DreamCasters Agenda,
January 2024

01-07-2024

Opening Statement

Welcome to DreamCasters, a DreamForge discussion group devoted to helping our members improve their writing and storytelling through discussion and sharing expertise.

DreamForge News

DreamCaster Dates for 2024

In 2024, all of our tentative meeting dates will be the First Sunday of the month, starting with January 7^th at 1:00 pm ET. This will vary at times with notice given, depending on our personal and work responsibilities.

Member Accomplishments

 I’m sure everyone has been busy for the holidays, but you can send me news of your latest publications to include with the Agenda, or just be ready to let us know during the Member Accomplishment part of the meeting.

Our Program – Parsec Ink’s 2024 Triangulation Anthology, “Hospitium”

In January, our guests are Greg Clumpner and Brandon Ketchum, co-editors of this year’s Triangulation Anthology from Parsec Ink under the theme of Hospitium.

“Hospitium is a Greco-Roman concept of hospitality, where both the guest and host have an obligation to treat the other with kindness and respect, regardless of external quarrels. We’re looking for outstanding fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, and speculative horror from both new and established writers.”

More information can be found at http://parsecink.com/

Our goal is to see what we can do to provide some of the best submissions for this year’s anthology. Last year, two DreamCaster members had stories accepted into Triangulations: The Seven Day Weekend – RJK Lee and Angelique Fawns.  Let’s see what we can do in 2024!

With the deadline at the end of February, this is your one and only chance to both hear the co-editors talk about what they hope to see this year and to ask questions that might help you hone your stories to their demanding standards.

Last month we talked about how we might approach a story for Hospitium by focusing on Character more than plot or action. You can review that information in Last Month’s Agenda at https://dreamforgemagazine.com/dreamcasters-agenda-december-2023/

If I have it ready in time, I’ll share the idea I’m working on to either give you some ideas or inspire you to keep going.

Giveaway This Month!

One lucky attendee chosen at random will receive Triangulation: Seven-Day Weekend, last year’s Parsec Ink anthology. Triangulation is an annual short fiction anthology produced by Parsec Ink. Parsec Ink has been publishing the annual science fiction, fantasy, horror anthology since 2003, and every year submissions on a new theme are called for.

In February

In February, bring your stories for Hospitium and we’ll do a round-robin of comments on the openings. Let’s help one another make our stories as strong as possible before the February 29^th deadline looms!

Story Prompts

Science Fiction— In a near future, you can plug directly into a network that helps you with enhanced thought and reasoning. The technology is instantly adopted, as it helps people not only reason and learn exponentially but control their darker impulses too. Crime plummets, the economy booms. Soon; however, it is realized that the network knows everyone’s deepest thoughts, secrets, and impulses, and people can not only access these memories but easily figure out to whom they belong.

The story revolves around the tension between an expanding economy, improving humanity, and the shame of being “known” by everyone for your deepest self.

Fantasy— Dam Fossils. When a large concrete dam is undergoing removal (for example the four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California), fossils are found inside the concrete. To some, they resemble fantasy creatures like dwarves, dragons, unicorns, griffins, and trolls. It is determined that the dam has held back more than water, it is acting like a trap for creatures using a portal to get to Earth. Does it stop them all? Have some made it through undetected?

Disclaimer: These ideas may or may not be original, convergent ideas are common. DreamForge makes no copyright or monetary claim on these story prompts. Have fun.