Writing Workshops

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Please read the rules before submitting your registration through the website Registration Form!

1. All applicants must have a paid membership for the Confluence conference. There is no additional cost for the workshop but a Confluence membership is required to attend any program during the conference. Fill out the online application form after you have purchased your Confluence membership. Memberships will be verified before participants are accepted into either of the workshops.
Register for Confluence

2. Participation is limited to one workshop per person and 14 participants per workshop!
If you are interested in attending both workshops, please indicate your interest on the sign up form. If space is available in the alternate workshop closer to the conference date, the organizer will contact you.

3. All participants will be expected to follow the Parsec Code of Conduct, and to behave with politeness and respect toward all fellow participants.

4. If for any reason you are unable to attend the workshop after registering, please contact the workshop coordinator, Karen: publicity@confluence-sff.org

Workshops will be held in the Boardroom on the main floor behind Commonwealth East.
It is suggested that participants bring a laptop, a tablet, or a notebook.

Saturday Morning Workshop. 9am-noon (Boardroom)

A Story In Three Parts

After selling over 100 short stories to professional magazines, I’ve learned that the best way to get better at writing stories is to write more stories. To that end, we’ll jump right in to brainstorm a new story idea via worksheets and prompts. Every student will leave this workshop with a complete short story draft, composed over three intense writing sessions.
Bring your favorite writing materials. There will be a brief PowerPoint and handouts.

Sunday Morning Workshop. 9am-noon (Boardroom)

Plotting Plots

Let’s demystify plot. We’ll look at structure, formula, tension and emotional payload. With a series of exercises, we’ll practice twists and surprises, endings and resolutions. Bring your plot questions and frustrations, as well as your favorite writing materials. There will be a PowerPoint and handouts, and the hope is that every student will leave with a deeper understanding of plot, and how to fix plot holes or problems.

Our 2026 workshop facilitator is Marie Vibbert!

Hugo and Nebula nominated author Marie Vibbert’s short fiction has appeared over 100 times in top magazines like Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld, and been translated into Czech, Chinese and Vietnamese. Her debut novel, Galactic Hellcats, was long listed by the British Science Fiction Award and her work has been called “everything science fiction should be” by the Oxford Culture Review. She also writes poetry, comics, and computer games. By day she is a computer programmer in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Writing workshop registration form

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Please Select One Workshop *

• #1. (Sat) A Story In Three Parts
• #2. (Sun) Plotting Plots

Comments:

I would like to be considered for the alternate workshop if it does not fill:

• Yes

If the alternate workshop does not fill, the coordinator will be in contact with you within a couple weeks before the Confluence conference.

Please include questions you may have on the workshop topic.

I have registered for and purchased my Confluence membership *

• Yes

A Confluence membership is required to register for and participate in the writing workshops. Register for Confluence There is no additional free to participate in the workshops. You will not be considered registered for the writing workshop until we have confirmed your paid Confluence membership.

I have read and understand the Code of Conduct. *

• Yes

Code of Conduct

If you need to cancel or have questions regarding your registration,

please contact Karen at treasurer@confluence-sff.org

Use the above form entry field for questions regarding the workshops.

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