The Published Ramblings of a Confused Michiganian
  • Home
  • The Whimsical Ramblings of a Confused Michiganian
  • Forums
  • Links

Live From Penguicon, It's Friday Night!

4/24/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
So this is supposed to be a live blog from Penguicon 2015…except that I can’t figure out how to access the internet in this hotel. So anyways, this is a semi-live blog from Penguicon 2015. At first I was going to blog about the awesome randomness and maybe interview a random Con-goer, but after the opening ceremonies, I want to go in a little bit different direction.

SO, I have already blogged about Penguicon and the awesome geekiness of it, but now I want to talk about another amazing aspect. Charity. Penguicon’s charity this year is Enabling the Future and they 3-D print free prosthetic limbs for children amputees. They are an absolutely fantastic organization which you should donate to. Penguicon has not only set up collection points all over the con for them, but will be donating 3-D limbs made at Penguicon this weekend. Hearing them talk about their work really made all my worries about promoting my books at Penguicon this year seem extremely petty and self-centered. Now I am asking myself how could my work do something good for others? And that is a much more important question.

Also, another important aspect of Penguicon that struck me at the opening ceremonies was acceptance. Almost all of these types of Cons have policies on harassment to protect an individual’s right to express themselves (i.e. cosplay). However, Penguicon goes even further to help make people feel not just welcome, but celebrated here. Their latest action in this quest has been to set up non-gendered bathrooms for those who may not identify with a specific gender or may just be more comfortable in a non-gendered bathroom. I truly hope that this makes people feel happier and more comfortable at the Con.

Just thought I’d share.

Keep Writing and Edit On.


0 Comments

Two Topical Topics

4/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
So there are two topics I'd like to hit on today. The first is the Writers of the Future Contest. Whatever opinions that you may have on founder L. Ron Hubbard, the contest itself is an amazing opportunity for speculative fiction and fantasy writers. Want some supporting reasons? Here they come. First, it is free to enter the contest, and the contest is open to all non-professional writers. This is pretty huge in itself considering the number of competitions out there with entry fees. Second, the contest is hosted in quarters, so every year you have 4 opportunities to enter until you either win or achieve the status of a professional writer. Third, not only is there a monetary reward for winning, but winners are invited to a week-long writing workshop and awards ceremony in Los Angeles with some of the big names in speculative fiction (Larry Niven, Orsen Scott Card, Mike Resnick, etc. etc. etc.). Fourth, the contest asks for short stories and who couldn't/shouldn't be writing more short stories? If you don't think that those are good enough reasons, then fine, don't enter, less competition for me.

The second topic I'd like to touch on is slightly less writerly and more geeky. Penguicon 2015. Penguicon is a super-cool, multilayer con which touches on geek culture, writing, hacking, software, and science and technology. It is taking place in just one week, APRIL 24-26, at the Westin Southfield. I could try to get into all of the reasons that you should go, but it is really difficult to explain even the vibe at a con like this. You kind of just have to experience it. Also, I think that I mentioned before that Penguicon 2013 was one of the first cons that I ever went to (my first in MI), and I've been hooked on cons ever since. There is a writing/literature track that I think is valuable not just because I'm on three of the panels this year. Also, cons are a fantastic networking opportunity for writers! If I had never attended Penguicon, I would never have been able to do most of my Awesome Author Interviews on this blog and I certainly wouldn't be a Featured Guest at Penguicon this year. Okay, a little shameless self promotion, but honestly, you should check out Penguicon this year anyway.

Keep Writing and Edit On

0 Comments

And Now For Something Completely Different

4/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Keep Writing and Edit On
0 Comments

    If you give me your e-mail, I'll send you a monthly newsletter. Or bimonthly...we'll see.

    Links

    Mid-Michigan Prose and Writing Group

    Purchase Books

    Whispers of a Killer (WHISPs Book 1)
    Whispers of Terror (WHISPs Book 2)
    Whispers of Conspiracy (WHISPs Book 3)
    Moonlight Medicine:Onset
    Moonlight Medicine:Epidemic
    Moonlight Medicine: Inoculation
    Miles From Manistique
    The Christmas Plague

    Purchase Short Stories

    Snick - Ghostlight, The Magazine of Terror (Winter/Spring 2018)
    Cold Comfort - Monsters in Spaaaace!

    Author

    My name is Jen Haeger and I have a degree in Veterinary Medicine as well as a Master's in Forensic Science, so I decided to forget all that and write  novels. I used to read quite a bit as a youth, but was not introduced to truly spectacular writing until my husband showed me the works of Jim Butcher, Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, and others. We are both enormous dorks and enjoy Science Fiction, Fantasy, Board Games, and RPGs, but also try to get out backpacking every once in a while (much easier to do when we lived in New Zealand). Cheers!
    jenhaeger.com

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Author Interview
    Cons
    Contests
    Contracts
    Covers
    Cthulhu
    Editing
    Events
    Flash Fiction
    Human Rights
    Marketing
    Memoir
    Mentoring
    MFM Vignette
    Miscellaneous
    MM Vignette
    NaNoWriMo
    News
    Outlines
    Pitches
    Poetry
    Professional Writer Vs Novice
    Promotions
    Prompts
    Reading
    Sensitivity
    Short Stories
    Silly
    WHISPS
    WotW Vignette
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.