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MWW Summer Workshop Details

Fees

• Part I: Intensive Workshop, All day, Thursday, July 24, 2008
  •   $100.00

Includes lunch.

• Part II: Classes & Programs, Thursday evening, Friday & Saturday, July 24-26, 2008                                                                               
  •   $225.00

Includes Friday lunch & Pizza Party, Saturday breakfast & Awards dinner.

• Part I and Part II Package                                                
  • $295.00  (savings of $30)

Includes Thursday lunch, Friday lunch & Pizza Party, Saturday breakfast & Awards dinner.

Manuscript Submissions

• Guidelines for Manuscript Evaluation Team ($25)

The work submitted may be completed or in progress. (Sorry, no screenwriting or plays accepted.) A workshop participant may submit only one work consisting of no more than six pages. The five pages of manuscript should be accompanied by a one-page synopsis of the story (6 pages total). All submissions should be keyboarded (typed, word processed, or computerized) in appropriate manuscript format and double spaced. The synopsis should detail your work from beginning to end. Confine synopsis to one page. Synopsis may be single spaced.

All discussion sessions between Part II participants and the Manuscript Evaluation Team member will be conducted Friday and Saturday during workshop hours. Part I participants are not eligible for the Manuscript Evaluation Team.

Manuscript Evaluation Team

• Bill Fitzhugh (Fiction, 8 mss.)

• Tasha Alexander (Fiction, 10 mss.)

• Rebecca Kai Dotlich  (Picture books/poetry, 5 mss.)

• Shirley Jump (Romance/nonfiction, 10 mss.)

• Kevin Stein (Poetry, 8 mss.)

• Brent Bill (Nonfiction, 10 mss.)

• Lee Lofland (Crime, 10 mss.)

• Jane Friedman (Nonfiction/memoir, 10 mss.)

Because of time constraints, each member of the Manuscript Evaluation Team will evaluate only a limited number of manuscripts. Manuscripts will be accepted on a “first come” basis and no manuscript will be accepted for this program after July 3, 2008.  The Team Member will determine the day/time of each 15-minutes conference and post the list on July 24 during Registration.

• Manny Writing Contest:

The Manny Awards have become a tradition at the Midwest Writers Workshop. The contest with cash awards is designed to recognize works in progress categories of short fiction, long fiction, poetry and nonfiction. The top winner will receive the R. Karl Largent Writing Prize. You may enter one category only. Entries are limited to the first five pages of a manuscript. Poems should be no more than three pages. Clearly identify the category and include "Manny Contest" in the upper right-hand corner of your entry. Postmark no later than July 3, 2008.

Please note: You can, if you wish, use the same manuscript for the Manny Award as you have used for the Manuscript Evaluation Team. Please send multiple copies and indicate in the upper right-hand corner of your manuscript the Manny Contest category or the Manuscript Team evaluator.

Agent Pitch Conferences

We have three agents who will meet with participants for 10-minute one-on-one conferences. There is no cost to these pitch sessions, but you MUST register for the agent you prefer. Each agent will meet with a limited number of participants, so register early.

• Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Associates, Inc.

  • Fiction:  Mainstream adult commercial and literary fiction including mystery, suspense, and historical.  No genre romance, science fiction, fantasy, or horror, although mainstream fiction with romantic elements is OK.  No children's books younger than Young Adult. Nonfiction: Narrative nonfiction on history, science, nature, outdoors, public policy, and biography. No self-help, inspirational, or cookbooks. [Limit 20]

• Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management

  • Main emphasis is women's fiction (literary or commercial) – romance, chick lit, mystery, light suspense, historical or paranormal. Will consider other types of fiction (that does not target women). Nonfiction categories (health/fitness, spirituality, personal growth, lifestyle, sustainability, narrative nonfiction and memoirs) and will look at full nonfiction proposals for books. [Limit 30]

• Josh Getzler, Writers House, A Literary Agency

  • Fiction: specializes in mysteries (particularly but not exclusively period and foreign), thrillers, literary fiction, sports, business, music and religion (not religious fiction).  [Limit 30]

TIPS FOR AGENT PITCH SESSIONS

• Bring: One-page query letter that includes a one- or two-sentence pitch of your book.
  Plus, for FICTION bring short one-page synopsis of the book, including major plot points and the ending; and first chapter (and prologue if there is one). For NONFICTION, bring full book proposal. Also bring introduction and first chapter. Bring any other important chapters or any element such as recipes/exercises that are not included in the first chapter.  
• Do not talk beyond 1-2 minutes about you and your book. The agent needs time to read what they have, and evaluate it, in addition to giving you information. Keep your answers to the agent's questions as short as possible while still giving them the information they are asking for.
• Agents will only be scanning your manuscript, not editing.

Scholarships

Midwest Writers will award a limited number of scholarships for full participation in all functions of Part II. Awards are based on need, interest, and a writing sample of five pages. All scholarship applications must be postmarked on or before June 2, 2008. Check the "scholarship" box on the registration form and send it with a biographical letter and short writing sample. Label your materials and envelope with name, address, and "Scholarship Entry." (Do not enclose payment at this time.) Applicants will be notified in time to complete registration. Our workshop will fill up quickly. Be sure to check the box on the enrollment form that indicates you want us to reserve an enrollment slot for you should your bid for a scholarship be unsuccessful. Participants can be awarded a scholarship once every five years.

Motel Reservations

Reservations for your room MUST be made by June 25.

• Best Western, 3011 W. Bethel Ave., Muncie (765) 282-0600
  • Rate: $64.95 plus tax.
• Fairfield Inn (Marriott), 4011 W. Bethel Ave., Muncie (765) 282-6666
  • Rate: $79.99 plus tax.

All reservations should be made directly with the hotels to receive the rates quoted. Mention Midwest Writers when you call.

Several other motels are within easy access to the Alumni Center. [Lee’s Inn, Signature Inn, Super 8 Motel, Holiday Inn Express.]

TWO NEW MOTELS WILL OPEN IN MAY 2008!! Comfort Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, both on West Bethel Avenue

You need to make room reservations ASAP as space is limited because several events are scheduled that weekend in Muncie.

Bookstore

Books about writing and by faculty authors and participants will be on sale at the MWW Bookstore. We also have MWW merchandise including sweatshirts, totes, mugs, and more. The Bookstore opens at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 24. Operated by Reg Forder [800-21-WRITE, ACWriters.com, ACWriters@aol.com], the Bookstore accepts VISA and MasterCard payments.

• Contact the Welcome Center when you register or visit the Bookstore on Friday morning.
• Please have the books you bring priced.
• The bookstore has the established commission rate of 20%.

For those registered in Part I, we have a Social Hour to conclude the Intensive Sessions where you can get books autographed. For those in Part II, we have an Autograph Party on Friday evening following our program. If you’ve brought books to sell, you can sign your works at those times.

Do you want to contact us? Send us an email with your message and postal address. We'll add you to our mailing list.

info@midwestwriters.org

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