We ended up granting a couple of deadline extensions for the novel workshop, and it seemed fairer to me to extend that to everyone. So if you are someone who wanted to apply and just didn’t get their stuff in order, you’re got an extra two weeks if you want to apply.
If you’re interested in the short story workshop, its deadline is the end of this month!
All details are here: https://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/the-wayward-wormhole-new-mexico-2024/
Want access to a lively community of writers and readers, free writing classes, co-working sessions, special speakers, weekly writing games, random pictures and MORE for as little as $2? Check out Cat’s Patreon campaign.
"(On the writing F&SF workshop) Wanted to crow and say thanks: the first story I wrote after taking your class was my very first sale. Coincidence? nah….thanks so much."
Onward and Forward
Greetings and salutations! We’re a twelfth of the way through the year now, and it’s definitely interesting times we’re living in. Remember to be kind to each other; the world needs it more than ever right now. Here in South Bend, it’s been cold and snowy, so the cats and I spend a lot of time either near the heater or under the electric blanket. I have finished up the most recent rewrite of the fantasy novel and am sending it off to meet its fate today. Wish me luck!
Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter:
Advanced Short Story Workshop
This multi-session, advanced workshop is intended for students who have already taken a short story workshop or have comparable experience. Class material is determined by student questions and needs. Each session will feature a deep drive on a particular craft aspect, including optional writing and reading assignments, as well as workshopping each other’s stories. Students are expected to write a story and workshop it over the course of the workshop. You must submit a writing sample when applying of 250-500 words.
Applications close February 26 or when the class fills, whichever is sooner.
Meets Saturdays, 12:30-3 PM Eastern time, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and April 6 and 19. (No class May 29 or April 12).
Cost is $499 for Patreon supporters; otherwise $599. Full and partial Plunkett scholarships are available.
Flash Fiction Workshop
In this workshop we will explore and write different forms of flash fiction, including critiquing each other’s work. You will produce multiple pieces of flash over the course of this workshop and can submit up to three for critique. You will also learn strategies for marketing and submitting flash as well as best practices for revision. You do not need to submit a writing sample.
Meets Sundays, 12:30-3 PM Eastern time, March 2, 9, 16 and 23.
Cost is $299 for Patreon supporters; otherwise $399. Full and partial Plunkett scholarships are available.
Applications close February 26 or when the class fills, whichever is sooner.
To register for either class, send an email to cat@kittywumpus.net with the following details:
Ins and Outs of Outlines on February 9
An outline is one of a writer’s handiest tools – when it’s used correctly. Will it surprise you to find out that it’s not just useful when starting, but even after you’re finished? In this class, you’ll learn how to use an outline without getting tied down or constricted by it, as well as how it can be used as a valuable tool for revision. Through a mixture of lecture, discussion, and in-class exercises, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of using outlines.
Class happens on Sunday, February 9, 1-3 PM Eastern.
Cost is $59; $49 if you are a Patreon supporter. Scholarships are available. To register, mail me at cat@kittywumpus.net, indicate whether or not you are a Patreon supporter for the discounted price, and how you would like to pay. If you are applying for a scholarship, please indicate whether you need a full or partial (50%) one.
Taking Editing Projects
I edited two novels and a couple of stories for clients in January, but my docket’s pretty clear right now. If you’re curious about my skills, here’s a page of testimonials, including Harry Turtledove saying he’d work with me any time at all.
Find out more about getting your novel or story edited here.
Patreon Events This Month
Events offered to my Patreon community this month include: weekly motivational meetings, a short story discussion group, weekly writing to prompts and co-working, two Writing with Tarot sessions, an author discussion with Premee Mohammed, and Nisi Shawl talking with the Craft Book Discussion group. Check out my Patreon if you’d like to join a writing community focused on writing fantasy, science fiction, and horror that’s full of kindness, creativity, and inspiration.
Community Links
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A few days ago, I implemented #Critclub, tying the Chez Rambo Discord server more tightly into the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers and providing a way for F&SF to swap critiques online. People seem excited about this, and the Patreon campaign has seen an uptick. A few people have taken me up on the offer of scholarships – thank you!
A nice little bump of people have appeared on the channel as a result and we’ve been doing things like sorting out how the critiquing system will work. We have added the first custom emoji, a rainbow kittywumpus 🙂 courtesy awesome community moderator, Frances KR.
Writing sprints and discussion of process as well as substantial amounts of con discussion have all taken place, as well as some swapping of market news and much use of the rejoice and venting rooms. In short, happy small steps towards the sort of thriving writing community I’m hoping to build, happening at a manageable rate and letting people invest in it by helping shape it.
On September 19, 5 – 6 PM Pacific time, participants will be able to submit live questions for the class I’ll be doing for Gregory Wilson’s channel on Twitch, “Applying Algorithms” in which I’ll talk about how to use the rules of storytelling to make your fiction more effective. This is the fourth of these classes I’ve done, and they’re always a lot of fun, plus a chance for me to beta test classes I’m thinking about teaching.
In other news I’ve been working away on checking the edits from my editor for Tor novel, You Sexy Thing, which will come out in November of 2020, and putting together an initial list of potential blurbers to send him. At the same time, I’m getting The Five, the MG space opera I’ve written, ready to go out to beta readers, and prepping to add some scenes with writing sprints next week. After that I’ll turn back to getting Exiles of Tabat (due out May 2020 from Wordfire Press) ready for beta readers and writing the sequel to You Sexy Thing, tentatively titled Devil’s Gun.
If you’re at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association next weekend, please come to my workshops! I will have postcards with a free class on them, plus books for sale. 🙂 Similarly if you’ll be at the Surrey International Writers Conference in October, please check out my classes there! Can’t make it to either of those? I do have some live classes coming up; you’ll always find the latest news and most comprehensive list of those listed here.
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