The Gen Con Writer’s Symposium is a semi-independent event hosted by Gen Con and intended for both new and experienced writers of speculative fiction. Although many of us love and play the games Gen Con offers, our program is focused on the craft and business of writing, particularly in the speculative arenas. In the past 27 years, the Symposium has grown from a small set of panels over a day or two of the convention to one of the largest convention-hosted writing tracks in North America, offering hundreds of hours of programming from 70+ authors, editors, agents, and publishers to nearly 3000 unique visitors per year. Authors who have taken part in our program over the last five years include:
- Elizabeth Bear
- Maurice Broaddus
- Terry Brooks
- Jim Butcher
- Zig Zag Claybourne/Clarence Young
- James SA Corey Charlaine Harris
- Kameron Hurley
- Robin Hobb
- Mary Robinette Kowal
- Mercedes Lackey
- Patrick Rothfuss
- Brandon Sanderson
- Anna Smith Spark
- Margaret Weis
This is only a sampling of the authors who have attended the Symposium in the past, almost all of whom have expressed a desire to return. Many are regular attendees, and view the Symposium as a gathering of peers, mentors, colleagues, friends, and even extended family. For more about the Symposium, click here.
Gen Con itself is the largest tabletop gaming convention in the world. In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year for the convention) they welcomed over 65,000 unique visitors and offered over 19,000 events. By its nature, Gen Con attracts a large number of reading-oriented attendees who enjoy speculative fiction.