The Rambo Academy Wayward Wormhole – New Mexico 2024

NEW MEXICO 2024

We are thrilled to announce November workshops in

                                  Rodeo, New Mexico at the Painted Pony Ranch.                                  https://youshouldgohere.com/2019/05/review-painted-pony-resort-new-mexico/

Click here for application process:  http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/wayward-wormhole…lication-process/ 

The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers is pleased to announce the second annual Wayward Wormhole, this time in New Mexico. Join us for the short story workshop to study with Arley Sorg and Minister Faust, or the novel workshop with Donald Maass, C.C. Finlay, and Cat Rambo.

Both intensive workshops will be hosted at the Painted Pony ranch in Rodeo, New Mexico. The short story workshop runs November 4-12, 2024, and the novel workshop runs November 15 through 24, 2024.

WORKSHOP #1: SHORT STORY CRAFT

Arley Sorg www.arleysorg.com  Minister Faust www.ministerfaust.com

Applications for this Science-fiction/Fantasy/Horror Short Story Workshop
OPEN: April 15, 2024
CLOSE: MAY 31, 2024, AT 11:59:59 EST 
Partial scholarships may be available / A status letter will be sent to all applicants by July 31, 2024.

The SHORT STORY WORKSHOP runs from November 4 to 12, 2024.

Students arrive Sunday, Nov. 3rd and have the morning of Nov. 4th to settle in and explore the facility and its 750 acres.

  • The workshop runs from 1:00 p.m. Nov. 4 – 12.
  • Students depart the morning of November 13, 2024.

Nov. 4 through 8 – Students will be broken into two groups of seven (7).

Each group will receive:

  • three hours of craft classes
  • a short story critique from cohorts and the instructor during the moderated critique circles where the author also has an opportunity to speak
  • a one-on-one discussion with their assigned instructor

Students are expected to complete a new short story for workshopping in the next section.

Nov. 9 through 12, the instructors will switch groups.

Each group will receive:

  • three hours of craft classes
  • a short story critique from cohorts and the instructor during the moderated critique circles where the author also has an opportunity to speak
  • a one-on-one discussion with their assigned instructor

Short Story Workshop Pricing:

  • Queen beds—Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,495,00 per person
  • Single beds–-Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,295.00 per person
  • Single beds—Four persons per room / Four spaces @$ 3,050.00 per person

Fees include: Accommodations at the Painted Pony, and all meals/snacks eaten onsite.
Not included: Travel to and from the ranch, meals purchased outside the ranch, taxes.
NOTE: the ranch is located 2.5 hours from the Tucson AZ airport

Options from the airport to The Painted Pony include:

  • Rental Vehicle
  • Bus or Train (3 hrs) & Taxi (1 hr) plus transfer time from Tucson to Rodeo

Looking to share costs for any of the options above? Connect with other students on the Wormhole Discord channel at Chez Rambo! Transportation from Rodeo is available before 9 pm or after 8 am on Saturday, Nov. 2nd and Sunday, Nov. 3rd, and the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 13th.

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NEW!!  WORKSHOP #2: NOVEL CRAFT

C.C. Finlay www.ccfinlay.com
Donald Maass  www.donaldmaassagency.com
Cat Rambo www.catrambo.com

Applications for this Science-fiction/Fantasy/Horror Novel Workshop
OPEN: February 15, 2024
CLOSE: April 30, 2024, AT 11:59:59 EST
Partial scholarships may be available. A status letter will be sent to all applicants by June 30, 2024.

The NOVEL WORKSHOP runs from November 16 to 24, 2024.
Students arrive on the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 14, followed by a day to settle in and explore the facility w/its 750 acres.
The workshop runs from Nov. 16 through 24 / students depart by 11 am Nov. 25, 2024.

Nov. 16 through 19, students will be broken into two groups of seven (7).

Each group will receive:

  • three hours of craft classes
  • a critique of their synopsis and first 50 novel pages from cohorts and the instructor during the moderated critique circles where everyone has an opportunity to talk – including the writer!
  • a one-on-one discussion with their assigned instructor.

Nov. 20 through 24, the instructors will switch groups and focus on FULL NOVEL one-on-one discussions with each student. Students will leave the resort on the morning of Nov. 25, 2024.

Novel Workshop Pricing:

  • Queen beds—Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,895,00 per person
  • Single beds–-Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,695.00 per person
  • Single beds—Four persons per room / Four spaces @$ 3,495.00 per person

NOTE: This workshop includes a FULL MANUSCRIPT one-on-one discussion with at least one instructor and is for writers who have a completed novel (60,000 to 120,000 words) at time of submission.
Sorry, no novellas, novelettes, incomplete novels, or genres outside of SFF or horror.

