rambo academy for wayward writers

I’ve been rearranging the school somewhat, and part of that is a plan to continue doing multi-session classes, rather than a mixed bag of single session ones. Most of these will be on Saturday morning/afternoons, but I will try to mix things up a bit here and there so people in different time zones don’t have to get up at 3 AM.

Right now, I’m teaching my Extended Novel Workshop, aimed at people who have a novel in mind and want to work on preplanning and creating a schedule in which to execute it. We’re on week four of that right now, and today’s session will focus on worldbuilding. I’m really enjoying this workshop, and it’s such a great group of talented people. I can’t wait to read some of these books. So I definitely want to keep giving this each year.

I also want to do my Writing F&SF Stories workshop, and I’ll offer that in the Jan/Feb 2025 timeframe. That will feature six sessions on writing short stories, including writing and critiquing stories.

I’ve switched to a two months on, two months off model, which gives me more time to focus on writing and also helps me replenish my internal extroversion fuel. So I’ll offer one other extended workshop in the May/June period but I’m still figuring out what I want to do with that. Possibilities include:

• an advanced Writing F&SF Stories workshop
• a survey class on 20th century F&SF stories that would be reading & discussing multiple stories from a specific era each session
• a multi-session workshop on increasing emotional depth and complexity in your work
• a multi-session workshop focusing on literary techniques

I’d also like to do something on teaching writing sometime, but I don’t know if that would be one session or several.

Please tell me what you think. Are these appealing? Is there something you’d like to see me teach? As always, Patreon subscribers will get first chance to sign up for and a discount on these classes.

I’m finally catching up, post-Wormhole Workshop in Girona, Spain, and pronounce it a success! We had a great time, and the students wrote their tails off, producing amazing, sometimes location-flavored, stories, such as “We Have Always Been Going to the Castle,” and “Murder at the Castell de la Cava.” Being in a 10th century castle was an evocative space for our first effort, and a number of moments, including my 60th birthday celebration, will live in my memory for the rest of my life. This newsletter is illustrated with sunrises and sunsets from the stay.

So many thanks to my partner in the effort, Janet K. Smith and her indefatigable husband Geoff. We learned a lot for the 2024 Wormhole, which will be a fully accessible location inside the United States. Look for a formal announcement mid-February but the scheduling will again be for November.

If you want access to the recordings from the workshop in Spain, featuring Tobias Buckell, Ann Leckie, Sarah Pinsker, and myself, they are available individually or as a group – and best of all, we implemented sliding scale so more people can afford it. Please check out what’s available and spread the word if you know people who might be interested. Find out more here.

Some Wayward Gift Ideas

Want to give your favorite writer a gift from the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers? Here’s some possibilities:

• A subscription to the community ($50 for a year)
• A class credit ($75, good for any two hour class)
• A coaching session ($50, 30 minute consultation via Zoom)
• A story edit ($50 for up to 5000 words)
• One of these stickers or cool zippered pouches for their pens

For any of the virtual gifts, mail me at cat@kittywumpus.net. You will receive a .pdf that can be mailed to the recipient or printed out to give them physically.

What I’m Working On

The year is passing away with fierce quickness and I’m trying to wrap up the draft of Wings of Tabat in order to get that in before the end of the end. I’m planning changes for next year’s Rambo Academy classes and events – if you’re a community member, please weigh in on the post asking for feedback on what you’d like to see!

Lotsa Links

Cat-Related Links

The anthology Jennifer Brozek and I edited for Arc Manor is out! Find the Reinvented Detective on Amazon (ebook, audiobook, print edition), Barnes & Noble, and Powells. The Reinvented Detective anthology got a shout out in Gizmodo. Arley Song of Clarkesworld Magazine interviewed Jenn and I about the book and how we edit together on the Reinvented Anthology series. In a recent episode of If This Goes On (Don’t Panic), Alan and Cat talk to Sam J. Miller about their favorite horror movies, politics in horror, racism, the history of whaling in Hudson, queer relationships in fiction, and much more. Many of Cat’s stories are available for free as part of this Smashwords promotion! Please check it out and spread the word. Current list of available class videos.

