a variety of answers to questions about their odd habits when writing, their favorite book-to-movie adaptations, and places they still needed to see in the world. They all agreed if they could have one piece of sci-fi technology, it would be the teleporter.

Audience members also enjoyed the camaraderie among the authors. Jacob Senn, 27, said he is not a writer himself but he enjoys hearing authors talk about their works because they have the coolest minds of anyone he knows.

“I really enjoyed hearing Connie Willis define a writer as having a sense of exploration,” Senn said, “because I like that mindset of having a child's curiosity.”

— Alisa Boswell contributed to this report