ArmadilloCon Writers’ Workshop
Why Participate in the ArmadilloCon Writers’ Workshop?
The ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP is designed to benefit both new and developing writers. This year’s workshop happens on Friday, Sept 12.
The Friday morning panel sessions will cover a wide range of topics from managing craft elements such as style, plot, theme, and characterization to the dos and don’ts of preparing your work for professional markets and different approaches to publication (e.g. traditional vs. independent).
During the Friday afternoon breakout sessions, participants work together in small groups along with two instructors to exchange critiques. Learning to receive – and to give – a meaningful critique of a work in progress is an invaluable skill for writers who would like to better assess and improve their own writing. Students may choose to join a group in the Milford style or Mary Robinette Kowal’s ABCD Critique Style (see also the video How to Train Your Internal Editor). Each participant will receive a personal, in-depth critique of their work from both the instructors and their peers.
Finally, ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP students can select from a variety of WRITING TRACK sessions throughout the rest of the weekend.
Getting to the 2025 ArmadilloCon Writers’ Workshop
Online registration reserves your spot. This includes the Writers’ Workshop, Friday lunch, and your membership in the rest of ARMADILLOCON. Sessions during the weekend will include a variety of sessions for new and developing writers.
Manuscripts are not due until August 6. Submit your original, unpublished work of speculative fiction. Maximum length 5,000 words. Please read and follow the Manuscript Submission Guidelines. The 2025 Manuscript Submission Deadline is Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 11:59:59 p.m. CST.
After the submission date passes, you will receive a questionnaire asking you to select a lunch option. We get lunches catered by the hotel to maximize your time in the workshop.
About two weeks before the workshop, you will receive an email packet with the manuscripts of the other students in your group, along with other materials concerning the workshop and the schedule. Review and critique the manuscripts in your group before the workshop meets. You will not have time to do so once the workshop begins. You are required to read and critique all student manuscripts sent to you in your workshop packet.
Sponsored Seats
We are pleased to offer a limited number of sponsored seats to those whose financial status might prevent their participating. If you would like to be considered for a sponsored seat, please complete and submit this form. If you have any questions, contact the Workshop Director at writersworkshop@armadillocon.org.
What is the Workshop Like?
The Friday workshop starts with badge pickup between 8:00 and 8:45 AM and ends at about 4:00 PM.
The morning session topics have not yet been confirmed.
There will not be “down time” at lunch. Before you arrive on Friday, you do need to have read and critiqued all student manuscripts sent to you in your workshop packet.
The afternoon session will include lunch and manuscript critiques with your assigned small group and will end at about 4 PM.
Be sure to make plans to attend ARMADILLOCON sessions during the weekend. There will be a robust WRITING TRACK of additional sessions to choose from.
Follow ARMADILLOCON on social media and/or sign up for the ARMADILLOCON newsletter and watch for updates.
Manuscript Submission Guidelines
- You may submit:
- Only one submission per workshop participant,
- Only your own original work,
- Only non-published work,
- Only speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, bizarro, and similar).
- Fiction submissions
- MAXIMUM LENGTH IS 5,000 WORDS. The word count limit is FIRM. No exceptions. Manuscripts longer than the maximum length will be either returned to the author for pruning, or if submitted at deadline, they will be shortened by the Workshop Director without notice. You may send either a complete SHORT STORY or the BEGINNING of a novel. Short stories are preferred as they generally yield a more productive discussion of your abilities as a writer in this type of workshop setting.
- If you are submitting a complete short story, make sure you write “The End” on the last page; otherwise, indicate that the story continues after the first 5,000 words.
- If you are submitting the beginning of a novel, indicate on the first page that it is the prologue / chapter one. This will ensure that the instructors will be able to evaluate each manuscript properly.
- Optional but recommended: On a separate page within the document, include anything you feel would help your readers understand your goals for the story. This might include: genre/ intended audience, background information about the story’s origin, and any specific questions that you have for your readers. Mark spoilers if needed so that readers know whether to read the background information before or after reading the story. This section does not count against your word count limit.
- Complete the online Manuscript and Permission slip.
- This form includes your granting us permission to distribute your story to the instructors and other workshop participants for the purpose of this workshop.
- That online form is also where you submit your electronic manuscript in WORD DOCUMENT or RICH TEXT (.doc, .docx, .rtf) only in proper manuscript format. (No need to include physical mailing address). Send any questions to writersworkshop@armadillocon.org.