Rambo Academy Community Links

Richard S. Crawford’s short story “The Apocalypses of Cheryl Dean” is published in Inner Worlds, Sarah Jackson’s new ‘zine https://sarah-i-jackson.ghost.io/inner-worlds-1-the-apocalypses-richard-s-crawford/ Risa Wolf’s short story “The View” is also published in Inner Worlds  https://sarah-i-jackson.ghost.io/inner-worlds-1-the-view-risa-wolf/ Here’s a link to this free ‘zine:  https://sarah-i-jackson.ghost.io/tag/inner-worlds-issue-1/  and the general link:  http://www.inner-worlds.org/ Wendy Bolm has her short story “The Freedom to Decide” in Factor Four Magazine  https://factorfourmag.com/the-freedom-to-decide-by-w-l-bolm/ Louise Hughes has her short story “The King’s Ending” in Hexagon Magazine  https://hexagonmagazine.ca/issue-15-winter-2023/ Richard S. Crawford has two new blog posts – https://underpope.com/bloginomicon/2023/12/nanowrimo-2023-howd-i-do/ and https://underpope.com/bloginomicon/2023/12/being-an-ambitious-writer/ Priya Sridhar has a preview article in SUPERJUMP – “Demeo Battles is Fun, But Difficult to Master” https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/demeo-battles-is-fun-but-difficult-to-master/ And an article in Medium, “Talia’s Codebook for Mathletes Shows How To Push Back Against Casual Sexism in Middle School”  https://medium.com/permanent-nerd-network/talias-codebook-for-mathletes-shows-how-to-push-back-against-casual-sexism-in-middle-school-a5fe99f8d31b Jenn Brozek is launching a kickstarter in late March 2024 called “Dear Penpal, Belgium 1980” More information here:  https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/a7b8241f-1f77-4236-afce-3c06b11f8805/landing?utm_source=social+media&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=announcement Rosemary Claire Smith has a Q&A in Analog Magazine about her latest story for them, and some advice for new writers  https://theastoundinganalogcompanion.com/2023/12/05/qa-with-rosemary-claire-smith-2/ D.A. Straith’s first PRO sale, short story “How to Breathe Water” is available now in Augur 6.2: Fancy & Fantasy Melinda Mitchell’s debut novel “Next of Kin” is released through Arus Entertainment  https://arusentertainment.com/product/next-of-kin/ Elizabeth Kaufmann’s short story “A Proper Witch” is live in the latest issue of Haven Spec  https://www.havenspec.com/a-proper-witch as well as “Always Test Your Potions Before Serving Them to Company” in Illustrated Worlds Magazine.  https://www.illustratedworldsmagazine.com/shop.html#/ Karl Dandenell also has a short story, “Last Cold Beer for 50 Miles” in Haven Spec  https://www.havenspec.com/last-cold-beer-for-50-miles Ray Daley’s story, “Ghosts of My Past” audio version is now live on Creepy Podcast (starts at 35:00)  https://www.creepypod.com/episodes/2023/12/3/grey-rain Here’s the prompts we used in this week’s writing games.

Market & Related Links

This is a terrific book and you should preorder it. Khoré? magazine is looking for volunteer First Readers Strange Horizons – Opens Dec. 18th at 9:00 a.m. UTC  http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/ Augur Magazine – Augur Magazine is open to fiction and poetry submissions from everyone, everywhere from December 15th 2023 until January 31st 2024. From February 1st to February 14th 2024, Augur Magazine will be open only to submissions from creators who are BIPOC, trans, and/or disabled and Canadian citizens/permanent residents and/or those who are living within the settler-defined border of the land colonially known as Canada. Tales & Feathers Magazine – Tales & Feathers Magazine is open to cozy fiction submissions from everyone, everywhere, from December 15th 2023 until January 31st 2024. From February 1st to February 14th 2024, Tales & Feathers Magazine will be open only to submissions from creators who are BIPOC, trans, and/or disabled from around the world. SFWA has a Market Report for December 2023 – https://www.sfwa.org/2023/12/05/sfwa-market-report-december-2023/ Ray Daley has put together a fabulous list of places open for submission in January – https://raymondwriteswrongs.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/january-2024-submission-challenge/

Informative Links

Please read this poem by Refat Alareer. Lots of food for thought in this thread about celebrating Christmas in the classroom. Everybody loves a sharp dressed man.

Pictures from Life the Casa Rambo Way

This is Bruce and Clark.  They are four month old brothers, who were born in a live trap in a local feral cat colony. Both are  sweet and loving and adventurous.  (Twitter) Bruce is my new director of marketing. #devilsgun #catsofspaceopera (Twitter) The marketing department has had a busy morning and is taking a little break. #spaceoperacats (Twitter) The head of advertising feels the director of publicity has taken the better office space. (Twitter) Guess which of my cats is more dignified. Bruce on the left, Clark on the right. (Twitter) Bruce believes that one of his jobs is to get in the way of writing out holiday cards. He’s taking it pretty seriously. (Twitter) Bruce being surprisingly chill for once. (Twitter) Bruce and Clark want to share their first marketing video! (BookTok) Bruce and Clark did a holiday video. (BookTok) Publicity and advertising directors thrashing out the company’s social media policy. (BookTok) Looking for Cat on social media? Here’s the full list.

Janet writes again:

There’s only one thing more exciting than writing in a 10th-century castle, and that’s spending quality time””in person””with exceptional writing instructors. If you’re one of the lucky people who has taken classes with Cat Rambo, Ann Leckie, Sarah Pinsker, or Tobias Buckell, you know I’m not exaggerating when I say these kind, brilliant people have dug into the prose-psyche and discovered truths about communication that can change how I write with a single sentence.

