FAQ ◊ Syllabus ◊

DragonCon 2010 Writer’s Workshop Info

The 2010 Basic Writer's Workshop and Master Novel Workshop are Sold Out!

In 2010, A. C. Crispin will again be offering her Basic Writers Workshop at DragonCon on September 2 and 3, 2010.

She will also be offering a “Master” Novel Workshop in 2010.  (See “Master” section of FAQ for details.)

Ms. Crispin is a best selling science fiction and fantasy author who has been making a living with her writing since 1983. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's famous volunteer group, Writer Beware, and she serves as its Chair.  She has had 23 novels published.  Her 24th will be released Spring of 2011.

Ms. Crispin's Basic course provides a full overview of the science fiction and fantasy genre. It gives students insight and information on how to market their fiction in today's competitive publishing environment. The Basic course also includes, at no extra charge, a personalized manuscript critique by Ms. Crispin.

At completion, students will understand the importance of background genre reading, scientific or other appropriate research, developing fleshed-out characters, original or “twist” plotlines, setting, and descriptions in their science fiction or fantasy short stories or novels. Students will learn sources they can consult to find legitimate, suitable markets for short story or novel submissions. They’ll be able to produce a correctly formatted and printed manuscript, and a workable query or cover letter. They’ll be able to identify and avoid the writing scams that are proliferating in today’s highly competitive markets. (For a breakdown of course subjects, see the Basic Course Syllabus on this site.)

This course will run for two full days at Dragon*Con, on Thursday (one day before the con “officially” begins) and Friday, September 2-3, 2010. Submission of a manuscript for review by Ms. Crispin is desirable, but not required.

Ms. Crispin has been teaching the Basic Writers Workshop at Dragoncon since 2001. Many of her former students have gone on to sell their work to professional markets and several have won awards for their fiction:

"While Ann's lessons on the fundamentals of the craft, especially as they applied to genre writing, were solid, the best part of the workshop for me was the critiques. Her brutal honesty left me with no doubts on what my story needed to succeed. And she was equally honest with me about my story's strengths. I walked out of my critique with a much clearer picture of whom I was as a writer and what steps I needed to take to improve my craft. And yes, after revisions, I sold that story."

~Jennifer Pelland (2008 Short Story Nebula Nominee for 'Captive Girl')

"The Writers Workshop taught by Ann Crispin at Dragon*Con 2000 played a pivotal role in my becoming a published, professional writer. I highly recommend her two-day Beginning Writers Workshop for aspiring writers looking to improve their craft and learn about the publishing industry and her Advanced Writers Workshop for intermediate level writers seeking to take their prose to the next level."

~Eugie Foster (Nebula Award winner for 'Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast!' and Phobos award winner for 'All in My Mind')

"I've been a student of Ann Crispin's Dragon*Con workshops since 2002 and her courses have been key in my becoming the professional writer I am today. Not only does Ann give a no-holds-barred, straightforward approach to help students better their writing and understand the publishing industry, but her classroom fosters a true writing community. Fellow alumni and I have stayed in touch over the years, pushing and supporting each other through mailing groups, critiques, recommendations, and friendship. For anyone who wants to be a serious writer, take a workshop by Ann Crispin."

~Trisha J. Wooldridge (EPPIE Award winning author of "Party Crashers" in BAD-ASS FAERIES 2: JUST PLAIN BAD)

For more info about Ms. Crispin, check out the A.C. Crispin website.

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A.C. Crispin’s Writer’s Workshop: Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How much does it cost to attend the Basic workshop?

A. Cost for the two-day 2010 Basic Workshop is $200.00 per person. This 16 hour course includes extensive handouts on marketing fiction, as well as the personalized manuscript critique by Ms. Crispin. Send your check, payable to Dragon*Con Writers Workshop, to our office at:

Dragon*Con
Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Q. When will the Basic workshop be held?

A. The A.C. Crispin Writer’s Beginner’s Workshop will be held September 2-3, 2010. The workshop will begin on the Thursday before Dragon*Con officially starts, and run through Friday afternoon of the first day. The workshop will begin at 9:00 A.M. and last until 5:00 P.M. both days, with a lunch break.

Q. Why is the Basic workshop starting a day before the convention officially starts?

A. We are starting the workshop early so that those attending the A.C. Crispin Writer’s Workshop may also attend the regular Dragon*Con Writers Track programming on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Q. Where will the workshop be held?

