Writers' Workshops

Renovation's theme will be the New Frontiers and there is no frontier newer than a writer creating a new world and writing about it. Whether it's based on a mythology or science, it is a unique creation, a new frontier for the readers. Renovation invites members who are also writers to spend some of their convention time as part of our writers' workshops. We're looking for new writers, budding writers, journeyman writers, and seasoned professionals to fill our workshop sessions.

We're not open for submissions yet, but please watch the Renovation website for updates and news. Space for submissions will be limited to a first-come, first-served basis. At Anticipation, we were able to provide slots for 70 people, but had to turn a few people away. We expect to call for submissions in the late Spring of 2011. If you're a professional writer interested in volunteering to critique, we would like to hear from you now so we can coordinate it with the rest of your programming schedule.

Workshop Format

The Writers Workshops at Renovation will be small session workshops for either experienced or beginning writers based on manuscripts submitted in advance. These workshops will provide Renovation members the opportunity to have their manuscripts evaluated by selling writers and industry professionals who enjoy helping them grow as writers. Many of these professionals have taught at residency workshops such as Clarion, or in creative writing programs.

Each session will ideally consist of submissions from three participants to be critiqued by the other participants and two to three professionals. The manuscripts will be circulated in advance to both the participants and the professionals. A workshop session lasting two hours will critique all three submissions, or be a critique with directed instruction, at the discretion of the professionals in each session.

Entry Arrangements

All manuscripts will be submitted in advance. There will be no on-the-spot reading for critiques. You will also need to be prepared to attend your session, which can be assigned on any day from Wednesday August 17 through Sunday August 21 at the convention.

There will be a nominal entry fee that covers workshop expenses. You pay the fee once you have been notified by email that your submission has been received and accepted. Payment secures your slot.

All submissions will be electronic for Renovation. Fiction manuscripts may be either short stories or novel excerpts. Stories must be science fiction, fantasy, gothic/horror, or have a fantastic element of some kind. Manuscript submissions may have up to 8,000 words, but shorter lengths are encouraged. Manuscript format should conform to general professional submission standards. We recommend the OryCon Writers Workshop standards as a good place to start - you can find a Word fiction template and worked example there as well.

The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats, by Dian Dincin Buchman and Seli Groves also contains submission standards information. Longer pieces or novels must also include a synopsis covering the entire plotline. The synopsis counts as part of the 8,000 words.

Due to the critical nature of this workshop, it is not recommended for anyone under 18 or anyone who is sensitive to criticism.

Your hosts and organizers for the Renovation workshop sessions will be Oz Drummond and Traci Castleberry, with the experienced backstage assistance of Gregory Frost. Email Oz Drummond and/or Traci Castleberry at writersworkshops@renovationsf.org with any specific questions not answered here.