Summer Writing Workshops

[ellenkushner]

Delia & I are looking forward to teaching again this summer at Odyssey. It's a 6-week workshop in New Hampshire run by Jeanne Cavelos, an excellent teacher who brings other writers in as guest teachers for 24-hour intensives - we'll be there for 2 days in mid-July. (That's the short version; details at the website.) This year's writer-in-residence for a full week is Nancy Kress. I was on one of those How Writing Works panels with her once & she's amazing. If you can't make the workshop, check out her How To books, or her web page on Point of View or "How to Write Successful Endings"). Odyssey's deadline is April 10, but Early Admission applications are due by Jan. 31.

Alpha, a 2-week workshop in Pittsburgh, is open to teen writers ages 14-19. The lineup of guest authors this year includes Tamora Pierce. Applications due Feb. 28.

Clarion, where we taught last summer in sunny San Diego (which some say accounted for the remarkable even-temper and general niceness of the participants), has a new blog, and a pretty amazing lineup of instructors for 2008.

So does Clarion West (which is in Seattle).

[*ADDED*] If you can't do a full 6-week intensive "boot camp" program, try Viable Paradise: 1 week in September on Martha's Vineyard (a glorious time of year there) with awesome authors John Scalzi, Elizabeth Bear, Steve Gould and others.

Have you participated in any of these workshops? What was your experience? What sort of person would you recommend it to?

[More workshops recommended in comments below.]

Comments

[feuervogel]

As much as I would love to spend 6 weeks in a writing workshop, and with Neil Gaiman, no less, quitting my job is not an option.

How do people who work full time get into writing?

Only in my Dreams

[kathmuse.livejournal.com]

I'd give almost anything to have the time to attend something like this. I've thought of applying, even though I know I'll be rejected, but I don't have anything to submit.

[temporus.livejournal.com]

One does not need a workshop to become a writer.

It would be nice if there were a few more one or two week options out there, though. Six weeks is hard for just about anyone to muster if you must maintain a full time job.

[gjules.livejournal.com]

I attended Viable Paradise (http://www.sff.net/paradise/) last year, which is a one-week workshop. It was a great experience and I'd definitely recommend it. (Instructors this year are Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Debra Doyle, Jim Macdonald, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Laura Mixon, and Steve Gould.)

Which is not to say that a writing workshop is in any way required to become a writer, of course. But if you're looking to meet other writers and get opinions on your writing, VP is definitely one place to look.

[cerulean-sky.livejournal.com]

I attended the 2004 and 2005 Alpha workshop. Which I loved. While I agree with temporus that you don't need a workshop to become a writer, I will say that there are simply somethings I learned there that would have taken me years to find out on my own. Because they have more to do with the actual publishing side of writing, than the writing bit.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Oops! I forgot VIABLE PARADISE!

http://www.sff.net/paradise/

Long weekend on Martha's Vineyard in September, with GREAT instructors!!!

[cerulean-sky.livejournal.com]

Now that I think about it.... There's also The Taos Toolbox (http://www.taostoolbox.com/) which is in Taos, New Mexico. It's now in it's second year, too. It's first year had George R.R. Martin as one of the instructors.

[temporus.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip about Taos Toolbox. That one just went into the link list.

[temporus.livejournal.com]

I'm certain that is true. While I've not yet managed to get myself off to one of these workshops, I intend to. Similar weeklong courses involving my day job have proven what you say to be true. Could I figure out these things on my own? Sure, but a dedicated time, space, and frame of mind can provide a boost to one's skill set at an accelerated rate.

[cerulean-sky.livejournal.com]

Not a problem! I almost applied last year, as my parents live abut.... 30 minutes from there, but I had too much stuff that I was doing that summer. *sigh* Maybe sometime in the future...

[cerulean-sky.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I agree. You could absolutely learn it all on your own. And a lot of writers do. Which is why I think it's helpful that those people then talk about what they did and what they learned. Which is one of the things that I found most helpful about the Alpha workshop. Sure, they also want to help you become a better writer, but if they've accepted you, you're already on your way. They usually bring in an editor or an agent or someone to talk about that side of the business, and many of the lectures revolve around publishing side of things. The "Ok, you've got a manuscript. Now what?" side. Which is so incredibly helpful.