A. The A.C. Crispin Writers Workshop is currently scheduled to be held in the Marietta Room at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Q. I don’t have a manuscript to submit yet; I’ve just started writing. Can I attend the Basic workshop anyway?

A. Certainly. Manuscript submission is desirable, but not required.

Q. I have a manuscript to submit. What are the submission guidelines?

A. All manuscripts to be read by Ms. Crispin must be submitted to the following address by August 6, 2010:

Dragon*Con
Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, in approved manuscript format. (See the manuscript guidelines on the SFWA website: (www.sfwa.org) Handwritten or single spaced manuscripts are not acceptable. Ms. Crispin will read manuscripts up to 5000 words, or about 20 double spaced pages. Attendees may submit short stories, or the first chapter and synopsis of a novel for critique. No electronic submissions will be accepted. No poetry, please.

Q. What does the Basic workshop cover?

A. A syllabus of the workshop is available toward the end of this Q&A, and gives all the topics covered. Day One of the workshop will cover writing subjects such as characterization, plot, setting, description, POV, creating the illusion of reality, research, theme and style. Day Two will be devoted to marketing your work to professional markets, and critiques of manuscripts that have been submitted.

Q. What level writer do I have to be?

A. Ms. Crispin’s workshop allows plenty of time for class discussions and Q&A, and is designed to help writers from the complete beginner stage to those who are beginning to submit their work for possible publication.

Q. If I attend Dragon*Con and sign up for the Writers Track, does that entitle me to attend Ms. Crispin’s workshop?

A. No. Ms. Crispin’s Basic Writer’s Workshop is separate from the regular Dragon*Con Writers Track. You must register for it separately, and there is a charge to attend.

Q. What materials should I bring to the Basic workshop?

A. If you have submitted a manuscript for critique, and would like to share copies of your submission with the other class members, you will be given instructions on how to send copies of your manuscript electronically to the other students prior to the start of the class. It's advisable to print out any stories you have read and have comments on, so you can bring these manuscripts to class and give other students your comments on their stories.   

Ms. Crispin will be in touch with her students by telephone prior to the workshop to let them know how many will be attending, and to provide an email list for the class attendees, etc. Please bring notebook and pen for taking notes. Laptops and tape recorders are fine, too, though you should probably bring an extension cord. No video cameras, please.

Q. I really want to attend the Basic Workshop, but I can't afford the extra expense. What can I do?

A. Each year, Ms. Crispin offers one free "scholarship" slot to her workshop to a deserving writer who is experiencing genuine economic hardship. If you'd like to be considered for the 2010 "Scholarship" slot, please write to the Director of the Dragon*Con Writer's Track, Nancy Knight.

Q. I still have a question about whether I should attend. Who can I ask about the Basic workshop?

A. You may email Ms. Crispin at Anncrispin@aol.com.

Handwritten or unprofessional appearing manuscripts cannot be read.  Please adhere to the word-count and manuscript guidelines for your submission.

In the cover letter accompanying your manuscript for review, please give the following information:

Name, age, and, if published, please list your professional sales.

Complete contact information: street address, telephone number(s), and email address.  Ms. Crispin personally calls each student prior to the class to discuss any special concerns they may have, so she will need this information from you.  Ms. Crispin also sets up an email list, so students are provided with information about the class prior to attending, as well as important website links that are helpful resources for aspiring writers.  For this reason, it is vital to your success in this workshop that you provide Ms. Crispin with your current telephone number AND email address.

PLEASE provide your current email and telephone number(s)!

Of course, participants must also have an attending Dragon*Con 2010 membership. Only a limited number of students can be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early registration is recommended, as this course always sells out.

“MASTER” NOVEL WORKSHOP:

General information: 

In 2010, A.C. Crispin will hold her first-ever “Master” workshop for novelists.  This will not be a formal “class” so much as a one-on-one mentoring session with Ms. Crispin.  In order to apply for this workshop, students must have a completed, polished novel they feel is ready for submission, as well as a synopsis and a boilerplate query letter.  Ms. Crispin will read the first 100 pages of each student’s novel, plus the synopsis and query letter.  She will provide individual critiques and marketing advice based on the manuscript excerpts, the synopsis, and the query letter.  She will make suggestions designed to improve the quality of the book, the synopsis, and the query letter.  She will also suggest ways to make the work more marketable to agents or editors at publishing houses.

