Session Events

45-minute to 2-hour session events that occur throughout the symposium. Panels and Presentations are the bulk of our activities, providing attendees with the chance to hear from professional authors and artists.

Panels

A Panel is discussion between two to six LTUE Guests, and is the bulk of the content at LTUE. You may see panels including famous authors talking about how to improve writing, or discussing a particular Sci-Fi idea. Most panels have a moderator, or someone that keeps the conversation on topic and lively.

Example Recorded Panels from Previous Symposiums:
Writing Adventure Stories
Writing an Ensemble Cast
A Discussion on Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere
The Evolution of Military Science Fiction

Presentations

Presentations usually involve 1 (or sometimes more) LTUE Guests usually accompanied by a powerpoint slide deck, talking about one subject in particular.

Example Recorded Presentations from Previous Symposiums:
How Professional Editor, Lisa Mangum, Edits a Story
How to Find/Run a Writing Group
Firearms of the Wild West
Beginner’s Indie Publishing

Workshops

Workshops are hands-on presentations that often require the attendee to make/create something along with the presenter. Workshops usually aren’t recorded and are often 2 hours in length.

Example Recorded Workshops from Previous Symposiums:
How to Create a Fictional Language
Creating Movie Props

Kaffeeklatsches/Creator Chats

An informal chat with some of our special guests. We all have wanted to sit down with our favorite authors over hot chocolate and ask them all the nitty gritty questions about their stories, or about everything else we nerd out over. Creator Chats are your chance to do so. Sign up when you register for LTUE online to join a small group of people and the author of your choosing to have an intimate discussion about whatever topics you want to discuss. All sessions will be held in a private chat room this year. Space is limited; first come, first served.

Meetups

Meetups are low-key networking events. If you’re looking to find/create a writing group, beta readers, etc., meetups are a great way to meet people.

Readings

Readings, much like Kaffeeklatches (Creator Chats), are a great opportunity to hear from and interact with excellent authors in a small, quiet setting. Come take a break from panels and presentations to enjoy readings from your favorite authors and/or discover great new authors with delightful books you’ll be sure to love. Each reading is followed by a Q&A and some authors will be doing giveaways as well. In some cases, you’ll even be among the first to hear sneak peaks from never-before-seen books-in-progress. You won’t be disappointed!

Pitch Sessions

If you are an author looking to be published, pitch sessions are a chance to pitch stories to literary agents. Pitch Sessions require a separate registration on Eventbrite, and aren’t included in the purchase of a membership.

Due to the need to coordinate schedules with agents and editors, registration for pitches generally doesn’t open until sometime in January each year, though the exact dates vary. Pitches will begin showing on the Eventbrite Registration page as soon as they open.