Erasmus in daily life
Host: Jeroen Geelhoed
Desiderius Erasmus was a 16th century philosopher and humanist. He was born in Rotterdam but travelled extensively throughout his life. His work on human nature is still being read today. Jeroen Geelhoed will use the work of Erasmus to comment on today’s world and our Erasmuscon!
From science fiction to science fact
Host: George van Hal
Warp drives, time machines, black holes, teleportation, and AI so real you can actually fall in love with it… these are just some of the speculative ideas science fiction, whether it’s in books, games or on the silver screen, is filled with. How close to realizing them are we? A deep dive into the way science influences science fiction, and, of course, vice versa.
Get up and try again
Host: Iris Compiet
Iris Compiet will talk about her career path, riddled with failures and wrong turns taken that ultimately led her to finding her own artistic voice. And how she turned the dream of a 7-year old kid into reality.
Hybrid publishing: How do you choose your path as an author?
Host: Sandy Butchers
It’s common knowledge that as an author, you regularly encounter closed doors. From publishers to literary agents, everyone has an opinion about your manuscript. Sometimes, however, that opinion doesn’t match with your plans and dreams. Since the rise of self-publishing, many writers have seen their dreams come true. But what are the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing? What does it mean when you work with a literary agent? And how do you navigate the many choices you have to make in your career as a writer? In this interactive presentation, Sandy Butchers talks about the similarities, but also the differences between self- and traditional publishing.
Navigating the line between archaeological reality and imagination
Host: Alexander van de Bunt
The historical backdrop provides an excellent canvas for storytelling, particularly in mediums such as books, comics, TV series, movies, and art. However, when delving into narratives of the past, the challenge arises: do we adhere strictly to ongoing scientific research, do we rely on our imagination to bridge the gaps, or do we opt for a balanced combination of both? Recreating history is a formidable and responsible task, especially in the absence of ancient texts and substantial evidence. Archaeology, as an interdisciplinary field, offers a valuable method to fill in some of these historical voids.
Yet, amidst the scholarly pursuit of understanding the past, the essential human story often remains obscured. In this enlightening lecture, Alexander van de Bunt will delve into the delicate art of navigating the boundary between historical and archaeological research while preserving the authenticity of one’s creativity, whether as a researcher, writer, or artist. Join us as we explore how to craft compelling narratives that resonate with both the rigor of scholarly inquiry and the boundless realms of imagination.
Writing dialogue in 5 easy (LOL, just kidding) steps
Juan Venegas
Have you ever struggled with writing dialogue? Do you find it tricky to make your characters sound different from each other? Fear not! In this lecture, we will cover the 5 fundamental steps to writing conversations: plot, conflict, characterisation, subtext, and musicality. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a sci-fi/fantasy connoisseur, you’ll walk away with a clear structure to understand, create, and enjoy the art of dialogue.
Sterrenbrug
Host: Robert Corvus & Theo Barkel
Follow a doctor and his small dog to the stars! Robert Corvus is one of Germany’s best-selling sf&f writers. His novel “Sterrenbrug” is now published in a Dutch version by Uitgeverij Macc. This Dutch version is presented during the lecture, discussion with the audience is done in English.
! This is a book launch and will take place in the dealers’ area.
The neuroscience of understanding comics
Host: Dr. Neil Cohn
Comics combine words and pictures into creative expressions, but how do our brains do this? Dr. Neil Cohn (Associate Professor, Tilburg University) will describe his pioneering research on the neuroscience of understanding comics, how comics differ around the world, and how comics’ integration of words and pictures create a rich and complex form of literature and communication.
Writing myths busted: an interactive lecture
Host: Kim ten Tusscher
You need to plot your story when you write a series! That map really has to be finished before you can start writing! Dragons are overdone, and fantasy names should not be too common but also not too fantastic!
Do all rules keep you from writing? Do you become insecure because that advice one writer gives contradicts that from someone else?
Come listen to Kim ten Tusscher and discover that all is not so strict. Kim only made a world map seven years after her first book about Lilith has been published, and she wrote the successful series of seven books Tales of the Downfall being a chaotic pantser.
Share the writing advice you received with the group and learn to look at writing in a new way. Because one rule applies to all of us: everyone writes in their own way.