Workshops listed below are for the remainder of 2013 and most of 2014.

A few pieces of history and information on the workshops here.

First off, they are held in Lincoln City, OR, right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Lincoln City is a long ways from anywhere, so the writers coming to these workshops are driven to learn and that’s the kind of writer we are looking to invite. This July 2013 in workshops we had a writer from Tokyo and another from Great Britain and another from Germany. At the same time there were four writers from Canada and a number from the east coast of this country.

My point is that very, very few people are within driving distance of these workshops.

Second, these are professional-level workshops. We do not teach beginners. Beginning writers can find help just about anywhere. We want to work with the writers who have gotten through their first million words, who maybe or maybe not have published some stories or books, and who are focusing on becoming a full-time fiction writer. Many of the writers attending have been full-time nonfiction writers and want to move to fiction. Many are writers driven who have started to sell or are getting great rejections. Many are well-published writers.

So if you are only working on your first novel or have only written a few short stories, these workshops would not be right for you. But if you’ve been working at this business for a time, writing like crazy, and have a goal to become a professional fiction writer down the road, these workshops can help you. Never hurts to write me and see if you can get in. You might surprise yourself at where you really are on the road.

By the way, I use the term “workshop” to describe these events, but there are no critiques other than by the instructors. Writers attending will be reading the work of the others attending, but not critiquing anything. Kris and I do not believe in peer critiques and they do not happen here at all anymore. We work to help you get better. We are not here to tear anyone apart.

As you may have already gathered, these are invite-only workshops. Write me at dean (at) deanwesleysmith (dot) com if you are interested. Or if you know someone who might be interested, send them to the workshop page here on this site for information.

The costs are the workshop fee plus you pay for your own room when you arrive. A deposit or full payment is needed to hold your spot. Payment one month ahead of the workshop in full is required. (All money paid ahead is refundable for any reason if you can’t make it.)

All workshops are 8 days long. All of these workshops are limited attendance in one fashion or another. Most run between twelve and twenty writers. (And honestly, the great networking and discussions that go on around these workshops and after the workshop each day is often worth the costs alone.)

Starting in 2012, we hold the workshops in WMG Publishing offices and everyone stays in a wonderful twenty-suite hotel here in Lincoln City that gives great rates. We often have the entire hotel to ourselves. I do all the reservations for each workshop, so nothing to worry about. Writers just pay for the room when they arrive. Most of the rooms are two-room suites with kitchens and there is free breakfast. Usually the rate is either $40.00 per night but goes up to $60.00 per night, depending on the season. You get the entire suite to yourself.

Some of these workshops are intense craft workshops such as the Character Voice or the Historical Fiction/Alternate Fiction Workshop or the Anthology workshop. You will be writing a lot during those workshops. Some workshops are business and information workshops and you will take a notebook full of notes. Ask either by e-mail or in the comments if you are serious about any workshop and want more information.

ANNOUNCEMENT! We are doing online workshops for writers.  Look under the Online Workshop tab for more information. Those will be limited to twelve and are NOT invite-only. Just sign up. First-come, first-served.

 

2014 Workshop Schedule

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February 22nd- March 1st, 2014

ANTHOLOGY WORKSHOP

Taught by professional writers Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, John Helfers, Kerrie Hughes, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Dean Wesley Smith.

You will write stories ahead for anthologies for this workshop. Very intense and a ton of fun. And wow will the networking with other professional writers be fantastic in this workshop. You will also be able to have lunch with one of the editors and three other attending writers. Maybe more than once.

If you haven’t had six professional editors argue over stories in front of you, you haven’t lived. Wait!!! No one ever has! This is a first. A real event workshop.

Workshop fee is $650.00 and room rate is $50.00 per night.

This workshop starts at 7PM on the first Saturday and goes late on the second Saturday, with check-out and travel home on Sunday.

Closed and full…

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April 19th- April 26th, 2014

How to Write Thrillers 

Taught by Dean Wesley Smith. This is the first time for this workshop. This will be an intense writing workshop on all the varied techniques that go into writing in the hardest genre.

When you leave this workshop, what you learn in craft and pacing will transfer over to any story or genre you want to write in. Once you know the techniques and craft of writing a thriller, you can write almost anything and make it far, far more readable.

Workshop fee is $650.00 and room rate is $50.00 per night.

This workshop starts at 7PM on the first Saturday and goes late on the second Saturday, with check-out and travel home on Sunday.

Still some openings as of February 5th…

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May 10th – May 17th, 2014

How to Write Historical Fiction and Alternate History

Taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the winner of the Sidewise Award for the best Alternate History story of the year and the Herodotus Award for the best historical mystery with her first Kris Nelscott novel A Dangerous Road. Kris’s acclaimed Smokey Dalton historical series is now in its seventh book and still going. She also has a degree in history and was a journalist.

This will be an intensive writing workshop studying all aspects of writing historical and alternate history fiction.

Workshop fee is $650.00 and room rate is $50.00 per night.

This workshop starts at 7PM on the first Saturday and goes late on the second Saturday, with check-out and travel home on Sunday.

Still some openings as of February 5th…

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And don’t forget, we are now doing Online workshops. Check those out under the Online Workshops tab at the top of the page.