The 30th Napa Valley Writers’ Conference July 25–30, 2010

The process of writing fiction begins with everything that is known and then, if it is successful, takes a leap forward into the unknown. You’re there in the unknown to serve the mysteries of your own creation, and your own end. Christopher Tilghman

The fiction workshops provide opportunity for the various aspects of craft (narrative technique, use of language, characterization, realization of theme/idea) to be reviewed and strengthened. Workshops meet two hours each day over five days. You will work exclusively with one faculty writer of your choice. He or she will lead a thorough discussion of your manuscript in workshop, and will also meet with you in a brief tutorial to discuss your work.

We are fortunate to have a gifted faculty again this year and hope that we will be able to schedule you with one of the workshop leaders you requested. If you are not matched with the faculty member who was your first choice, please remember that the informal nature of the conference lends itself to opportunities to meet and visit with the other faculty.

The schedule also includes talks by faculty writers, panels featuring visiting editors and agents, and readings by the faculty at Napa Valley wineries.

Fiction manuscripts

In an effort to save costs and prevent manuscripts from going astray in the U.S. mail, we’re asking participants to submit and receive workshop manuscripts by email.

Manuscripts are due June 26. Please note that you must submit a new document by email, for workshop, even if it’s the same one you submitted with your application. You’re also free to submit a new manuscript.

All manuscripts should be in 12-point typeface, double-spaced, with standard margins and page numbers; show your name and workshop leader on the first page.

A manuscript of either a story or novel chapter may not exceed 7500 words in length.

Generally we discourage submissions of more than one story. If you have two short shorts (each 1250 words or less), please get in touch with Andrea Bewick, Fiction Director, for permission to submit them.

Novel excerpts should be clearly identified as such. If the excerpt is the beginning of the novel, it is not necessary to include a synopsis. If a later chapter(s), include a synopsis of no more than two pages. The entire excerpt, including synopsis, may not exceed 7500 words.

Please email your manuscript as an attached Word document: Direct one copy to Andrea Bewick (abewick@napavalley.edu) and a second copy to writecon@napavalley.edu. Note that these must be received by June 30.

Workshop manuscripts will be emailed to participants July 10. Participants are asked to print copies of the work before coming to the Conference and to make comments on them for the writer.

All participants benefit — especially the writer — when the stories and novel excerpts under discussion have been carefully and thoughtfully prepared yet still have room for growth. Avoid the two extremes of workshop submission — the over-workshopped, ossified story on the one hand, and the draft that is barely a gleam in someone’s eye on the other.