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

I give you a wistful sigh, and politely request that you teach at a short(er) writing workshop that I might have the wherewithal (and time off) to attend.

I've not done any of them, though I would someday like to do either Clarion or Clarion West.

[elfypiratequeen.livejournal.com]

I did Alphas 2003-2005, and can't recommend it enough. Improved my writing in leaps and bounds, inspired me, and I met the coolest people ever, two of whom convinced me to visit the college I now attend.

[keilexandra]

Am putting in a heartfelt recommendation to try Alpha if you're eligible--I discovered it via here last spring, went last summer, and it truly changed my life.

[feuervogel]

True enough. I'm the sort of person who needs a focused bit of time to accomplish anything. And having real people whose writing you enjoy saying "well, how about this?" would be nifty (if horrifying and intimidating.)

I've got a goal, though, this year: finish first revisions to & typing of the story I wrote and apply for the writers workshop at Dragon*Con, assuming it's on again this year. Anybody know if that's any good? AC Crispin has run it in the past.

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

**SHRIEK!!!** FEBRUARY 28?!?!?! WHAT HAPPENED TO APRIL 1??????

Oh, God! Oh, God! *yanks open Word, drugs or no*

[jackdaniel.livejournal.com]

I would love to go to a workshop like this but I live on Long Island and can't commute daily to New Hampshire and I think a hotel for 6 weeks is a bit out of my league. ^_^ Are there any workshops you'd recommend that are in New York?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Didn't your mama tell you not to believe everything you read on the internet?

Being a smart lass, I trust by now you have fact-checked on the actual Alpha website, and seen that the actual deadline is March 1. But since that is the day after Feb. 28th, you still have a prayer of getting a story in on time. April is far too late.

Didn't you attend Alpha last year? Please feel free to tell others all about it here, or to invite them to any posts on your own LJ that explain it a little better than I can.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

None of these workshops requires you to stay in a hotel! They're mostly on college campuses, and tuition includes dorm housing; usually you're not actually allowed to commute from home, even if you live in town; living & working with other workshop students for 6 weeks is part of the total experience.

I don't know of any workshops in NY, but check out other comments to this entry, as people have some other suggestions. Some SF conventions have writing workshops attached.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Delia usually does the half-day "WRiters REspite" at Wiscon
http://www.wiscon.info/respite.php

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

Pshaw. I *do* believe everything *you* say, actually. (And thank goodness you use your powers for good.)

...Yes, my next stop *was* Alpha HQ...minor oops. ^^; Still! That only gives me one more day, not to mention one month less than I'd planned. My groove is officially Thrown Off. Curses, foiled, blast, if only it weren't for those kids and their dog, etc.

(And yes, I did immediately contact multiple Alphans in alarm over this.)

[karinotvery.livejournal.com]

As one of your students at Clarion San Diego 2007(tm), it was a fantastic experience!

I remember we had the conversation with Tania about whether or not 6 weeks was too long or just enough, and we came to the conclusion that 6 weeks is just fine-- somehow a month doesn't seem like enough, and more than that was just way too long.

I guess for me, I went to Clarion because I wanted to be back in a serious workshop again. I hadn't had that kind of experience here in Vegas, and not since college, so to be able to talk to other folks in my boat for 6 weeks was perfect for me. And the advice I got about the industry was golden, and gave me great motivation.

[dqg-neal.livejournal.com]

Needs to be a weeklong cruise with the course.. then at least I'll be able to excuse my vacation and take time out to both enjoy myself and write. Not that writing isn't enjoyable too but vacations are time and money limited.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Hi, Kari! Good to see you here. Hope your writing's going well.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Did you write Alpha up on your LJ page? If so, would you be willing to post a link to it here, so others can see what you thought of the workshop?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I would be so down with teaching writing on a cruise ship.

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! How silly, here it is...mostly inane babbling about how "omg just so so totally great omg" it was, tho'. ^^;

http://yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com/9702.html

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I LOVE your "tea" icon!

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

Thanks! XD You find the funnest icons in yaoi!fangirl forums.

[jackdaniel.livejournal.com]

Logically I should have known that. I have to find out where my brain has gone...

I will definately look into the comments and even the workshops you mentioned. I'm presently applying for grad school for an MFA in Creative Writing. I love learning in a workshop atmosphere. It always inspires me so I want to go back to school. I think the workshops would also be a good idea.