All the forums for boot camp are locked -- how do you sign up for it and when does it start?
-Jayson
Bootcamp is an almost-once-a-yearly workshop run by OSC. Applications are usually accepted starting January. Usually he posts an announcement on the home page or there abouts. Once you attend the workshop you get the special keys for a forum devoted to the workshop attendees.
[This message has been edited by annepin (edited November 27, 2007).]
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited November 28, 2007).]
Anyway, yes, the bootcamp is, reportedly, quite brilliant and helpful.
Which begs the question, is anyone applying for next year? What about for Clarion or Odyssey? Niel Gaiman is teaching at Clarion next year...
Zero, I'd agree with you if that's what it actually was. But the value of bootcamp is not at all in the lectures received (although they were always interesting and helpful). You go to bootcamp to practice critiquing other stories, to write one (or more??) of your own, and to spend a week in focused commune with other writers.
Worth it.
As for the forums and their activity level -- most of us have wandered away to a special private forum. I think my year, 2003, is completely dead except over at Codex.
This is helpful for at least two reasons:
First, as a story is discussed, the teacher can use the story's problems as stepping off points to expose aspiring writers to all kinds of different theories and approaches to writing, not just whatever approach that particular teacher may find helpful.
Second, when workshopping stories, students experience the truth of "it's better to give than to receive" because figuring how to give helpful feedback on someone else's story teaches you how to look carefully at and think creatively about any story, where receiving feedback on your own may do no more than help you with just that story.
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Literary Boot Camp is open only to writers -- college-aged and older -- who are serious about professional level work. Following the two-day Writing Class, the Boot Camp writers go on with four intense days of creating and critiquing new stories developed at the beginning of the week - all under the leadership of noted author Orson Scott Card.Enrollment for Literary Boot Camp is limited to no more than 18 participants and is by application only. Those who wish to attend must register with a $175 deposit and submit the FIRST PAGE ONLY of a short story. Prompt application is advised. Tuition does not include housing or meals. The deadline for submitting writing samples is June 8; you will be notified whether or not you have been accepted by June 15. The remaining balance of $550 will be due by July 13. Those not accepted to Boot Camp will have the choice of either applying their $175 deposit to the two-day Writing Class or having their deposit refunded.
I would guess that next year's will go up in January. I have no idea what housing and food would cost. The expense isn't huge considering that it is a pretty prestigeous writing credit. This is one that you would probably include on queries.
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited November 29, 2007).]
http://megstout.com/articles/Sweat.htm
Alas, as far as accessing the super secret bootcamp fora, attending bootcamp only gets you into the forum for your year and the general bootcamp thread.
And as I found when I finally got the secret decoder ring and gained entrance to the general bootcamp thread, I was told that most former bootcampers who would be expected to post on the general bootcamp thread have wandered over to a place called Codex, a rocking place where "membership is free, but requires either at least one pro fiction sale or completion of a major, by-audition-only speculative fiction writing workshop such as Clarion, Odyssey, Literary Boot Camp, Clarion West, etc." Codexians include WotF winners, editors, agents, in addition to newbie writers with a mere workshop or publication credit.
To check out the parts of codex (library and mega-blog) that can be seen without a secret decoder ring, you can go to:
to see that Critters is the only online workshop listed.
I've looked at Clarion, Clarion West, Odyssey, Literary Boot Camp. Are there any on the East coast?
You can poke around on The Shaw Guides to search for workshops in any location.
[This message has been edited by annepin (edited November 30, 2007).]
http://www.jamieford.com/bittersweet-blog/2006/6/12/uncle-orsons-literary-boot-campsunday.html
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Hatrack is listed under "Fora and Discussion Groups"
Hmm. Well, I guess that's okay, then. But we're a workshop, too, right?
TheOnceandFutureMe:
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Are there any on the East coast?
Viable Paradise is on Martha's Vineyard.
http://www.runelords.com/journal/?page_id=27
I think the Bootcamp may not be quite right for me, but a good workshop is a great idea. I'm looking around. 
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Meg, I'm curious. In your comment about Clarion, Odyssey, Literary Boot Camp, Clarion West, etc... what is etc?
I honestly don't know - you'd have to ask Luc Reid, since I just copied that straight off the codex intro page.
I assume if it is a by audition writing workshop of some note, it can be found to meet the criterion. I'll go ask for the latest list of qualifying by-audition-workshops.
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So after reading this post I've decided I'm going to apply to at least a few writers workshops this summer... Are there any on the East coast?
Literary Bootcamp will probably be in Buena Vista, VA again this summer, fwiw.
The midwest appears to be a bit lacking in workshops.
I'm giving some thought to attending David Farland's novel-writing workshop. I don't know that it is considered one of the "major" workshops, but it looks like one that could be a valuable experience. And I like the idea of a workshop that concentrates on novels. As much as I want to improve my short story writing, I am really a novelist so that would make more sense for me.
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited December 01, 2007).]
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To have an official list of writing workshops, we would have to know about all of the writing workshops in the world and rule on each and every one of them, so instead, we have a list of ones we know work out and deal with exceptions on an as-needed basis.Generally speaking, the workshop should meet these kinds of guidelines. This is not an official list of rules, but rather a general description of the qualifications:
1) Be run, founded, or taught by one or more very successful writers, agents, editors, etc.
2) Have a selective acceptance policy that requires potential participants to submit a writing sample, which is at least part of the basis for their acceptance or not
3) Run for a minimum of about five days of intensive work
If you have questions about any specific workshops, you can e-mail Luc Reid directly at join@codexwriters.com
http://www.hatrack.com/bootcamp2008.shtml
Btw, first page of a short story... I assume he means standard manuscript format (i.e. 13 lines?)
[This message has been edited by annepin (edited February 27, 2008).]
But I'm pretty darn sure you don't need to restrict it to 13 lines. You should be able to send at least a full, properly-formatted page. (What I sent was actually closer to two pages. Whether he's gotten fussier about the length since then or not, I have no idea.)
sorry made me think of basic commbat training. our drill sgts made us say that when they smoked us. but in sted of OSC we said DRILL SGT.
is there PT during this bootcamp if you screw up?
RFW2nd
[This message has been edited by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (edited March 05, 2008).]