 Fees include: Accommodations at the Painted Pony, and all meals/snacks eaten onsite.
Not included: Travel to and from the ranch, meals purchased outside the ranch, taxes.
NOTE: the ranch is located 2.5 hours from the Tucson AZ airport

Options from the airport to The Painted Pony include:

  • Rental Vehicle
  • Bus or Train (3 hrs) & Taxi (1 hr) plus transfer time from Tucson to Rodeo

Looking to share costs for any of the options above? Connect with other students on the Wormhole Discord channel at Chez Rambo! Transportation from Rodeo is available before 9 pm or after 8 am on Thursday, Nov. 14th and Friday, Nov. 15th, and the morning of Monday, Nov. 25th.

NEW MEXICO 2024 FAQ

WHAT IS THE WAYWARD WORMHOLE?

Other excellent workshops in the field have set the gold standard, but we’re taking things platinum by offering exceptional workshops in exceptional settings.

The Short Story Workshop 2024 is for writers in science fiction, fantasy, and horror who are looking to see their work published in the professional market.

Students can expect to write a new story, experiment with structure, style, and voice, take artistic risks, and offer support and constructive criticism to their peers. Our critique circle allows everyone to share their thoughts, including the instructor and the writer.

The Novel Workshop 2024 is for writers in science fiction, fantasy, and horror who are looking for an agent or build a career by self-publishing.

The onsite program is limited to fourteen (14) students who will work with one instructor in the classroom, one-on-one, and as part of a critique group. Students can expect to experiment with structure, style, and voice, take artistic risks, and offer support and constructive criticism to their peers. Our critique circle allows everyone to share their thoughts, including the instructor and the writer. The instructors will then switch groups and conduct one-on-one full manuscript discussions with each student.

The Wayward Wormhole is the place to strengthen writing skills, develop lifelong friendships, and make professional contacts beyond that which occurs during a book signing or conference chat in the hall.

AM I READY FOR THE WAYWARD WORMHOLE?

If you’ve been submitting stories, or have written a full novel, and are ready to share your work with peers and professionals in the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror fields, you’re ready for the Wormhole. This level of feedback will acknowledge your strengths, identify weaknesses, and show you ways to capitalize on your unique style in ways you may not have considered. Be open to feedback, new techniques, and even failure.

The Wayward Wormhole believes readers are always looking for the next great story with a great voice, making writers like you important to us. If this is your goal, please apply!

WHO IS WELCOME?

Any writer of speculative fiction, published or unpublished, looking to leap forward in their writing career is a good fit for The Wayward Wormhole.

  • For insurance purposes, the minimum age is 21. There is no maximum, although this is an intensive workshop with demanding classes and work schedule.
  • There are no minimum educational requirements.
  • You must be able to speak and write in English.
  • Attendees from outside the USA, you must have a valid passport.
  • Students outside the United States are welcome to apply but are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visas.
  • This site is an accessible space.
  • ALL students and instructors must show proof of COVID vaccination to attend the onsite workshop.

 WHO ARE THIS YEAR’S INSTRUCTORS?

CAT RAMBO
Cat Rambo is an American science fiction and fantasy writer and editor with over 300 original fiction publications. Rambo was co-editor of Fantasy Magazine from 2007 to 2011, which earned them a 2012 World Fantasy Special Award: Non-Professional nomination. Their short stories have appeared in such places as Asimov’s, Clarkesworld Magazine, and Tor.com. In 2012, their story “Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain” was a Nebula Award finalist, and in 2019 won the Nebula for Best Novella, “Carpe Glitter.” Their 2023 publications are space opera Devil’s Gun. 2024 releases include Rumor Has It, the 3rd in the space opera series, and fantasy novel Gods of Tabat, the 4th book of The Tabat Quartet.
They are a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars and Clarion West, where they studied with Octavia E. Butler, Andy Duncan, L. Timmel DuChamp, Connie Willis, Gordon Van Gelder, and Michael Swanwick. Find more about Cat and the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers at catrambo.com.

ARLEY SORG
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 Magazine. Arley 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 Twitter, Facebook, or Blue Sky.