Students must submit a manuscript sample and receive instructor approval to be accepted into this workshop.  Five students will be accepted.  No last-minute additions will be possible.  To apply, please send the first 15 pages of your novel to the following address:

Dragon*Con Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Ms. Crispin will call each “Master” student before the class to confirm that she has accepted the student into the workshop, and that she has read the submitted material.  At Dragon*Con, each “Master” student will sit down with Ms. Crispin for a private session of at least one hour to go over the submitted work.  Students should be prepared to take extensive notes, so they can revise their manuscript before submission.
In addition, Ms. Crispin will do a phone follow up session with each Master student two months after the workshop to answer questions regarding their rewrites.

Q. How much does it cost to attend the Master Novel workshop?

A. The cost for the 2010 Master Novel Workshop is $275.00 per person.  Send your check, payable to Dragon*Con Writers Workshop, to our office at:

Dragon*Con
Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Q.  How do I apply for the “Master” novel workshop?

A.  Submit the first 15 pages of your novel manuscript to Dragoncon by June 15, 2010 at the following address.  Be sure to include complete contact information – full name, street address, current email address, and phone number(s).  Do NOT send a check until you have been notified that you have been accepted for the workshop.  Ms. Crispin will contact all writers who submit excerpts by June 30, 2010, to inform them whether they have been selected.  Her decision is final.

Dragon*Con
Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Q.  If I am selected for the “Master” Novel Workshop, what is the deadline for submission of my manuscript excerpt, plus synopsis and boilerplate query letter?

A.  The deadline for submission of your work to the “Master” workshop is July 15, 2010.  This is a FIRM deadline.  Please send the requested material to:

Dragon*Con
Attn: 2010 Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 16459
Atlanta, GA 30321-0459

Q.  Do I have to have taken Ms. Crispin’s Basic Workshop to be considered for this workshop?  Are there any prerequisites?

A.  No.  Only the quality of the submitted work is considered for admittance.

Q.  Does my novel have to be science fiction or fantasy?

A.  No.  Any genre fiction will be considered – mystery, thriller, romance, western, horror, paranormal, mainstream, “chick lit,” etc.  CAVEAT:  “Experimental” literary works, stream-of-consciousness literary novels, spiritual, or Christian novels do not fall within the realm of Ms. Crispin’s expertise, and should not be submitted.  This workshop will only cover prose fiction, so no poetry or non-fiction should be submitted.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Workshop Syllabus

I. Introduction to Genre Fiction

A. Why It’s Easier to Sell

B. The Ancient and Proud Tradition of Storytelling

II. Introduction to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Genre:

A. What is Science Fiction?

B. What is Fantasy?

C. What are “Subgenres”?

1. Cyberpunk

2. Media Tie-ins

3. Hard S.F.

4. Traditional fantasy

5. Paranormal and urban fantasy

6. Mercs and armed forces in Space

7. S.F. and Fantasy Crossovers

a. Mystery

b. Romance

III. The Elements of Fiction: What They Are and How They Work Together in S.F. and Fantasy Writing

A. Characterization

1. Creating Believable Characters

2. Your Protagonist

3. Your Antagonist

4. Secondary Characters

5. Creating Believable Aliens and Non-humans

B. Plot

1. Is There Such a Thing as an Original Plot?

2. If You Can’t Be Totally Original, How Can You Still Be Intriguing and Saleable?

3. Robert A. Heinlein’s 3 Plotlines

4. Primary Plot

5. Subplots - Do You Need Them? When? How Many?

a. How to Make Subplots Tie into Primary Plots Seamlessly

b. Subplots as Crossovers - Romance, Mystery, etc.

