Writers' Workshop

Sign up for the ArmadilloCon 34 Writers' Workshop and receive invaluable feedback on your unpublished Sci-fi, Fantasy or Horror story from two SF/F professionals (writers and/or editors), plus critiques from your fellow attendees.

The $70 fee includes lunch on Friday, group sessions, and panels or presentations throughout the day about the craft and profession of writing as well as printing costs. You also receive admission to all three days of the convention. You can purchase your entry to the workshop on the membership page.

Instructors

Mario Acevedo, Jayme Lynn Blaschke, Ted Chiang, Nicky Drayden, Mark Finn, Derek Johnson, Claude Lalumiere, Stina Leicht, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Ian McDonald, Alex C. Renwick, Kat Richardson, Dr. Anne-Marie Thomas, Lee Thomas, Martin Wagner, Jacob Weisman, Martha Wells and Skyler White.

Deadline for Manuscript Submissions will be June 15, 2014.

About the Workshop

The ArmadilloCon Writers' Workshop has become a major event for aspiring SF/F writers. It meets before the convention on Friday morning at 9am and runs until about 4:30pm. Workshop curriculum is designed for beginning and intermediate students. Workshop participants are given the opportunity to have their work critiqued by major professional editors and/or writers. The workshop will cover craft, markets, the dos and don'ts of preparing your work for professional publication, and more. Discussions range from the basics of style to plot, theme, character, and setting. Within the breakout session, students receive an in-depth critique of their work from both instructors and peers. At the workshop, students receive a personal, in-depth critique of their work from instructors and peers, utilizing the Milford style. This round-table style critique session is invaluable for learning what works, what doesn't, and how to edit your work.

How to Enroll

Send
1) $70 Registration for the Workshop-- the fee includes a full con membership (Sign up online)
2) Your original, unpublished work of science fiction, fantasy, or horror fiction*, maximum length 5,000 words.
3) The signed, filled out Permission Slip
* Please see the Manuscript Submission Guidelines, below!

Manuscript Deadline: June 15, 2014

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ONLY

We must have received all three elements (registration, manuscript, permission slip) before you are officially enrolled in the workshop! If you have not received a confirmation email within five days of your sending everything in, please contact the Coordinators.

Manuscript  

Only one submission, only your own work, only NON-PUBLISHED work, and only science fiction, fantasy or horror, please!

Submission Guidelines

• Send your electronic manuscript in WORD DOCUMENT (*.doc) or RICH TEXT (*.rtf) in proper manuscript format to: Writers' Workshop
• MAXIMUM LENGTH IS 5,000 WORDS. The word count limit is FIRM. No exceptions. Manuscripts longer than the maximum length will be shortened at the ArmadilloCon 36 offices without notice.
• You may send either a short story or the FIRST CHAPTER of a novel. Short stories are preferred due to the limited time frame. Regardless of your normal working length, a short story will better highlight your talents as a writer in this setting.
• If sending a complete short story, make sure you write The End on the last page; otherwise, indicate that the story continues after the first 5,000 words.
• If the first chapter of a novel, indicate on the first page that it is chapter one. This will ensure that the pros will be able to evaluate each manuscript properly.
• Please do not use pen names on workshop submissions as it causes confusion.

Please note the Coordinators will only view the manuscript after you have bought a membership payment and the permission slip has been received.

Permission Slip

You will also need to provide us with permission to distribute your story to the other workshoppers. Please fill out the electronic Permission Slip before emailing your manuscript.

What Happens When You Enroll

About two weeks before the workshop you will receive an email packet with the manuscripts of the other students in your group along with other materials concerning the workshop, the schedule, and other information. Review and critique the manuscripts in your group before the workshop meets. You will not have time to do so once the workshop begins. You are required to read and critique all student manuscripts sent to you in your workshop packet.

Cancellations

If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are forced to miss the workshop on Friday, July 25, we will mail your manuscript and the critiques we can gather to you. No refunds will be given once manuscripts are released to the pros. You will also be responsible for getting your feedback to the other students in your assigned group.

Questions

Do you have any questions about the Writers' Workshop? Please the Coordinator.
See you July 25th!

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* Special Guest Ian McDonald was made possible with a grant from A.L.A.M.O.
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