MINISTER FAUST
According to The Routledge Companion to Literature and Science, “Since 1960s, Afrodiasporic authors including Samuel R. Delany, Octavia E. Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, and Minister Faust have become luminaries within the SF community.”
The critically-acclaimed author of The Alchemists of Kush and the Kindred Award-winning and Philip K. Dick runner-up Shrinking the Heroes, Minister Faust first won accolades for his debut The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, shortlisted for the Locus Best First Novel and Philip K. Dick awards.
Minister Faust’s short stories have appeared in Cyber World, Edmonton on Location, Fiery Spirits, Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond, and elsewhere. iO9, Adventure Rocketship, Canada 150: Stories of Reconciliation Connecting Us All, Engineer Magazine, The Globe & Mail, Greg Tate’s Coon Bidness, and more have published his articles.
Minister Faust’s Afritopianism draws from myriad ancient African civilisations, explores present realities, and imagines a future in which people struggle not only for justice, but for the stars.
With a combined 20,000 hours of teaching, workshop leadership, broadcasting, and speaking in front of organisations, conventions, conferences, TEDx Edmonton, and crowds in the tens of thousands, Minister Faust creates the ideal mixture of the humourous, wise, technical, and inspirational.

DONALD MAASS
Donald Maass (New York, NY) heads the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York City, which represents more than 150 novelists and sells more than 150 novels every year to publishers in America and overseas. He is a past president of the Association of Authors Representatives, Inc., and is the author of several books including “The Breakout Novelist” and “The Emotional Craft of Writing.”

 

C.C. FINLAY
In January 2015, C.C. Finlay became the ninth editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. He is also the author of the Traitor to the Crown historical fantasy trilogy, which began with The Patriot Witch, and a stand-alone fantasy novel, The Prodigal Troll.   He’s published more than forty stories since 2001, many of which have been reprinted in volumes of the Year’s Best Fantasy, Year’s Best Science Fiction, Best New Horror, and other anthologies. Some of his short stories have been finalists for the Hugo, Nebula, Sidewise, and Sturgeon awards, and have been translated into more than a dozen languages.  Fourteen early stories were collected in Wild Things (2005). Previously, he was the administrator for OWW, the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror, and continues to serve there as a resident editor.  He has also been an instructor at the Clarion Workshop, the Clarion Young Authors workshop, the Alpha Writers Workshop, and the Odyssey Online Workshop. In 2003, Finlay founded the Blue Heaven workshop, a professional peer review retreat for genre novelists. In 2005, Finlay served on the jury for the Phillip K. Dick Award and co-chaired the jury for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.

 HOW DO I APPLY AND WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

The Novel Workshop – Deadline for applications is April 30th at 12:59:59 EST.

Send us your name, email address, and 300 words telling us why the Wayward Wormhole Novel workshop is for you, along with a two-page synopsis and the first 50 pages of your novel.
The application fee is $25.00 – all proceeds go to the Vonda N. McIntyre Scholarship Fund.
Sorry, no screenplays, poetry, or middle grade/picture books.
Please do not show your name anywhere on either submission.

Synopsis: Use font type Courier or Times Roman, 12 point, standard margins, single spaced, and please number your pages. Please use .rtf .doc or .docx format.

Novel Pages: Use font type Courier or Times Roman, 12 point, standard margins, double spaced, and please number your pages. Please use .rtf .doc or .docx format.

Name your submission file using the title of your story and the year:  StoryName2023

There will be a $20.00 USD penalty to cover reader costs if you send the wrong file and wish to send another BEFORE the closing deadline – after is too late.

  1. E-mail your name and the file to: applywaywardwormhole@gmail.com
  2. Pay the application fee through PayPal to catrambo@gmail.com or Venmo to cat-rambo-1

If you can’t use these options or need help with the application/payment process, please contact us using the “apply” address above.

 

The Short Story Workshop – Deadline for applications is May 31st at 12:59:59 EST.

Send us your name, email address, and 300 words telling us why the Wayward Wormhole Short Story workshop is for you, along with a short story under 5000 words.
The application fee is $25.00 US – all proceeds go to the Vonda N. McIntyre Scholarship Fund.
Sorry, no screenplays, poetry, or middle grade/picture books.
The 5000-word limit is firm. Do not exceed the limit. Please do not show your name anywhere on the story sample. Use font type Courier or Times Roman, 12 point, standard margins, double spaced, and please number your pages. Please use .rtf .doc or .docx format.
Name your submission file using the title of your story and the year:  StoryName2023
There will be a $10.00 USD penalty to cover reader costs if you send the wrong file and wish to send another BEFORE the closing deadline – after is too late.