- Please do not use pen names for workshop submissions, as it causes confusion.
- PLEASE NOTE: The workshop staff will only view the manuscript after you have both paid for the workshop and signed and completed the electronic permission slip (required as part of manuscript submission).
The ArmadilloCon Writers’ Workshop is Committed to Diversity
Diversity is vital to speculative fiction. A genre centered on exploration and encountering the Other must include voices and visions from writers, readers and thinkers of all kinds. The ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP actively seeks to include students, faculty, and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, and ability.
Writers’ Workshop FAQ
WHEN AND WHERE CAN I GET A BADGE?
You can reserve your membership in the ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP online HERE!
WHAT IS THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE 2025 ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP?
The submission deadline for the 2025 ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP is Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 11:59:59 p.m. CST.
WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY MANUSCIPT?
Submit your manuscript HERE!
WILL I GET AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION AFTER YOU RECEIVE MY MANUSCRIPT AND PAYMENT?
Yes. We must have received both (A) payment and (B) your online Manuscript and Permission slip, before you are officially enrolled in the workshop. If you have not received a confirmation email within three days of submitting everything, please contact the Workshop Director at writersworkshop@armadillocon.org.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT READING OTHER PEOPLE’S MANUSCRIPTS. WHAT IF SOME CONTENT TRIGGERS ME?
If you are triggered by particular content and would like to either avoid that content or have a warning included with your workshop packet, please contact the Workshop Director at writersworkshop@armadillocon.org.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?
If you are cancelling early, you can submit a request for a partial refund to the convention chair for consideration.
No refunds will be given once manuscripts are released to the instructors and other participants. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you cannot attend the workshop, we will e-mail your group’s critiques to you. You will also be responsible for getting your feedback to the other students in your assigned group.
CAN I USE A PEN NAME ON MY MANUSCRIPT?
Please do not use pen names for workshop submissions, as it causes confusion.
CAN I SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE MANUSCRIPT?
No. The ARMADILLOCON WRITERS’ WORKSHOP accepts only one submission per workshop participant.
WHAT KINDS OF FICTION CAN I SUBMIT?
Work must be only your own original work, only non-published work, and only speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, bizarro, and similar).
WHAT IF MY MANUSCRIPT IS LONGER THAN 5,000 WORDS?
The maximum length is 5,000 words. The word count limit is FIRM. No exceptions. Manuscripts longer than the maximum length will be either returned to the author for pruning, or if submitted at deadline, they will be shortened by the Workshop Director without notice.
WHAT IF I WANT TO WORKSHOP PART OF A LONGER WORK?
If you are submitting the beginning of a novel, indicate on the first page that it is the prologue / chapter one. This will ensure that the instructors will be able to evaluate each manuscript properly.
If you are submitting the first part of a longer story, indicate that the story continues after the first 5,000 words. If submitting a short story, complete stories are preferred.
WHAT KIND OF MANUSCRIPT CAN I SUBMIT?
You may send either a complete SHORT STORY or the BEGINNING of a novel. Short stories are preferred as they generally yield a more productive discussion of your abilities as a writer in this type of workshop setting.
WHAT IF I THINK READERS NEED MORE CONTEXT?
On a separate page within the document, include anything you feel would help your readers understand your goals for the story. This might include genre/ intended audience, background information about the story’s origin, and any specific questions that you have for your readers. Mark spoilers if needed so that readers know whether to read the background information before or after reading the story. This section does not count against your word count limit.
This context information is optional but recommended.
HOW DO I TACKLE GIVING FEEDBACK TO SOMEONE IN MY CRITIQUE GROUP?
Giving helpful feedback takes practice! Here are two resources that may help you prepare:
- Read Beta Reading Revisited: the ABCDEF approach. This approach has been used by Mary Robinette Kowal.
- Look at the section “How to Give Great Writing Feedback” in How to Give (And Receive) Writing Feedback. The sandwich technique is a great starting place when giving writing feedback to someone you don’t know very well.
CAN I COMPLETE MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS FOR MY GROUP DURING LUNCH AT THE WORKSHOP?
No. There will not be “down time” at lunch. Before you arrive on Friday, you do need to have read and critiqued all student manuscripts sent to you in your workshop packet.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED HERE?
If you have any questions about the Writers’ Workshop, please e-mail the Workshop at writersworkshop@armadillocon.org.