Friday, August 10, 2:00PM
Wizard's Chess Room (A306/307)

Writing with Multiple POVs or Unusual Narrators
Kheryn Callender (Moderator), Peng Shepherd, Robin Benway, Julie Murphy, Anna-Marie McLemore. Past tense limited narratives of the first and third person may be the standard in Young Adult, but these authors create unique voices to turn that tradition on its head or use a style that adds panache. What are the challenges to this style?
 

Saturday, August 11, 10:15AM
Mirror of Erisded Room (A309/310)

This is America
Nic Stone (Moderator), Kheryn Callender, Mark Oshiro, Anna-Marie McLemore, Julie Murphy, Robin Benway. Join us as we dissect how Young Adult Literature is beginning to reflect America as it actually exists. How do authors write about characters traditionally ignored in publishing's definition of what America represents? How may authors explore multiple identities effectively? Does your character's identity need to match your own experiences? Nothing is more American than intersectionality, and we're talking about it here.

Saturday, August 11, 11:30AM
Phoenix Room (A201/202)

Writing Advice We Wish We'd Known When We Were Younger
Melissa Lawson (Moderator), Peng Shepherd, Kheryn Callender, Robin Benway, Nic Stone Let yourself be terrible. Write what you know. Harry Potter wasn't built in a day. Everyone has heard the basics... but what do writers in the trenches realize would have made their lives... less trench-y? Four of our crew share their wit and wisdom for sticking with it and writing well.

Saturday, August 11, 4:30PM
Mirror of Erisded Room (A309/310)

YA Jeopardy
Melissa Lawson (Moderator), Nic Stone, Mackenzi Lee, Mindy McGinnis, Robin Benway, Julie Murphy Five YA authors and an audience member will compete for bragging rights in this literature version of the classic game show. 

Sunday, August 12, 10:15AM
Charms Room (A130/131)

Found Families
Mindy McGinnis (Moderator), Robin Benway, Peng Shepherd, Mark Oshiro Young adult literature, by definition, demonstrates a growing distance from or even absence of parental guidance, but equally important relationships are forged. As members of the Harry Potter generation and a gaggle of nerds from the Internet, we know that blood isn't always thicker than water. The panelists explore how they wrote those deep bonds between characters and broke the conception of the traditional familial support system.