Hospitality is an important part of Writercon. Our membership comes from, literally, all over the world to participate in panels on every aspect of writing. We are here to work at making ourselves better, more marketable writers, to hone our craft and improve our skills - but many of us also use this as a time to reconnect with friends old and new, and we want to make every moment count when we only have a few of them wedged into all the great programming and events during this single weekend.

The consuite is the place to kick back and relax, either alone or with those friends. You can grab a bite to eat, have a few drinks and laugh out loud. You can read some great fic from the reading library. There are often events, both scheduled and impromptu happening in hospitality, so come on down during the weekend and say hi!

Hospitality has a budget, but it primarily runs off its own donations. Though we all know that beer, chocolate, coffee and orange food are essentials to any con, we provide more than just the traditional con food groups. Whether it's some cereal in the morning, a salad at lunch or sandwich at dinner time, we want to make sure that no congoer has to subsist on McDonalds or cold pizza for the whole weekend. We simply ask that you thoughtfully consider making a donation.

Speaking of having a good time in the consuite - Writercon is famous for our margaritas! At Writercon in Atlanta, we burned out the motor in the blender in 24 hours. We're hoping to be better prepared this time. As in the past, we'll have a fairly diverse bar selection and hope you'll spend some time toasting the good times and sharing laughter and stories when you have time to do so. For anyone flying out Monday morning, don't forget to come to the dead dog party on Sunday night - come say goodbye with a bang!

As always, we are please to have non-alcoholic, vegetarian and vegan options available.

Vote via donation to the Writercon Scholarship Fund:

Kripke vs. Joss vs. J.J.!!!

Three enter ... only one returns.

Unless there's a tie. Then it might be two.

But if there's a three-way tie, all three might emerge.

So anything can happen, really.

Winner will be announced ... soon. Go forth! Vonate!

As we put together the final version of our schedule, we're doing our best to work in as many fan-led events as possible.

Fan-led events are just that -- events run by you. We'll hook you up with a space and put your event on the schedule; you'll control how it runs. It can be a panel, discussion, informal gathering, or an all-out party.

Since we need to get the final schedule figured out soon, we've set Sunday May 31 at midnight EST as the deadline for fan-led event submissions. If you want to run an event, please get your submissions in asap!

We can't guarantee that we'll be able to accommodate every event, but we're certainly going to do our best. If you want to gauge interest for a potential topic, feel free to post at the Writercon LiveJournal community or at the Writercon.com forum to see if others are interested.

Click here to submit a fan-led event!

As we put together the final version of our schedule, we're doing our best to work in as many fan-led events as possible.

Fan-led events are just that -- events run by you. We'll hook you up with a space and put your event on the schedule; you'll control how it runs. It can be a panel, discussion, informal gathering, or an all-out party.

Since we need to get the final schedule figured out soon, we've set Sunday May 30 31 as the deadline for fan-led event submissions. If you want to run an event, please get your submissions in asap!

We can't guarantee that we'll be able to accommodate every event, but we're certainly going to do our best. If you want to gauge interest for a potential topic, feel free to post at the Writercon LiveJournal community or at the Writercon.com forum to see if others are interested.

Thus far we've had events proposed for the following fandoms/interests: Stargate Atlantis, Harry Potter (Snape), Firefly, slash, Torchwood/Doctor Who (a party), and Doctor Horrible (a sing-along screening). (Again, we can't promise all these will end up on the final schedule--we're working on it now.) We also have an official event for Supernatural (Debra Doyle's workshop)

If your particular interest is not represented among those (or already on our official schedule), please submit a fan-led event!

We've opened workshop registration for Writercon 2009!

Please note: you must be a registered attendee to sign up for workshops. You can register at writercon.com/registration.

First, please read the full list of workshops and descriptions so that you can choose which to sign up for.

Then please check our preliminary schedule to make sure the workshops are at a time that works for you. We've done our very best to get the schedule together in as final a form as possible, but please note that this is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change.

Finally, head over to our workshop registration page and choose which workshops you want to sign up for. To make sure everyone gets a chance at the workshops they want, please make sure to only choose workshops that you actually plan to attend.

We're opening the workshop registrations tomorrow (Thursday May 21) at noon, EST. After a flurry of emails between our programming coordinator, myself and my co-chair extraordinaire (and kick-ass webmistress), it was decided that in order to keep the records neat and tidy registrations will only be accepted at the WRITERCON WEBSITE. I know this is a change from what we've said in the past but for fairness and accuracy it is the best way to keep track. We will also be posting the panel schedule so you can see what your preferred workshop will be competing against. As always, the schedule is subject to change but program coordinator harmonyfb knows how to make a schedule cry so I wouldn't expect too many changes.

