Query (I'm very new at this):

Any idea of the expected lengths of the stories we're expected to produce in the workshop? 'Short story' covers a fairly wide swath of words.

I'm a bit obsessive when I write and really like to get it to (my version of) correct before letting it out to play with others. I realize I won't have that luxury at CW and it makes me a bit nervous.

I just finished a 2,200 word short and that feels manageable. Should I shoot for that range?

Started reading Maureen McHugh's novel China Mountain Zhang this week. I found it very difficult to get started on but am now enjoying it. Oddly, it reminds me a bit of The Sand Pebbles.  Anyone else?

Oh, man, I (heart) Google Docs, big time. I use it for everything. If the tubes of the Internets break, I am in big trouble.

SMO wrote:

I recently deleted a 4k word story (recently as in last week, my most
recent work) when I tried to move it from one computer to the next
using a thumb drive instead of emailing it to myself.  Let's hear it
for sleep deprivation.  That...hurt.

Ouch!

FWIW, you might try something I do.

When I have a significant slug of words done I print them out on scrap paper (the back sides of other things that will get recycled anyhow). Single spaced, junky, but I know I have them.

I started this procedure after an incident similar to yours.

Can any former attendees comment on the coffee situation at CW? I feel this is a very important item for some of us. Especially if, like me, you should be able to stand a spoon up in it.

 I'm willing to bring a grinder and a bag of good beans if there is a drip coffee maker.

I was writing last night when a couple of totally unrelated ideas wandered through the little grey cells. As I always try to do, I popped open WordPad and jotted them down, knowing otherwise I would forget them in about ten seconds.

Looked at them this morning and saw I had misstyped "War of the Worlds" as "Ware of the Worlds". For some reason I began thinking, "What type of ware? Hardware? Software? Be-ware?" And then a story just popped into my mind, complete. This never happens to me. Perhaps it's the magic elixir of CW working.

Anyhow, I started typing as fast as I could, just reading the story off my skull. Three hours later "Ware of the Worlds" was 2,500 words long and finished.

I'm still not quite sure what the "Ware" means, though.

Congratulations everyone who made it!  And to everyone who did not (this year), keep writing and you'll succeed as well.

 For those who got in (this year), you'll be getting a lot of great tips and info in the packets Leslie and Neile send out.  But here's a couple of tips (take em or leave em) to get working on right away:

1) If you have a significant other, start the quality makeup time now.  You will be very busy preparing for the workshop, and then gone for six weeks in the workshop.  That can put strains on relationships, and even create some negativity or resentment in the significant other towards CW and/or your writing (sometimes bubbling beneath the smiling support).  So don't forget that in addition to the job preparations, and the story idea prep, and the reading prep, and the financial prep, etcetera that you need to consciously find extra quality time to spend with that special someone, and I don't just mean a weekend getaway just before you leave.

2) Let the reading begin!  You will probably want to read at least a short story by each of your instructors, not (only) so that you can discuss it when you see them, but so that you get a sense of what you think they are good at, and can ask their advice on acheiving that paritcular strength yourself, etc.

Also, I would advise reading some best of/ award collections for two reasons.  First, so that you absorb and level-set to that highest quality/ level of short fiction in the field and get a sense of what makes a great story.  And Second, because you will likely meet a number of the authors in those collections over the course of the six weeks, and after CW as the world of pro publishing begins to open up to you more and more, and you'll have wished you'd read something of theirs when you meet them.  Examples would be:

First: The Best of the Best  (20 Years of the Best Science Fiction) edited by Gardner Dozois.  This collection has a couple stories by your instructors, as well as many other great authors you may well meet some day.

The Locus Awards (30 Years of the Best in Science Fiction and Fantasy) edited by Charles N. Brown and Jonathon Stratham.  No stories by your instructors I don't believe, but again you may well meet some of these writers at some point.

And of course you may want to read a collection or two edited by the amazing Ellen Datlow.  Nebula Awards Showcase 2009 would be a good one.  And I enjoy the Years Best Fantasy and Horror collections, though they are sadly discontinued. 

Let the fun begin!

Randy