Life, the Universe, and Everything 2021

This past week I spent three days online attending the Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE) Symposium. This is an academic symposium focusing on the creation of science fiction and fantasy, two of my favorite genres. I spent my time in the Anne McCaffrey room focusing on the editing track. I hung out virtually with other attendees learning from writers, editors, and publishers. 

One of my takeaways from the conference was a statement made by J. Anne Campanile. She said, “All words have a purpose, but some get tired quicker than others.”

Events I attended included the following:

• Who Does What: Agents, Editors, Copyeditors, Proofreaders?
• How Do You Know a Manuscript Is Ready for Editing?
• Copyediting for Immersive Worldbuilding
• Garbage Collection: Cleaning Up Grammar and Punctuation
• What Different Revision Drafts Are Supposed to Do
• Modifying Behaviors: Realistic, Respectful, Plot-Essential, Neurodiverse Character Behaviors
• Writing and Editing Software: Scrivener vs. Ulysses vs. Microsoft Word vs. Google Docs
• So You Want to Be an Editor?
• Yep: Tips for Revising Dialogue to Sound Natural
• How to Be an Alpha or Beta Reader and not Alienate Friends
• Developmental Editors
• Editing vs. Rewriting
• The Freelance Editor and You: About the Freelancer-Author Relationship
• Mechanics of Micro-revision
• I Sense Something: Adding the Senses

I attended just a fraction of the available panels and presentations. By Saturday evening my head was overflowing with ideas and information. If fantasy and science fiction are topics that interest you, I would highly recommend this symposium. It is held in February each year. Perhaps next year you will consider joining me at LTUE.