The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers is pleased to announce the second annual Wayward Wormhole, this time in New Mexico. Join us for the short story workshop to study with Arley Sorg and Minister Faust, or the novel workshop with Donald Maass, C.C. Finlay, and Cat Rambo.
Both intensive workshops will be hosted at the Painted Pony ranch in Rodeo, New Mexico. The short story workshop runs November 4-12, 2024, and the novel workshop runs November 15 through 24, 2024.
The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers has been in existence for thirteen years, serving hundreds of students who have gone on to win awards, honors, and accolades, including Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. “I attended Clarion West, and have taught at multiple workshops now,” says Academy founder Cat Rambo. “While others have delivered the gold standard, I decided to stretch to the platinum level and deliver amazing workshops in equally amazing settings. Last year’s was a castle in Spain, this year a fabulous location in southwestern America. And wait till you hear what we’ve got cooked up for 2025!”
"Wayward Wormhole was a life-changing experience for me in more ways than one. It supercharged my writing–I learnt more about the craft of writing in the 3 weeks than I did in the last 3 years! The instructors were excellent, guiding me from the fundamentals of storytelling and structure all the way to advanced techniques in world-building and conflict.
They were also available to answer any questions and share their wisdom and experience about a career in writing.
I also received great critiques from the instructors and the cohort. It was specific and actionable, so I was excited to revise the stories for submission to magazines and encouraged to write even more! It was a wonderful experience, living with other writers and instructors for 3 weeks in a remote 10-century castle, immersed in both the history and beauty of the place, as well as the support and camaraderie of the group. I look forward to participating in this workshop again!"
~Madhu Campbell
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Wayward Wormhole: Getting to the Castle
An update from Janet, who has been working away at answering questions.
The Wayward Wormhole just made getting to the castle a (w)hole lot easier by meeting you at the airport! Cat and I will head to Barcelona Airport and wait for your flight. We’ll both help with luggage and get you to the shuttle that takes us to the train station. I’ll make the trip to Vic with you and then drive you to the castle. Cat Rambo will stay at the airport, greet the next group of students, and escort them to Vic, where I’ll be waiting to drive back to the castle.
Why would we do this?
1. You are important to us plus the trip is long and generally annoying””we can help make it easier.
2. Your visit will cover a minimum of twenty-two days. That’s a lot of underwear. Yes, the castle has two washing machines, but you’ll want a few changes of clothes and other stuff, so you’ll most likely travel with more than a carry-on bag. We can help with that.
3. Traveling with someone familiar with the trip reduces anxiety, and who doesn’t need a little less anxiety these days?
Do you need to get to the castle this way? No.
Will we provide detailed instructions if you want to travel on your own? Of course, we will.
What does the trip from the airport to the castle entail? To travel the 75 miles (121 km) you’ll need to do the following:
– Take the shuttle bus from the main airport to Terminal B. They travel back and forth constantly.
31 minutes.
– Terminal B has a large train station. A train to Vic leaves every ten min. or so from 4:20 am to 10 pm. By a ticket (approx. 14 euros), catch a train.
1 h 20 minutes.
– At Vic, a car will meet you at the train station and drive you to the castle. 45 minutes.
It’s a long day, so we hope you arrive a day or two early and rest up before Sarah Pinsker gets a hold of you on November 1st.
Got any questions? Email me at janetwaywardwormhole@gmail.com
PUBLIC EARLY BIRD ENDS SOON!
Addendum from Cat: When Janet suggested this, I immediately agreed. I’m happy to be there to greet people. There’s a great little cafe there and I plan to bring a notebook and enjoy a bocadilla and some coffee while hanging out. The airport is mid-sized, and well-marked. I’ll have my cellphone handy should you need to ping me for guidance. The train ride is pretty easy and pleasant – so much to look at!
There’s a stillness atop Sant Bartomeu hill that settles my bones and calms my brain. At 998 meters above sea level, I lean against a centuries-old stone wall, part of the Castell de Llaés, and look across the fields below. Thirty-nine km to the right is a second hill of 1025 meters, where I can see remains of the castle of Besora as it sits alone with its past. In the other direction, at 961 meters, sits the medieval remains of Castell de Milany. With the slightest effort, I lower a cellophane sheet over the scene and add people in tunics walking with horses wearing baroque saddles. A second overlay adds dusk and wispy tendrils of cloud to the picture. Torches flare along the castle walls to both sides of me, and the glow of a central fire, ready to send messages across the gap between them as night descends. -Janet K. Smith