Writers' Workshop
REGISTRATION AND SUBMISSION TIME FOR THE ICON 35 WRITERS' WORKSHOP IS NOW CLOSED.
Hello ICON 35 Workshop Participants:
The Writer's Workshop is a great way for amateur writers to meet with professional writers in order to polish a project for publication and,
hopefully, learn a few secrets along the way. The ICON Writer's Workshop
follows the Milford model. Manuscripts are distributed to and read by all
participants prior to the workshop. Everyone gets a copy of each
manuscript, and it is expected that all participants use their copy to
write suggestions, fix typos and grammar, and help with general writing
issues in the margins, etc.
We then meet as a group at ICON, traditionally Sunday morning (when you
are all at your best -- ha, ha, ha). We then take turns discussing
constructive and helpful ways to improve the manuscript, with the
professional(s) going last but reserving the right to interrupt to make an
important point. At this time, we do not discuss issues of typos and
grammar (which are already written on the copy) but issues of Writing,
Character, and Plot. I specifically request that people discuss the
positive as well as the negative aspects and that all comments be
constructive in nature and, whenever possible, the reasons behind the
suggestion explained. During this discussion, it is asked that the person
who owns the manuscript remain quiet unless a direct question is asked of
that person or if the person is concerned that the critique has become
non-constructive or unhelpful.
These are the rules:
1. First four submitted manuscripts are critiqued.
2. We allow six submitted manuscripts, with the last two being held in
case one of the first four does not show. Please note that the last two
manuscripts will still receive written comments, will be critiqued if
there is an absence, and the owners of those two manuscripts will be
expected to critique the other manuscripts regardless.
2. Manuscripts should be double-spaced complete short stories or chapters
(preferably the FIRST) of an original SF or fantasy novel. Limit is 25
pages but not hard and fast. If your story is 30 pages, please don't cut
off the last five pages to fit in; bring all 30. If your story is 60
pages, however, it is a novella.
3. Please use a font large enough for people of all ages to read (12
point, at least). Most publishers specify 12 pt Courier, but I'm not a
publisher.
4. EVERYONE must stay until four manuscripts are critiqued. I know some
of you didn't get enough sleep, but it is unfair for everyone to give your
manuscript full time, then you run off and cheat someone else of their
fair time. Please expect to be there about 1 hour/manuscript. In my
experience, some will take less, some a bit more.
5. At the end of the workshop, all manuscripts are in the hands of the
owner of said manuscript.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mickey Zucker Reichert
Deadline for submissions is 10/5/10.
7 Hard copies of your submission can be sent to:
Writers' Workshop
ICON 35
308 E. Burlington St
PMB #300
Iowa City IA 52240
Or an electronic copy can be sent to:
writersworkshop@iowa-icon.com
- All submissions must include a mailing address for other's submitted manuscripts to be sent to.
- Only the first 6 submissions will be part of this writers' workshop, with the last two being held in reserve in cast one of the first 4 submitters do not show.
- Submitters should have read through all submissions before the writers' workshop