I’ve spent the last week putting together a promo video for Taos Toolbox, which will be the second and third weeks of July this year. Billed as a two week master class in science fiction and fantasy, this workshop is taught by my friend and longtime critgroup-mate, Walter Jon Williams, and Nancy Kress. Each year has a couple of guest lecturers, and I’ve been one of them for the past three. As the only indie author to present at the workshop, I give an overview of self-publishing. This year the other guest lecturer is James S.A. Corey, author(s) of The Expanse book series, and producers of the television series on SyFy.
While the cost of this workshop will put it out of reach for some, it has a strong track record of getting results. The video shows just some of the books that were workshopped at Toolbox and then sold to major publishers. Workshopping isn’t for everyone, but if you thrive in a critique group and have a big project to complete, Taos Toolbox is an excellent option.
The materials on self-publishing, you can always get from me just by asking. At the workshop, I mainly take questions.
I, myself, am a graduate of the Clarion West Writer’s Workshop and Viable Paradise. Workshops have helped me out a lot, helping me both grow my skills and grow my network. Some cynically claim that workshops are only for that latter goal, and denigrate anyone who’d have that as an objective. Publishing, like any other industry, is a community, though. No matter where you want to succeed, it’s much easier to do if you integrate yourself into the community.
There are some impressive titles in that video, Emily. Thanks for sharing! I’ve considered VP because it’s only a week, but the cost is prohibitive. If only I lived closer to VP or Taos so the travel costs were lower…
(Clarion and Odyssey are just too long).
Yeah, cost is always an issue, I know. I was fortunate to be able to afford the workshops that I attended. Workshop tracks at cons are a good, cost effective way to get workshop experience, and some of those can be quite excellent.
It sounds really cool.
I’ve heard far too many positive stories to ever think that workshops are only for networking. I think anyone who had that as their *only* goal would be missing out.
Agreed. However, for anyone who’s worked hard on their craft and is having trouble launching a career, networking can make the difference. Don’t go out of your way to pitch yourself to people in the industry, but do go to cons and attend the parties where you will meet people in the industry. Be nice and be yourself, and this can sometimes help you over that final hump between your current life and that first publishing contract.
I guess it’s all about where you are in your career, and being willing to take the next step, whatever it is.