  1. E-mail your name and the file to: applywaywardwormhole@gmail.com
  2. Pay the application fee through PayPal to catrambo@gmail.com or Venmo to cat-rambo-1

If you can’t use these options or need help with the application/payment process, please contact us using the “apply” address above.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Novel Workshop Pricing:

  • Queen beds—Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,895,00 per person
  • Single beds–-Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,695.00 per person
  • Single beds—Four persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,495.00 per person

Short Story Workshop Pricing:

  • Queen beds—Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,495,00 per person
  • Single beds–-Two persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,295.00 per person
  • Single beds—Four persons per room / Four spaces @ $ 3,050.00 per person

WHAT’S INCLUDED AND WHAT’S NOT?

Fees include: Accommodations at the Painted Pony, and all meals/snacks eaten at the ranch.

Not included: Travel to and from the ranch, meals purchased outside the ranch, taxes.
NOTE: the ranch is located 2.5 hours from the Tucson AZ airport
Options include:

  • Rental Vehicle
  • Bus or Train (3 hrs) & Taxi (1 hr) plus transfer time to Rodeo

Looking to share costs for any of the options above? Connect with other students on the Wormhole Discord channel at Chez Rambo! Transportation from Rodeo is available before 9 pm or after 8 am.

DO YOU OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS?

Partial scholarships are available. If you need financial help to attend, please fill out the funding application, and we will do our best to help those who qualify.

WHAT ARE THE CLASS SCHEDULES?

Short Story Workshop: November 4 to 12, 2024.

Students arrive Sunday, Nov. 3rd and have the morning of Nov. 4th to settle in and explore the facility and its 750 acres.

  • The workshop runs from 1:00 p.m. Nov. 4 – 12.
  • Students depart the morning of November 13, 2024.

Nov. 5 through 9 – Students will be broken into two groups of seven (7).

Each group will receive:

  • three hours of craft classes
  • a critique on their short story from cohorts and instructor during a moderated critique circle
  • a one-on-one discussion with their assigned instructor

Students are expected to complete a new short story during this section for workshopping in the next section.

Nov. 10 through 13, the instructors will switch groups.

Each group receives the same support as during the first section, but with a new instructor.

NOVEL WORKSHOP: November 16 to 24, 2024.

Students arrive Thursday afternoon, November 14, followed by a day to settle in and explore the facility and its acreage.

Nov. 16 through 19, Students will be broken into two groups of seven (7).

Each group will receive:

  • three hours of craft classes
  • a critique on their synopsis and first 50 novel pages from cohorts and the instructor during the moderated critique circles
  • a one-on-one discussion with their assigned instructor.

Nov. 20 through 24, the instructors will switch groups and focus on FULL NOVEL one-on-one discussions with each student. Students will leave the resort on the morning of Nov. 25, 2024.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO AT THE RANCH?

The ranch is in a remote location, but there’s plenty to do.

  • Rodeo, New Mexico is considered a Dark Sky Preserve and there are two telescopes on the property for star and planet viewing.
  • Outdoor Fireplace with comfortable seating for evening chats or a quiet drink before bed.
  • Heated Swimming Pool (20’ x 40’)– freshly cleaned for our group.
  • Two Hot tubs.
  • Games Room with Billiards, Ping Pong, and Foosball.
  • 65” TV with Dish High-Def satellite service and 4K Sony Blue Ray Players.

This is a tranquil place surrounded by beauty. There are places for privacy and others for small group chats. We hope to offer games, music, and stories to keep your stay interesting.

WHAT ARE THE FOOD OPTIONS?

Since we are purchasing and preparing our own food due to the ranch’s remote location, we will discuss meal options with each successful candidate to ensure all dietary and allergy concerns are met.

HOW DO I HANDLE HEALTHCARE?

Attending The Wayward Wormhole New Mexico Workshops requires a travel health insurance plan. Hospitals are within a 15-minute drive, but the New Mexico desert has many safety concerns, and safety awareness is important during this event.

IS THIS LOCATION ACCESSIBLE?

This location has only one level buildings, and is wheelchair accessible throughout.

I’M ATTENDING FROM OVERSEAS. DO I NEED A VISA?

If you are applying from a country that participates in the visa waver program, you are eligible to attend conferences in the US after applying for an ESTA. If you are from a country that does not participate in the visa waiver program, please check for the guidelines applicable to you.

For further information visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/business.html

DO YOU HAVE AN ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY?

Yes. It is here.

POINTS OF INTEREST IN THE AREA:

Favorite places to visit include:
Sky Island, Cave Creek Canyon, Portal Cafe, Bisbee, AZ, Chiricahua National Monument, Tombstone, AZ, and The Chiricahua Desert Museum.
A web search will yield more detailed information on these great places to visit.

