Hopeful Punk

Speculative fiction has long been a form of escapism for many readers wanting to live vicariously as elves, aliens, or cyborgs. It's no wonder then that considering the grim times we're living in, readers are looking to escape to more hopeful realms where they might find solace and be reminded of the good in people (or orcs or murderbots). The rise of hopeful speculative fiction has evolved beyond the original 'hopepunk', filtering kindness, acceptance, and a more positive outlook on the future of humanity into multiple spec fic genres. Join us for a discussion on all things cozy and hopeful, why readers want more, and how writers might include more hope in their stories regardless of genre.