Strange Horizons Writing Workshops 2003 -- Oregon and New Jersey
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS -- June 30, 2003
Strange Horizons is planning to hold two intermediate writing workshops in the late summer/early fall. 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 then send a genre piece to be workshopped. Many of the participants will be primarily writing speculative fiction.
If you're accepted into the workshop, you'll have until August 7 to send a workshop story to the rest of the group. Ideally, your workshop story will be a story that you've taken as far as you can take it on your own, but it needn't (and probably shouldn't) be something you consider finished. It'll then be the workshop participants' responsibility to print out, carefully read, and prepare to critique the set of stories before coming to the workshop, so that we can all make the best use of the time while we're there. I may also assign additional reading in preparation for our craft discussions.
Details follow for both workshops, along with a fast-approaching deadline. 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 anthologies Aqua Erotica and Wet (Random House), author of Kathryn in the City (Penguin), 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.
GUEST EDITORS: We're delighted to announce that this year we'll be bringing in some fabulous guest editors to complement the workshop. The Oregon workshop will have Guest Editor Jay Lake, of Polyphony; the New Jersey workshop will have Guest Editors Gavin Grant and Kelly Link, of Small Beer Press, and The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology (newly editing the fantasy half for upcoming volumes). These editors will be full participants in the workshops, reading and critiquing your work, and offering craft and market suggestions.
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: August 22-25, 2003
COST: $100/person
GUEST EDITOR: Jay Lake, Polyphony
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 (including tasty vegetarian options) will be provided throughout.
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: September 26-28, 2003
COST: $100/person
GUEST EDITORS: Gavin Grant and Kelly Link, Small Beer Press and The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
SCHEDULE:
Friday evening: arrive, 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
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 or air mattress, pillow, towels, etc. Meals (including tasty vegetarian options) will be provided throughout. The house has a jacuzzi and sauna, and there's a beach nearby, so we recommend bringing a swimsuit. You can spend the night Sunday if you like, and leave Monday morning, or you can leave Sunday after dinner. Your choice.
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Deadline for submissions -- June 30, 2002
Obviously, this is quite soon. Please be aware that your submission story and your workshop story need not (and probably should not) be the same piece. Your submission story should be the best thing you've written (of the appropriate length) -- I'm happy to look at pieces published or unpublished.
All manuscripts will be read and responded to by July 15th.
Format for submissions:
a) send up to 9000 words (one story, multiple stories, or novel excerpt) to: editor@strangehorizons.com.
b) mark subject line with this format: WORKSHOP SUB: "Title" (Author Name)
c) send plain text submissions only. No attachments. See the Strange Horizons guidelines for more info on how to format submissions.
IMPORTANT: Include a brief note indicating which workshop you're interested in!!! No other cover letter is necessary.
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