2025 Three-Day Critique Workshop

COST: Early Registration price of $275 is in effect until prices go up on January 6, 2025

WHEN: tentatively July 11, 2024 @ 9:30 am – July 13, 2025 @ 3:00 pm (all times are PST)

WHERE: Fairfield Inn and Suites, Bremerton, WA. Special Group rates will be available – please watch this space for a link.

WHY: Our Three-Day Critique Workshop is an opportunity for you to submit the first 4000 words of your novel, short story, or whatever project you are working on, for critique in a group of up to 8 peers led by an industry professional. While we are always looking for ways to expand our horizons, this particular workshop still tends to focus on sci-fi & fantasy. Even if you write in other genres, you can still benefit from our workshop but please be aware that much of the material is from a SFF lens.

Our critique groups are a great way to polish up those first pages and first chapter. Submissions are due six weeks before the event via our Discord server. Discord login information can be found in your Welcome email after you register.

There will also be opportunity to pitch to an agent, as well as one-hour workshops and panel presentations on craft, querying, the publishing industry, and more. Optional casual gatherings provide opportunities to get to know other writers as well as authors, editors, and agents.

We hope you’ll join us!

REGISTRATION: Click here to register.

SCHOLARSHIPS are available for marginalized writers and writers in need. Please email [email protected] to apply.

SCHEDULE: click here to see the 2024 schedule for a sampling of possible panels

SPEAKERS

Claire Eddy is a senior editor at Tor/Forge Books and has been with the company for 30 years. She began editing science fiction and fantasy early in her career and worked with such authors as Orson Scott Card, Gordon R. Dickson, Fred Saberhagen, and Jack Vance, as well as launching the careers of Jacqueline Carey, Sara Douglass and Juliet Marillier. While she still edits these genres, she has broadened her projects to include historicals, thrillers and mysteries. On the mystery side, she has worked with Stuart Kaminksy, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Sharan Newman. She’s spent the better part of her adult life working with authors to make their stories and dreams be the best they can be, becoming that “third eye” and nudge to accomplish this feat.  Return to Speakers list

Arley Sorg is an associate agent at kt literary. He is a two-time World Fantasy Award Finalist and a two-time Locus Award Finalist for his work as co-Editor-in-Chief at Fantasy MagazineArley is also a SFWA Solstice Award Recipient, a Space Cowboy Award Recipient, and a finalist for two Ignyte Awards. Arley is senior editor at Locus, associate editor at both Lightspeed Nightmare, a columnist for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and an interviewer for Clarkesworld. He has been a guest critiquer for the Odyssey Workshop, was the week five instructor for the 2023 Clarion West workshop, and is a Guest of Honour for the 2024 in-person Can*Con, among other teaching and speaking engagements. Find him at arleysorg.com, his TwitterFacebook, or Blue SkyReturn to Speakers list

Jessie Kwak is a science fiction author and business book ghostwriter living in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not raving about her latest favorite sci-fi series to her friends, she can be found sewing, mountain biking, or out exploring new worlds both at home and abroad. Return to Speakers list

Originally from Minnesota, Kate Larson purchased the Ballast Book Co. in Bremerton because she really loves the Pacific Northwest area. First stepping into the book industry in 2012, Kate worked at the Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo for a while and agreed to manage a pop-up for Liberty Bay in 2015, which ended up being a permanent fixture on Pacific Avenue. In 2018, Kate worked at the independent bookstore Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT until she returned to Washington. With over a decade of experience in the bookselling industry, Kate can offer unique insights and help newly published authors know what to expect. Return to Speakers list

Additional speakers to be announced – watch this space for developing information

CONTACT: send questions to Zan Ross [email protected]

Note on Covid: Cascade Writers will follow all mask ordinances, requirements, and guidance from the State of Washington, Kitsap County, the City of Bremerton, and the Fairfield Inn. As of July 2024, masks are entirely optional, though we do ask that you use one if you have respiratory symptoms. If you have Covid or fever, please let us know so that we can arrange for streaming or recorded options.