Wendy N. Wagner

This week brings so much exciting news, friends!

For one, I’ve got a new workshop coming to both Zoom AND real-life in October. I’m co-teaching with Gordon B. White a class about writing horror! It’s a 3-hour, in-depth workshop on the genre, and you know it’s going to be a great time. For more information, check out the Cascade Writers’ website.

I have a new story coming out this season: “No God of Bread or Debts.” If you like fiction about obsession and unhappiness, this anthology is for you! It’s called Morbidologies, and my story in it is set in the 1950s in the bowels of a science building on the University of Oregon campus. I’m really excited to share it.

And here’s something else that’s fun! A few months ago, I adapted my novella The Secret Skin into a screenplay. For fun, I entered it into the screenplay contest for the H.P. Lovecraft Festival. And guess what???? MY SCREENPLAY IS A FINALIST!!!! I couldn’t be prouder. I also can’t wait for award ceremony on October 8th. My fingers will be crossed!

I always love the Willamette Writers Conference, and this year looks like it will be another banger. There’s virtual programming and tons of great panels, workshops, and events! I know on Sunday the 6th I’ll be talking about pacing and horror in what I think will be a really fun workshop.

Want to learn more about Oregon’s best writing organization? Check out WillametteWriters.org or look at the conference site itself.

I have so much big news lately that it’s had to keep up with.

First off, the timeliest piece of information: I’m teaching a class at Hugo House with Kelly McWilliams! If this is the year you write your first horror novel, this is the class for you!!! It’s all about pinning down the structure of your novel and making it pop.

Bloody Beats: Outlining Your Horror Novel
Two-part online class — lecture on 4/22, workshop on 4/29
Saturdays, 1:10 – 4:10 pm
See details for pricing. Scholarships available!

Not a cover — captured from announcement video!

And the big, big news? I’ve sold a horror novel to Tor Nightfire, and it’s due out 2025!!!!

It’s called The Creek Girl, and it’s a tense cli-fi cosmic horror novel set in a rural Oregon forest that seems to consume all who enter. For more info, check out the announcement Nightfire made!

I’m really excited about the new writing workshop I’m offering through Clarion West this fall. It’s called “Does This Come in Another Size?” and it’s for writers who are thinking about making the jump from short fiction to novel writing … or for writers who have been working in novels but might benefit from creating short fiction. Here’s the class description:

Have you ever written a short story only to be told you’ve written the first chapter of a novel? This four-session workshop will help you decide what to do when you’re in that situation—and how to maneuver your terrific ideas into the forms that fits them best.

Over the course of four weeks, we’ll use discussion and critique to delve into what makes a terrific first chapter of a novel and contrast it to the shape of a stand-out short story. We’ll also explore audience expectations, the creative life, and our relationships to our craft. Come build your craft in a small, fun community!

We’ll meet the first Tuesday in October, then take a week off to work on projects that we’ll then bring back to the group to share and discuss. The course covers 4 Tuesdays (10/6, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/1), and there are some free seats available. For more information, check out: clarionwest.org/find/does-this-come-in-another-size-with-wendy-wagner

Write Around Portland is a terrific nonprofit that provides free writing workshops for underserved populations, giving them a chance to acquire new skills and new self-awareness. They’ve done workshops with people in prison, folks living in low income housing communities, people in treatment centers–all kinds of people in all walks of life. They do tremendous good in my community!

In October, I’ll be teaching a class at Write Around Portland’s offices. It’s actually a fundraiser for the organization–I’m donating my time so the class fees can go to help needier folks. It’ll be two hours of writing exercises and discussion that I think will be fun and rewarding.

Here are the details:

BUILDING WORLDS AND PEOPLE: USING SCI-FI TECHNIQUES IN ANY GENRE WITH WENDY N. WAGNER

Spend Saturday, October 15 from 2-4pm writing with author and Hugo award-winning editor Wendy N. Wagner!

Science fiction is at its best when the ideas are fantastical—but the settings are gritty and the characters multi-dimensional. The same techniques science fiction writers use to make you believe in their wild worlds and adventurers are just as useful for those writing romance, historical fiction, or anything else. Prepare for lots of hands-on writing time as you learn how to deepen your characters and make their environments unforgettable.

This is a special, two-hour workshop to benefit Write Around Portland.

Location: 133 SW 2nd Ave. Suite 304, Downtown Portland

Fee: $35

Pre-registration is required.

To sign up or for more information call 503-796-9224 or register online now.

If you’re a writer, I hope you’ll sign up. And if you’re a reader, do check out Write Around Portland—you can pick up their anthologies at Powell’s and other local bookstores.

Wendy N. Wagner

Category Archives: Classes

Screenplays & stories & workshops, oh my!!!

Willamette Writers is coming up!

New Book! New Class!

Writing Mini-workshop

Teaching a class at Write Around Portland!

BUILDING WORLDS AND PEOPLE: USING SCI-FI TECHNIQUES IN ANY GENRE WITH WENDY N. WAGNER