Registration will be open for all workshops and our new Workshop Lineup is pretty amazing. We're thrilled to announce that both Debra Doyle and Martha Wells will be presenting workshops at this year's Writercon.

For the most part, the registration process is designed to allow our workshop leaders to gauge the materials and time needed to present a quality program. The only workshops that have a participation limit and will be offered on a first come, first served basis are the following:

Inner Lives -- Discovering story through exploring character led by herself_nyc

In this workshop, we'll do some brief guided-ideation/writing exercises designed to help you learn about the characters you're writing about -- whether in fanfic or original fiction -- by acts of guided imagination with particular attention to sensory details. This is a material-generating workshop, which works well whether you have established characters, or just the merest sense of a person you'd like to explore through writing. Please come prepared with writing materials of your choice, and at least some idea of what character you'd like to work with during the 90 minute session. Between exercises there will be some opportunity to read aloud and hear (positive) feedback about your results.
Sessions: Two
Limit: Nine participants in each session


Writer’s Salon led by mosca

If you've ever submitted your story to a beta, you know that the critique process can turn a good story into a great one. The Writers' Salon is like a face-to-face beta session, in which your story will be discussed by a small group of people who are passionate about writing. We'll give your story an honest critique, and you'll do the same for our stories, and then we'll all go home energized and ready to rewrite. We'll also discuss how to set up your own writing critique groups, whether online or face-to-face. Prior registration required.
Sessions: One
Limit: Six participants

Weird Americana: Local History and Folklore as Source and Background Material for Supernatural Fanfic led by Debra Doyle

"Let's begin with a position statement: Supernatural isn't just horror/fantasy; it's deeply and specifically American horror/fantasy." As such, some of its most effective monsters-of-the-week have been drawn from regional history and legend; nor have fanfic writers neglected this rich vein of source material. Not every writer, though, has the advantage of physical proximity to all this local color; the workshop, accordingly, will also explore alternate means -- the internet, library research, asking questions of your friends and relatives and the occasional helpful stranger -- of digging it up and transforming it into story."
Sessions: One
Limit: 13 participants

Making the Leap: Writing as a Career Choice led by Martha Wells

A talk/question and answer session on writing as a career and the basics that people starting out as writers need to know. How to submit stories for publication, how agents work, what the publishing process should be like, scams to avoid, publishing myths and misconceptions, and anything else the participants would like to discuss.
Sessions: One
Limit: 40

For every limited attendance event we will have a waiting list but set your alarms for noon tomorrow so you don't miss your opportunity!

To register tomorrow click on the "programming" link in the sidebar. Make sure you know your username and password at www.Writercon.com so that you don't get delayed in signing up for your preferred workshop.

Remember, you must be a registered attendee to sign up for the workshops. Registration information can be found HERE.

Unsure about whether you can attend this year, but still want to show your support? Well, now you can!

Writercon 2009 Supporting Membership

A supporting membership is a way to support Writercon even if you're not able to attend the convention this year. As a supporting member, you will be mailed a registration packet containing the convention program and a special limited-edition Writercon Supporter button. If you choose, you can also be listed in the 2009 Program as a Supporting Member.

Fan-run conventions run on donations of time, a LOT of time, and money. As like many other conventions and events, we are feeling the effect of the economic downturn and are working extra hard to make sure this doesn't affect the Writercon experience. A supporting membership is one way you can show your support for Writercon even if you're not physically able to attend or volunteer in person.

Details -

* Supporting memberships can be upgraded to regular memberships at any time before June 15 (the online ticket sale cut-off date).
* Your payment will be used to help fund the convention itself. (You can also donate directly to the convention or donate directly to the scholarship fund.)
* Your registration packet and limited-edition Writercon Supporter button will be mailed after the convention ends.

The Writercon community has always been supportive and this year is no different. We are all humbled by the enthusiasm and support shown for this year's event. Thank you.

We're thrilled to welcome award-winning fantasy writer Martha Wells to this year's Writercon! This Nebula Award nominee is the author of The Fall of Ile-Rien Series, non-fiction pieces for Farscape and Harry Potter anthologies as well as several Stargate: Atlantis tie-in novels. Her books have been published in eight languages including French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, Polish, and Dutch. While we are patiently waiting for this year's con, Martha was kind enough to answer a few questions about writing, the sci-fi/fantasy industry and fandom for our latest guest Q&A. We can't wait to see her in July!