C. Setting - What World is This Anyway? What Time?

1. Why Settings are Crucial to S.F. and Fantasy Fiction

a. We’re Not in Kansas, Toto

2. Creating S.F. and Fantasy Worlds

a. Background Data: How Much is Too Much?

b. Avoiding Expository Lumps

3. How to Write Effective Settings When You Can’t Go There in Person

4. Setting in Time Travel Stories

D. Description: Characters, Worlds, Aliens

1. Writing Effective Character Description

2. Writing Dynamic Narrative

3. Writing Action Scenes

IV. Rivets and Trees, Nuts and Bolts: Constructing a S.F. or Fantasy Story/Novel

A. Breakdown into Scenes

1. How Long Should a Scene Be?

2. What Should a Scene Cover?

3. Transitions: How to Get from One Place and Ttime to Another without Jarring the Reader

B. Point-of-View

1. Determining Whose POV is Best for a Given Scene

2. Why one POV per Scene is Usually Best for Today’s Genre Fiction

3. Handling Difficult POV’s

a. Can You Create Alien Aliens and Still Have Them be POV Characters?

b. How Do Aliens Differ from Non-Human Fantasy Characters?

C. Pacing

1. Be Careful of Flashbacks Slowing Down the Pacing

2. Make each Acene do Double Duty - Advancing Both Characterization and Plot

3. Pacing in Short Stories

4. Pacing in Novels

D. Creating the Illusion of Reality for Alien, Time-Travel or Fantasy Worlds

1. Verisimilitude - How to Make it “Ring True”

2. Research - How Much is Too Much?

a. S.F. Research - Science is All

1. Planetology, Physics, Biology, etc.

2. History for Time Travel and Alternate History

b. Fantasy Research - Folklore, Magic, and What’s Been Overdone

3. How to Avoid Getting in Over Your Head

a. Who Should Write Hard S.F.?

b. Fantasy’s Easy by Comparison...Right?

E. Dialogue

1. Developing Your “Ear”

2. Writing Dialogue That is Easy to Read, but Rings True

a. Creating the Impression of Alien Speech Patterns

b. What’s Been Overdone in Fantasy Dialogue

3. Suiting Speech Patterns to Characters

4. How to Write Dialect and Still be P.C.

F. Style

1. What Styles Work Best for S.F.? Fantasy?

2. How to Develop Your Own Unique Style

3. Improving Your Style

4. Writing Smoothly

5. Avoid Letting “Style” Get in the Way of Telling the Story

G. Atmosphere

1. What is It?

2. When it’s Crucial, When It’s Not

H. Theme

1. Stating It in a Sentence or Two

2. Most Important During Revision Phase

3. Don’t Let the Message Get in the Way of the Story

I. Advanced Storytelling Techniques

1. Present vs. Past Tense - When is It Justified?

2. Flashbacks - Why Editors Usually Detest Them

3. Stream-of-Consciousness

4. First Person Narrative? Third?

a. Pros and Cons of Each

5. Polishing Manuscripts

V. Techniques Writers Use

A. Developing Discipline

B. Revision: How Do You Know When Enough is Enough?

C. Using Your Own Emotions and Experiences to Make Readers Care

1. If you Don’t/Can’t Care, They Won’t Either

D. What is the Reader Thinking/Feeling?

1. Why You Need to Know

2. How to Gauge a Reader’s Reactions

E. Writing Groups

1. Pros and Cons

2. Organizing Your Own - Rules are Essential

F. Writer’s Block - Techniques for Jump - Starting

G. How to Be Creative When Words Won’t Come

VI. Marketing Your Work - Okay, You’ve Finished. Now What?

A. Studying S.F. and Fantasy Markets

1. Why You MUST Be a Reader if You Want to Be a Writer

a. Spending Time at the Bookstore

b. Genre Publications

2. Should You Tailor Your Fiction to a Particular Market/Sub-Genre? If So, How?

3. Non-Category S.F. or Fantasy - Can You Sell It?

B. Marketing Short S.F. and Fantasy

C. Marketing S.F. and Fantasy Novels

D. When Do You Need an Agent? How Do You Get One?

E. Writing Productivity

F. Dealing with Rejection

VII. It’s a Jungle Out There - Avoiding Writing Scams

A. How to Spot Them

B. How to Network with Other Writers

1. Useful Websites and Groups

2. Professional Writers Organizations

C. Hurry Up and Wait - How to Stay Creative While Going Crazy Waiting for Editorial Responses

VIII. The Emotional Toll of Writing - Is it Worth It?

A. How to Stay Positive

B. When (if Ever) to Quit

IX. The Writing Life

A. Finances

B. Taxes

C. Professional Etiquette/Dealing with Editors, etc.

D. When to Quit Your Day Job

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