CONduit will be 28-30 May in 2010, so you even if you missed this year, you can go next.

As for the LDS winners percentage, there were about 300 winners in the first 25 years of the contest (not counting published finalists). LDS make up a bit under 2% of the US population, so proportionally that would be about 6 winners (ignoring the fact that some winners are from out of the US).

According to MormonSF.org, there have been 16 LDS winners, which is more than double the expected proportion.

Thanks for trying.

It isn't ever polite to actually say derogatory things to or about your hosts when you are their guest, no matter what you may be thinking.

They never talked about Scientology. The whole focus of the workshop was on L. Ron Hubbard's writing and how he wrote and on exercises that could improve our writing, based on things he considered important for writing, and so on and so forth.

We met in a conference room in the Author Services offices (less than a block from Gramman's Chinese Theater), and they sent us out from there to talk to people on the street or to do research for story ideas.

I reconsidered mainly because there are SO MANY BIG NAME AUTHORS who serve as judges, and WOTF is recognized by SFWA as a pro-pay market. That, and the money per-word is amazing. My 3rd place winner will have netted me 12 cents per word when all is said and done. That's astounding for a break-in story. Plus the cash value of the workshop, which is also taught by BIG NAME AUTHORS, and then the gala with the attendance and milling by BIG NAME AUTHORS.

Really, when you think about it, there is nothing to lose. Nobody who is anybody in SF or F will look down their nose at anyone who wins with WOTF. In fact, aspirants who have won have gone on to become BIG NAME AUTHORS with regularity, so I think most people -- save a few cranks -- recognize WOTF as a very legit, very valuable professional entry point for new talent.

My my feeling on the whole thing, anyway.

$750 (prize)
£500 (maximum payment for publishing)
----
$1250 divided by 5000 words= 25 cents per word.

Obviously there is also flights and hotel bills, which bump up the real value of winning.

Where else do you get 25 cents a word (unless you're Stephen King, of course)?

(This post would be worth $17 at that rate.)

As I said before, you have a few cranks *COUGH* Nick Mamatas *COUGH* who like to think WOTF isn't the premiere break-in market, but I've noticed these people are few and far between, and NOBODY whom I have spoken with at any conventions -- and who is also a currently working professional novel writer -- has anything but GOOD things to say about WOTF.

edited to add: I apologize if I failed to recognize someone.

Brad and I have a panel together, or so it seems, but it's near the end, if I remember correctly. If you haven't found us by then, though, come up and introduce yourself, okay?