FenCon 2005 - Writers Workshop

FenCon and the Dallas Future Society are thrilled beyond mere words to announce that we're adding a writers workshop for 2005. What's the big deal? The writer running the workshop is Hugo- and Nebula-winning author Mike Resnick! With hundreds of published short stories and books, experience at every level of the publishing system from fan to editor, and his reputation for excellence, Mike is the perfect teacher for aspiring writers.

Congratulations! Mike Resnick is the winner of the 2005 Hugo Award for Best Short Story for his moving short story Travels With My Cats. We are thrilled for Mike and can't wait to see him at FenCon this year.

This will be an intense series of sessions during FenCon II, probably four sessions of three hours each, featuring lectures, one-on-one workshopping, invaluable feedback, an expert critique, and some quality peer interaction all personally run by Mike Resnick. You'll learn everything you need to know from how to make contacts to how to read contracts.

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been waiting for, we are happy to be of service. However, there are a few things you should know:

Workshop enrollment is strictly limited to 20 writers.
As of June 24, 2005, there are ZERO open slots remaining!
All participants must be members of FenCon II.
There is a $35 fee for participating in the workshop in addition to the membership price.
You must submit an original story via e-mail before August 1, 2005.

The story you submit must be an original work of science fiction or fantasy, under 5000 words, and not the story you submit to the FenCon Short Fiction Contest, if any. These must be complete stories, not the opening chapters of a novel or other incomplete work. You will be given the details on how and where to submit your story for Mr. Resnick's personal review after your workshop registration is processed.

Each workshop participant will receive a copy of each of the submitted stories so you will be able to follow along and learn as Mr. Resnick offers his tips and techniques. Except for certain archival copies, the workshop stories will not otherwise be reproduced by FenCon and all rights remain with the original authors.

Your submitted work should follow these basic guidelines for professional submission of short fiction.

Submission Guidelines:

Include a cover page with your full name, mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address, and the title of your short story. We must have this information so we may match your story to your workshop registration form, submitted separately.
On each page of your story, include the PAGE NUMBER, STORY TITLE, and YOUR LAST NAME, as described in the guidelines below.
Submissions not meeting proper manuscript format may not be included in the contest.
You will submit only an electronic copy of your contest submission via e-mail in RTF (Rich Text Format). All major word processors will allow you to save a document as an RTF file. Paper copies will be distributed to all participants in the workshop.
You must not submit the same story to both the short fiction contest and to the writers workshop. Any such entries may be disqualified.

Manuscript Guidelines:

Begin your story, and all subsequent chapters, approximately 1/3 down the page.
In the top left corner of every page, put the name of your story and your last name. For example, if the title is “Good Dog” and your name is Cain D. Winans, you would put “GOOD DOG/Winans” in the top left corner.
In the top right hand corner, put the page number.
Double space your text. Indent paragraphs by .5".
Margins should be at least 1" all around.
You can italicize and/or bold text, when applicable, or underline it.
Both styles of indicating emphasis are acceptable.
Use plain fonts. Preferred are Courier and Times (or Times New Roman).
Use 10 point type for Courier, 12 point type for Times.
Plain black text. No colored text.
Illustrations are not permitted. Text only, please.

These guidelines are similar, but not identical, to the guidelines for our Short Fiction Contest. Remember, you cannot submit the same story to both the workshop and the contest.

If you have any questions or comments about this workshop, please e-mail info@fencon.org. Absolutely no workshop story submissions will be accepted at this address. All contest entries must be submitted only to the e-mail address you will be given upon completion of your registration.

Last updated 27 August 2005

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