A Fan-Operated Science Fiction and Fantasy Literary and Filk Convention in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area

FenCon 2006 Writers Workshop

featuring Lawrence Watt-Evans

UPDATE: The workshop is full.

If you're interested in getting information about the 2007 workshop, e-mail us at info@fencon.org.

FenCon and the Dallas Future Society are happy to announce that our 2005 Writers Workshop was such a success that we're having another for 2006. What's the big deal? We're bringing in award-winning author Lawrence Watt-Evans to run the workshop! He's a writer with over 100 published short stories and 30 published novels, experience at every level of the publishing system from fan to editor, and a reputation for excellence. We're thrilled to welcome Lawrence Watt-Evans as our Special Guest and instructor for our writers workshop.

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

Mr. Watt-Evans says, "The idea here is to write for publication. If you just want to write for fun and don't care if it ever sells, that's a pleasant hobby, but this workshop is not for you."

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:

• The workshop will be held in three sessions running noon to 4pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Acceptable works have changed from last year's workshop. Please read this page carefully.
• Workshop enrollment is limited to 20 people. As of July 12th the workshop is full.
• All participants must be paid attending members of FenCon III. Either a full regular or Friend of the Fen membership meets this requirement.
• There is a $35 fee for participating in the workshop in addition to the membership price.
• You must submit an original work of fiction via e-mail before August 1, 2006.

The work of fiction you submit must be an original work of science fiction, fantasy, or horror. (Others genres may be acceptable with advance permission from Mr. Watt-Evans.) You may submit a short story or a novel proposal for this workshop.

• Short stories must be under 10,000 words and not the story you submit to the FenCon Short Fiction Contest, if any.
• Novel proposals must include sample chapter(s) and outline, not to exceed fifty pages. The outline must be complete, i.e., it must have an ending and an explanation of how the story gets there. The sample chapter(s) must be the first chapter(s).

Mr. Watt-Evans says, "Ideally, the outline would be 10-15 pages, the opening sample about 25. The outline is not an advertisement, not a pitch, not a bullet list, not a PowerPoint presentation; tell the story as if you were telling a friend the plot of this cool book you read, not as if you were trying to sell something."

You will be given the details on how and where to submit your story for the instructor'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 the instructor offers their 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 workshop entries must be submitted only to the e-mail address you will be given upon completion of your registration.

The workshop is full.

If you're interested in joining the 2007 workshop, e-mail us at info@fencon.org.

Last updated 19 August 2006

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