Writers Workshops
The BayCon Writers’ Workshop is an exciting opportunity for aspiring authors to receive professional critique of their story structure, plot, character development, and style. It’s also an excellent introduction to the writing culture, both here in the Bay Area and beyond.
Submissions must be:
- Speculative Fiction, including (but not limited to) science fiction, fantasy, or horror.
- AfroFuturism Fiction, including (but not limited to) science fiction, fantasy, or horror.
- No more than 7500 words in length.
- The first 7500 words, including within those 7500 words a brief outline or synopsis, if part of a longer work such as a novel.
- Formatted using professional manuscript submissions standards. See http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html for guidelines.
- Submitted in PDF or RTF format. Your word processor can almost certainly save to one or the other.
ADULT Authors must be:
- At least 18 years of age and have a purchased badge for BayCon 42 / Westercon 78.
- Able to follow the moderator’s instructions and accept critique in a mature manner.
- Physically present at their workshop section on time.
- Willing to read and deliver critique the other works in their section.
YOUTH authors must be:
- Be between 13-17 years of age. They and their parent(s)/Guardian(s) must have a purchased badge for BayCon 42 / Westercon 78.
- Be able to follow the moderator’s instructions and accept critique in a mature manner.
- Understand that their parent(s)/guardian(s) will not be present at the critique sessions.
- Be physically present at their workshop section on time.
- Be willing to read and deliver critique the other works in their section.
- Following requirements for submission
- Speculative Fiction, including (but not limited to) science fiction, fantasy, or horror.
- AfroFuturism Fiction, including (but not limited to) science fiction, fantasy, or horror.
- No more than 3500 words in length.
- The first 3500 words, including within those 3500 words a brief outline or synopsis, if part of a longer work such as a novel.
- Formatted using professional manuscript submissions standards. See http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html for guidelines.
- Submitted in PDF or RTF format. Your word processor can almost certainly save to one or the other.
There is no extra charge for the workshop in addition to membership; please send your member number with your submission. If you don’t know what it is, or need to submit payment along with your manuscript, we will be happy to help.
If you have any other questions or concerns–timing, accessibility, or special requests–please don’t hesitate to contact us. Please send submissions to dr.wanda.kurtcu@baycon.org or dr.heidi.stauffer@baycon.org, by no later than midnight Pacific Time, JUNE 30, 2026.
Thank you,
Wanda Kurtcu & Heidi Stauffer
Your Biggest Fans
Program Director: Dr. Wanda Kurtcu, Ed.D