TESTIMONIALS:

Here’s what past students are saying about the Wayward Wormhole:

If you’re looking to live and work beside your favorite authors, connect with other talented writers, and push your craft to the limit in a fantastic location, this is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. 

The Wayward Wormhole rewired my brain in the best way. I left the workshop feeling like I had a deeper, more nuanced, and (most importantly) actionable understanding of how to take my writing to the next level. It was a turbo-injection of inspiration, motivation, support, and camaraderie. It’s unlike any other writing workshop out there. I’m so grateful I had the chance to attend.

—Cyrus Fisher

Wayward Wormhole was a life-changing experience for me in more ways than one. It supercharged my writing–I learnt more about the craft of writing in the 3 weeks than I did in the last 3 years! The instructors were excellent, guiding me from the fundamentals of storytelling and structure all the way to advanced techniques in world-building and conflict.

They were also available to answer any questions and share their wisdom and experience about a career in writing. I also received great critiques from the instructors and the cohort. It was specific and actionable, so I was excited to revise the stories for submission to magazines and encouraged to write even more! It was a wonderful experience, living with other writers and instructors for 3 weeks in a remote 10-century castle, immersed in both the history and beauty of the place, as well as the support and camaraderie of the group. I look forward to participating in this workshop again!

—Madhu Campbell

Thank you for making the Wayward Wormhole a reality. I found the instructors, as well as the students, to be welcoming and collegial. The content of the lectures was challenging, but not overwhelming. There were so many things that don’t get covered in the kind of short courses I have been taking until now, and then the opportunity to put our lessons into immediate practice created a sense of relevance that I’ve been missing elsewhere. 

The instructors were not only of the highest quality, but they carried an infectious sense of enthusiasm that was profoundly uplifting. I learned, in those twenty-one days, but I also learned to trust myself and to love what I’m doing. My favorite quote of the month was from Anne Leckie when she said, “If you make a mistake with writing, it won’t put anyone in the emergency room.” I still think about this. And finally, the sense of camaraderie that was developed between us, the participants, is something that I can’t put a price tag on. Thanks again for making this possible. I will never be the same.

Stephanie L. Johnson

For anyone who finds Cat Rambo’s online classes helpful, the Wayward Wormhole is the Rambo Academy on steroids. The instructors were not only brilliant writers but also experienced teachers adept at leading seminar-level classes and providing one-on-one guidance. They shared a wealth of insights into the business side of being a fiction writer. For those wary of traditional critique circles, Wayward Wormhole relies on a far more useful approach to supply writers with feedback that is both helpful and kind. I came home with sparkling ideas for improving four short stories, three of which I wrote from start to finish during the workshop. Bonus: The Wayward Wormhole sent out tapes of the classroom lectures and discussions one can revisit afterwards.

—Rosemary Claire Smith

The Wayward Wormhole, a new evolution of writing workshops has arrived. And I’m here for it! Geared more towards intermediate speculative fiction writers, the application process doesn’t ask about demographics like some other workshops and focuses entirely on your writing.  The television free Spanish castle made for an idyllic and intimate setting while the whole experience leaned more in the direction of bootcamp slumber party. Our heavy and constant workload was offset by the family style meals together with our marvelous instructors. The Wayward Wormhole is not for the faint of heart but if you’re serious about supercharging your writing, then this is the place to do it.

—Em Dupre

As a writer from a rural area, the Wayward Wormhole was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to meet fellow writers, learn from amazing authors, and build a new community. I’m still blown away that I was lucky enough to take classes from some of my favorite authors, in person, in a castle! Critiques and one-on-ones helped me pinpoint ways to improve my writing, and challenging myself to write new stories every week helped me learn to trust my instincts and finish the story that, previously, I might have left incomplete. Best of all, I now have a community of fellow Wayward writers to keep in touch with on my journey, and to cheer on in their writing successes. I would definitely recommend the experience to any writer who wants to learn, build a community, and challenge themselves to level up their writing in a positive and supportive environment.

—Mar Vincent

Cat Rambo’s Wormhole in Spain was a pivotal experience for me. I have participated in other in-person workshops, but none compared to the Wormhole. Craft-wise, I discovered new angles and new techniques, while trade-wise, I learned how to approach agents and publishers in the current market. We had the best instructors a developing writer can dream of, and I would have gladly spent three more weeks in the company of those brilliant established authors and fellow writers.

—Gio Clairval

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