DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS -- July 15, 2002
Strange Horizons is planning to hold two intermediate writing workshops in the late summer. These workshops are appropriate for writers who have been writing fiction for some time, and who are familiar with basic craft concepts. If you've published a few short stories in semi-pro or pro markets, or if you've attended Clarion, you're probably at approximately the right level for these workshops. There will be a maximum of ten participants in each workshop.
The discussion will be on a generally literary level, focusing on how to make the stories better as stories, regardless of genre. However, you're welcome to submit genre pieces, and if you are accepted to one of the workshops, you may send a genre piece to be critiqued. Many of the participants will be primarily writing speculative fiction.
Details follow for both workshops, along with a fast-approaching deadline. Sorry for the short notice on this; if they go well, they'll be repeated next year with more warning. We may also add a basic-level workshop. Please read through the details below -- guidelines for submitting material appear at the end.
HOST FOR BOTH: Mary Anne Mohanraj (www.mamohanraj.com), Strange Horizons editor-in-chief, editor of Random House anthologies _Aqua Erotica_ and _Wet_, Ph.D. student in literary fiction at the University of Utah. Susan Groppi and/or Jed Hartman (SH fiction editors) may also be in attendance, depending on their schedules at the time.
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NEW JERSEY SPECIFICS:
LOCATION: A kindly-donated house about an hour's drive (or a 40-minute ferry ride) from New York, near the ocean and a national park. 1 Prospect Ave., Highlands, NJ.
DATES: August 8-11 2002
COST: $40/person, covering food
SCHEDULE:
Thursday evening: arrive, group dinner at house
Friday:
10-12 - focused discussion of character, point-of-view
12-1 - lunch
1-5 - workshop four stories
evening - group dinner
Saturday:
10-12 - focused discussion of plot, structure
12-2 - lunch
2-5 - workshop three stories
evening - group dinner
Sunday:
10-12 - focused discussion of style, markets
12-2 - lunch
2-5 - workshop three stories
evening - group dinner, clean-up, departure
LOGISTICS: If you arrive early, you may snag a bed or couch. Expect to be sleeping on the floor, and bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, towels, etc. Meals will be provided, as noted above. The house may have a jacuzzi by then, and in any case, there's a beach nearby, so bring a swimsuit if you use 'em. The jacuzzi area may end up being clothing-optional, just so you know. The rest of the workshop will be fully clothed.
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OREGON SPECIFICS:
LOCATION: The Oregon Writer's Colony beach house in Rockaway Beach, OR, a block from the beach. It's a few hours' drive from the airport in Portland; we'll be renting cars to bring people over on Friday evening, and to return them Monday morning. There will be a few shifts coming from the airport, depending on timing.
DATES: September 13-16, 2002
COST: $80/person, covering transport from Portland, food, and space rental.
SCHEDULE:
Friday evening: arrive from airport, group dinner at house
Saturday:
10-12 - focused discussion of character, point-of-view
12-1 - lunch
1-6 - workshop five stories
evening: dinner
Sunday:
10-12 - focused discussion of plot, structure
12-1 - lunch
1-6 - workshop five stories
evening: dinner
Monday: breakfast, clean house, return to airport
LOGISTICS: The house sleeps 12, though one pair of writers will need to share a queen bed. You'll need to bring your own sheets and/or sleeping bags and towels, some pillows are available. Meals will be provided, as noted above.
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SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Deadline for submission -- July 15, 2002
Obviously, this is very soon, *and* it doesn't give you much time to prepare if you are accepted. I'll be accepting on a rolling basis, which means that if you get your manuscript in earlier, you may have a better shot. It also means that I'll let people know as soon as I can, and definitely by July 20th, one way or the other.
Format for submissions:
- send up to 30 pages (one story, multiple stories, or novel excerpt) to: editor@strangehorizons.com.
- mark subject line with this format: WORKSHOP SUB: "Title" (Author Name)
- send plain text submissions only. No attachments. See the Strange Horizons guidelines for more info on how to format submissions (http://www.strangehorizons.com/SubmissionGuide_Fiction.shtml)
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That's all, folks. If you have any questions, please drop me a line. And feel free to propagate this call as widely as you like.
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Editor-in-Chief, Strange Horizons