My Experience at Virtuous Con 2024

As I begin to take myself more seriously as a writer, one of my goals this year has been to attend a conference in efforts to learn. Whether it be to learn more about the craft or to learn more about myself as a writer/reader. I learned about Virtuous Con in 2023 when they had a conference around Juneteenth. It is a virtual conference that was started during the pandemic that uplifts BIPOC Speculative fiction creators. I wasn’t able to go then, but I made a promise to myself to attend whatever they had going this year.

This year, they held their conference during Black History Month. This time I was able to not only keep the promise to myself but actually pay a little extra for the VIP package which included a gift box.

As we got closer to the conference, I actually received some bad news personally, but this conference gave me a way to still choose joy by attending. That Friday night was giving all of the kickback vibes with the Launch party on twitch featuring DJ BlackIcon1. It was definitely giving the vibes that I needed.

I was able to treat myself to a VIP experience which came with a gift box!!! Art by Jocelyn Short.

Anyway, the next day the conference kicked off. We had panels and smaller workshops with some vendors. The conference lasted for two days, and I’m going to share some of my favorite panels.

Behind the Panel: How to Draw Black Hair:

This panel was SOOOO cool. I’m not even a visual artist or an illustrator, but watching Odunze Whyte Oguguo draw Black hair was both validating and just beautiful work. He talked about creating using digital and print as well as incorporating techniques from both. He showed how to do a fro, a fade, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, and so much more in such a short time. The more I watched, the more I wanted to read his mangas, so he definitely got added to the TBR list.

A Black Horror History:

This one was shockingly amazing. I wasn’t shocked at the panelists. I was shocked at myself for how much I knew about the topic. I never considered myself a horror girlie. Most of what people consider horror movies that I watched as a kid weren’t ever my choice. I usually watched them through my fingers. Nevertheless, I watched them. Then, on top of that, when we all started talking about the different subgenres of horror including family horror. It was like a light bulb went off. I was not expecting to feel so validated in this panel. I was coming in fully expecting to just learn. Obviously, that happened. These people are well versed in the genre in both film and books. In addition to that, I actually learned more about myself which was also amazing.

Super excited to get into the stories I received in my VIP box!!! May review some later…

Sankofa: Historical Influences in Speculative Fiction:

This was another AMAZING panel. The authors on this panel were: Tananarive Due, Jarvis Bernard Sheffield, L. Penelope, Rachel Howzell Hall, Daniel José Older. To be honest, I felt like a student in a classroom, which for me is a good thing. I learned so much about how to build based on history that already exists. I also learned how to incorporate the pain of the past without making it all about trauma. This one is definitely one that I will keep in the archives and go back to as much as possible. Also, some more authors to add to my TBR.

“Black History is Black Horror.”

-Tananarive Due

There were quite a few panels for gamers and streamers. Since this is something I want to get into later, I will definitely keep their advice in my back pocket.

There were also quite a few vendor shows as well. Jocelyn Short, also the creator of the art for the conference, gave a really great class on character development including what makes a good villain and anti-heros. She kept it really interactive as well. Andrea Rose Washington also gave a really great class on her writing process and even gave us a guide. Even as a person that isn’t a beginner in writing, I always enjoy taking those classes. Each writer gives a tip or a trick that I’ve never heard of before.

I found this conference to be enjoyable, validating, and so much more. It was by far one of the best things I’ve attended this year so far. I am definitely adding this to my calendar for next year.

Until next time…later babes…

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash