Words by Edward

Speaking Engagements

In addition to writing and selling my books, I regularly give presentations and coordinate panels at conferences. I also work with teens as a mentor for the Maryland Writers Association, so I have experience in a school environment. If you are a conference organizer, event coordinator, or teacher, I'd be happy to discuss speaking at your event or school. Contact me!

Previous Speaking Appearances

I've spoken at many conferences and shows. Aside from technical presentations I gave during my earlier career, here are some of the many events where I've given a presentation, moderated a panel or attended as a panel participant:

Topics for the panels where I've either moderated or participated include (incomplete list):

Prepared Presentations

If you are interested in the content of my prepared talks, this section delves into more detail. I won't post entire presentations, but feel free to reach out for detailed information.

World-Building in Depth

Are you struggling to create compelling, complex worlds? Have you found your setting lacks depth and realism? THis talk presents key elements every sci-fi and fantasy writer must consider when creating their worlds, such as resources and economics, cultural elements, and so forth. Other writers will find key topics useful as well.

Realistic Combat

When creating a fight scene - or any action scene for that matter - authors must include many elements. They must make the action compelling, while avoiding inaccuracies that pushes a savvy reader out of the immersion. What should you include? What should you avoid? And why does Hollywood so often get it wrong?

Selling Books at Trade Shows

Writing and publishing your book is merely the first step. Now comes the marketing. You might hope to create an online sensation, but every author in the world is competing to attract readers. Trade shows - conventions, book fairs, and similar events - offer a venue where you can meet your readers, expand your presence, make new friends - and even sell books!

Taking Inspiration from Games

From Chess to Minecraft, games have dominated entertainment, and in the modern era, they've mostly replaced books as a form of escape. But authors don't have to view games as competition only. This talk discusses what games have done right and explores how we can apply the same creative depth to our writing.

In Development

From Fan Fiction to Published Author

You've written countless fan fictions about your favorite anime or sci-fi series. And now, you want to jump to writing publishable stories. What do you need to know? What skills can you take from writing fan fiction? What do you need to do before you can hold the fruits of your creativity in a published book?

Customizable Talks

In addition to the prepared presentations about specific writing topics, I can also provide talks on writing in general, customizing them to your particular needs or interests. These talks are excellent for novice writing organizations or younger audiences, such as high school classrooms. Topics I can cover include:

Improving your Writing Skills
This talk introducws advice common to the writing community, such as Show, Don't Tell. We'll explain and explore elements of good vs. bad writing. The material in this talk can help not only in fiction, but even in writing papers for school or college application essays.
The Path to Becoming a Published Author
We'll explore the process of publishing, including editing, beta readers, etc. We'll also talk about where to find opportunities for your creativity: anthologies, magazines, etc.
My Journey as a Writer and Publisher
In this talk, I will describe my personal development as an author: what steps I followed, mistakes I've made, and amusing anecdotes. And I'll provide valuable insights into how you can follow the same path or blaze a trail of your own!
Using Scrivener and/or ProWritingAid for your Writing Efforts
Writers have a choice to use a wide range of software for writing, but I primarily use Scrivener to write and ProWritingAid for my editing. In this talk, I'll introduce and demonstrate both software packages, explain their strengths and weaknesses, and explore their capabilities. I'll also mention features you should look for when evaluating such tools, and what you should avoid.