BFS Online Events: Once More unto the Breach

To help us get the year started right, we’re highlighting some of the amazing work done by our BFS volunteers as well as the great opportunities our members can seize. First up, PS Livingstone gives a peek behind the scenes of our online events programme.

It’s been about eighteen months since I took on the role of Online Events Co-ordinator and I’m delighted to say our events have gone from strength to strength. We’re getting more attendees than ever and a load of our non-member guests have turned member. I think that means we’re doing something right.

If you don’t know about BFS event days, then here’s a quick overview. Once a quarter-ish, we host a full day (10am to 6pm) of events: three panels, one interview and six readings, plus very important in-between chatting time. Themes vary – generally a nugget of an idea that runs away with me – but are always planned with the community at heart. I hope to inform, inspire and include, ensuring all voices are heard.

Obviously, it’d be cool if I knew everyone in the publishing industry, but I don’t. I often rely on my amazing committee pals to recommend the right people for the right events. Doing this role has opened up a world of amazing talent for me, and I’m constantly blown away by the enthusiasm invitees have for their craft and the knowledge they’re willing to share. I especially want to take a moment here to give a shout-out to the moderators; it’s extra to formulate questions and then corral a group – quill, gaggle, cloud? – of authors or a board of editors (uh-oh, the nugget is growing arms and legs) into a fascinating panel. But they’ve all been wonderful, and some were stepping up to the plate for the first time. [APPLAUSE]

There’s a lot that goes into planning an event day – collating info, building an event page, designing graphics, writing social media posts, and shit tonnes of bugging everyone to get tickets – but it’s all worth it to see the positive comments when it’s announced, and the even more positive comments during and after the event. You were even lovely about my very first event day, when I couldn’t sleep the night before for worrying and then slept in and missed the start … probably not what Shona envisioned when she asked me to take on the role.

Dragons and Book Stores and Nuggets: Oh My!

But I’m still here and I have lots of plans for 2025. I hope to keep growing the BFS Online Library as well as providing readings of our articles, poetry, short stories and blogs, not only to improve accessibility but because sometimes it’s just nice to sit back and be read to. Swapping hats from online to actual human contact, I’ve recently recruited (strongarmed, if you ask them, but they’re lying) three amazing In-person Event Organisers and they’ll be running a host of events in London, Yorkshire and Humber, and Greater Manchester. If anyone would like to organise event in their own area, just give me your arm— I mean email address. There will be more mid-week events too, standalones to keep you ticking over. The next one is The Great Dragon Debate on Wednesday 19 February at 7pm – not to be missed. And I haven’t forgotten that I promised you a deep dive into book marketing; it’s coming.

(Photo by Alexandre Debiève on Unsplash)

These events are made possible by hardworking folk behind the scenes – thank you – but also by the people who join the BFS. And people join the BFS because we create content that matters. What a lovely little paradox – ooh, paradox panel! And … nugget … I’ll make it make sense later. In this spirit (the mattering, not the nugget), if there are events you want to see or topics you think should be discussed, get in touch. If you’d like to take part, tell me what interests you, your expertise, your passion. The Great Dragon Debate started off as banter on Bluesky (Shona Kinsella, I’m looking at you here), so ideas can and should come from anywhere.

BFS events are for everyone, whether you’re new to writing or writing your twentieth book, a publisher of thirty years or a start-up imprint. We welcome artists and editors, book bloggers and marketers. And most of all, we welcome fans. Because we’re all fans. We’re a community based on a shared love and respect of speculative fiction. I organise these events because the BFS and the people in it opened their arms to me when I was starting out, scared I didn’t belong, and knew no one. There can never be too many opportunities to bring people together, make friends, learn new things, find inspiration or motivation, to celebrate what we love, what we were born to do. 

I hope to see you all at our next event, and the one after that, and the one after that. Let’s keep a good thing going – ooh, ooh, series v standalones! Dammit, I’m running out of event slots …

Keep an eye on our Events Calendar and the blog for upcoming events!