All the forums for boot camp are locked -- how do you sign up for it and when does it start?

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.

Anyway, yes, the bootcamp is, reportedly, quite brilliant and helpful.

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.

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.

quote:

---

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.

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:

http://codexwriters.com/

You can poke around on The Shaw Guides to search for workshops in any location.

http://www.jamieford.com/bittersweet-blog/2006/6/12/uncle-orsons-literary-boot-campsunday.html

quote:

---

Hatrack is listed under "Fora and Discussion Groups"

---

Hmm. Well, I guess that's okay, then. But we're a workshop, too, right?

TheOnceandFutureMe:

quote:

---

Are there any on the East coast?

---

Viable Paradise is on Martha's Vineyard.

http://www.runelords.com/journal/?page_id=27

quote:

---

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.

quote:

---

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?

---

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.

quote:

---

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

---

Btw, first page of a short story... I assume he means standard manuscript format (i.e. 13 lines?)

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