The BayCon Writers' Workshop is a mutual help group for experienced and beginning writers, based on the principle that good critiquing skills make good writing skills. It provides members the opportunity to have their manu- scripts evaluated by selling authors who enjoy helping them grow as artists.

This is not a competition. Participants work in a quiet, secluded room to exchange critiques of entrants' submissions based on story structure, plot, and style. Due to the critical nature of this workshop, it is not recommended for anyone under eighteen.

There is a nominal fee for entering the Workshop to cover photocopying and postage costs. All manuscripts must be submitted in advance as there will be no on-the-spot reading for critiques. Authors are expected to attend their assigned section, which can be scheduled any day of the convention. Each section lasts three hours.

Multiple submissions are accepted; however, a new fee must be paid for each manuscript. Because of possible limitations in scheduling, we can only guarantee that one submission per member will be critiqued. We ask that each manuscript be accompanied by a separate check in case it needs to be returned. Second submissions are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. Please specify which of your submissions should be given priority if we are only able to schedule one of your manuscripts.

Collaborative submissions will be treated as a single entry. Each mem- ber of the team receives his/her own copies of the other manuscripts in their section and will be expected to offer their individual critiques. Manuscripts may be either novels or short stories.

Workshop requirements are:

1. Stories must be either Science Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, or have a fantastic element of some kind.
2. All submissions must be received at the Writers' Workshop postmarked no later than May 1, 1999.
3. Manuscript submissions can have up to 7,500 words. Manuscripts should conform to professional submissions standards.
4. Longer pieces or novels must include a summary with a writing sample (the beginning is preferred). The summary counts as part of the 7,500 words.
5. Authors must be pre-registered BayCon 99 members. Manuscripts must be accompanied by your BayCon 99 membership number or payment of an attending membership and a check or money order for $25.00 to cover the entry fee.

Send manuscripts to:

BayCon 99 Writers' Workshop
2152 Santa Cruz Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95051

For further information, e-mail writers@baycon.org