Martha Wells Q&A

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

Very early on. When I was a kid, I used to try to write stories, and draw maps of fantasy worlds, usually based on things like Land of the Giants and Godzilla and other monster movies that were on TV. After I started college, I wrote fanfic that was published in Star Wars fanzines, and also started going to SF/F writers workshops. I sent out a lot of stories to magazines, but I didn't sell anything until I wrote The Element of Fire, a few years after I graduated.

Do you have a writing routine? If so, please share!

I write full time now, so I pretty much just get up in the morning, surf a little bit, and then start writing.
I wrote my first few novels when I was working full time in computer support and programming, and I'd write at work while I was waiting for programs to run, and then in the evening.

You've written two SGA tie-in novels, Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary and Stargate Atlantis: Entanglement. How different is the process of writing a tie-in as opposed to an original novel such as The Element of Fire

When you're building your own world, even if you're basing it on a real historical time period, you can do pretty much whatever you want, and you're the one who makes all the rules and decides when to break them. Even when I was writing fanfic, I could still do pretty much whatever I wanted and just call it an AU if it wandered too far afield. With the two tie-ins, I wanted to expand on the world while still making it feel like part of the canon. I felt a lot of pressure to try to get it right.

How has the sci-fi/fantasy "industry" changed since the publication of your first novel?

It's gotten much much harder for new authors to get published, and for established authors to continue to publish.

What would you consider your greatest professional achievement to date?

Being nominated for the Nebula Award for The Death of the Necromancer.

What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever been given?

It was from Bruce Sterling, in a Turkey City Writers Workshop, about making description very specific to the moment and the character.

What was your first fandom?

Original trilogy Star Wars. Around the time The Empire Strikes Back came out, I saw an ad for a fanzine in the back of Starlog Magazine. It was for Facets, which I believe was the first Harrison Ford fanzine. I ordered it, then found other zines from the flyers that came with it. I'd already been to my first SF/F con -- I somehow persuaded my parents to take me and a friend to ArmadilloCon in Austin, I don't remember how -- so I've been involved in both media fandom and general SF/F fandom since I was around 15 or 16.

What has been your most rewarding fandom experience?

Finally getting to go to MediaWestCon with friends, and selling home-made zines out of our room and the dealer's room, staying up all night watching VHS tapes of our shows, building elaborate door decorations, and basically having the best slumber party ever.

What would you now consider "your" fandom?

Stargate: Atlantis, though because of personal issues I had to stop my fandom participation late last year.

What prompted you to accept the invitation to Writercon?

I like conventions, and I especially like going to new ones that I haven't had a chance to go to before. And it was very flattering to be invited.

For more information on Martha Wells and her body of work, visit her website at www.marthawells.com.

Just a reminder that Writercon t-shirts are now on sale. Click here to order your Writercon '09 shirt.

If you're coming to the convention, we encourage you to pre-order online because:

* You'll save money! T-shirts are $22 online in advance, but $25 at the convention itself.

* It's convenient! Your shirt will be right there in your registration package when you arrive at the con.

* You'll have your choice of sizes -- if you wait until the convention we may run out of some shirt sizes.

If you aren't attending the convention, you can still order a t-shirt -- we'll ship it to you after the con.

All proceeds from t-shirt sales are used to keep Writercon running.

Order your shirt now!

In addition to our official shirt, we're offering some unique Writercon merchandise via CafePress. Click here to check it out. We'll be adding more designs in the coming weeks--please let us know if you have any special requests!

If there were an opportunity to watch your favorite episodes in the Hospitality Suite, what ones would you like to see? (If the show is new within the last six months, please be circumspect about spoilery details, please.) For example:

Firefly: Either 1.4 Jaynestown so funny and well crafted or 1.5 Out of Gas so powerful and surprising.

Dollhouse: I'd definitely skip ahead to 1.6 - Man on the Street

Doctor Who: While overall I'm a Ten girl, one of the best crafted/layered stories (IMO) is 1.9 The Empty Child/1.10 The Doctor Dances

While it's not a fandom I'm in, per se, as I've only seen about three eps, I'd love to see the 2.1 Torchwood - Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Captain John Hart. 'Nuff said :)

Supernatural: Either 3.11 - Mystery Spot, which is at point hysterical and dark (Mmm, angsty Sam) or 3.12 - Jus in Bello. To me it hits the "make due with what you've got" kink, and the brothers are at their creative thinking best.

And I'm not sure where to start with either Buffy or Angel!

So share your own!