It's been listed on my events calendar for months, but in case you live near Toronto and weren't aware, I will be there this weekend as a Guest of Honor at Polaris 25. My schedule is below.

Address: Sheraton Parkway Toronto North600 Highway 7 EastRichmond Hill, Ontario, CanadaL4B 1B2

FRIDAY

06:00 p.m., YorkOpening Ceremonies

07:00 p.m., Room 1080Meet The Pros

08:30 p.m., Markham-ABlastoff Party

SATURDAY

11:00 a.m., NewmarketEthics and the Wheel of TimeBrandon Sanderson (M), Rebecca Lovatt, Bill Cameron, Kirsten BlandRobert Jordan is on record as having said that he began writing a work of high fantasy in order to seriously explore issues of good and evil. What is the moral status of someone whom we might find attractive and sound as a character, except that she approves of a reprehensible practice which is supported by her wider culture? What is duty, and is it always best to follow one's agreed-upon duty? Is it justifiable to do one's duty even when it does more harm than good?

12:00 p.m., RichmondSigning: Brandon

01:00 p.m., UnionvilleFinding Alpha Readers: Writing GroupsBrandon Sanderson (M), Erik BuchananWriting groups are a terrific way to hone your craft—you can receive unbiased feedback and find out what works and what doesn't. But what should you look for in a writing group? What do you need in order to join one?

03:00 p.m., YorkMainstage: Brandon(Main address and Q&A)

05:00 p.m., Room 1080Cartography in Scence Fiction and Fantasy: Worldbuilding - LiterallyBrandon Sanderson (M), Jane C. Petrovich, Bill CameronLord of the Rings was one of the first big fantasy epics where the land was as much a character as the characters. Whether it's following the map of a single planet, like Pern, or a whole region of space, following along on a map is sometimes as much fun as following the plot.

06:00 p.m., Room 1080Magic: The Gathering

SUNDAY

11:00 a.m., NewmarketSo She Likes Coffee... Big Deal!Derwin Mak, Kelley Armstrong, Brandon Sanderson, Rob St. Martin (M)Writing interesting characters involves more than just giving them a laundry list of likes and dislikes, a hair colour, or a catchphrase. It involves backstory and philosophy, and can be altered by the events of the plot. Not everything about a character is necessarily visible on the page. What goes into creating memorable characters who seem as real as any flesh-and-blood person?

12:00 p.m., AuroraDetails, Filler, and PlotBrandon Sanderson, Erik BuchananIt's all very well and good to build an interesting alien world, or to craft characters who are unique, realistic and relatable, but they also have to have a story worth telling. And then there are the subplots: the story within the story. How can you craft a plot that will keep your readers eagerly turning pages to find out what happens next? And perhaps more important—how do you keep track of the plot of your own story when it gets complex?

02:00 p.m., RichmondSigning: Brandon Sanderson

03:00 p.m., AuroraReading: Brandon Sanderson

05:00 p.m., OakridgesBrainstorming the EndingBrandon Sanderson (M), Sarah McCully, Erik BuchananSometimes, in writing, the beginning is the worst place to start. A story is sometimes constructed by coming up with the climax first, and working backwards. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach? How do you know whether or not it will work for the story you want to tell?

06:00 p.m., YorkClosing Ceremonies

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