At the castle, they’ll discuss beginnings and endings, setting, character, and conflict. If you’re like me, you’ve taken numerous classes about these fundamental topics, but in the hands of these master crafters, each is elevated to that special something publishers seek from today’s writers.

Have you ever wondered where Sarah Pinsker came up with an idea for one of her popular short stories? She’ll lead a short story discussion group one night after dinner. What niche topic is important to Tobias Buckell? He’ll give a talk during his spare day. What’s Ann Leckie reading, and how did those books catch her interest? How does promoting others lead to a successful writing career? Cat Rambo knows the answer.

What I want most from my time in the castle is to hear their stories. They’ve all worked incredibly hard to get where they are today. Nothing came easy, yet they didn’t give up writing. They’re all serious yet friendly, dedicated yet generous with their knowledge. I want to be like them when I grow up.

I started my little online writing school, the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers, with the launch of Google Hangouts, which enabled me to host classes for people across the globe. Since then, Hangouts has declined, but the school continues strong, having hosted hundreds of students from around the world. Over a dozen of the best writers and teachers in the fantasy and science fiction field — with several new folks joining us in early 2019 — have led workshops on over three dozen topics.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing about the school has been the network of friends it’s helped me build, with students joining on to score Nebula and Hugo awards and multiple publications, many moving into the F&SF world as editors and publishers as well. Another is that I get to sit in on classes by some amazing folks, which enriches my writing.

Hello!

It’s full-on spring here in Seattle. Trees are in bloom, and construction projects have shifted into high gear, so the sidewalks are full of pylons and freshly poured concrete.

I’m looking forward to comparing this weather to other places in a few days. First South Bend, Indiana, where I’ll be speaking at the University of Notre Dame, and then Tempe, Arizona, for a two-day workshop working with scientists to write a story about solar power.

Then home for a while, where I’ll have a chance to talk with people at Crypticon here in Seattle at the end of the month (https://www.crypticonseattle.com/attend/crypticon-2018-tickets/) . Come to the Saturday writing workshop with me! I’ve secured the awesome Kay Kenyon as a co-teacher.

This newsletter marks some changes in the structure of my Patreon campaign (https://www.patreon.com/catrambo) , and its linkage into the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. Even if you’re not a Patreon supporter, you’ll want to bookmark the page, because I’ll be providing some free stuff there each month, courtesy of the supporters.

Everyone, signed up or not, gets the following on the Patreon page:
* 1-2 writing snippets each week from Cat’s current work and the chance to ask questions and offer feedback about them
* Access to the first Ask-Me-Anything Friday session of each month. Check out the post and ask whatever you like. Past questions have included career advice, recommended reading, insider SFWA news, writing feedback, and more.
* Occasional random stuff

All Patreon supporters get the above plus:
* 1-2 monthly stories or chapters and the chance to ask questions and offer feedback about them.
* Access to weekly Tasty Thursday recipes andAsk-Me-Anything Friday sessions
* Special patron-only events & giveaways at conventions
* The former student rate on live classes thru the Rambo Academy ($79 instead of $99)
* More random things at whim

$2 supporters get the above plus:
* 1-3 market news or advice posts per week
* 1-3 writing tip or resource posts per week
* One photo of Taco each month
* Random (usually writing-focused) things

$5 supporters get the above plus:
* All ebooks as they are released
* Access to the Chez Rambo Discord server and the #general, #bookclub, #critclub, #motivation, #news, and an exclusive #patreon channels.
* The usual randomness, usually in the form of chatter in Discord

$10 supporters get the above plus:
* 1 live or on-demand class per year (non-cumulative, starts on 3^rd month)
* Oh surprise, random things

$25 supporters get the above plus:
* Monthly story prompts post
* 1 live or on-demand class every 3 months (non-cumulative, starts on 3^rd month)
* *Rolls a dice* Something random

$50 supporters get the above plus:
* 1 live or on-demand class each month (non-cumulative)
* Even more

$100 supporters get the above plus:
* Monthly 15-30 minute coaching session, live class, or on-demand class

If you’re curious what Patreon is and how it works, there’sa two minute video of me explaining it here (https://www.patreon.com/catrambo) . We’ve been really enjoying the Discord community so far, and using it for writing sprints as well as chatter and questions.
Look what arrived literally moments ago! Yay! So excited to see all my hard work in tangible form. The electronic version is available for pre-order here (https://amzn.to/2qQuhEW) ; the hardcopy preorder should be available again sometime this week.

** Class News
————————————————————
The next class coming up is Cassandra Khaw’s Writing Better Food (http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/how-to-write-better-food-with-cassandra-khaw/) on Saturday, May 12, followed by Ideas are Everywhere with Rachel Swirsky (http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/ideas-are-everywhere-with-rachel-swirsky/) the following day on Sunday, May 13.

Scott H. Andrews has kindly agreed to give his Short Story Openings workshop (http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/short-story-openings/) again for people who missed the first version, this time on June 16. A recent addition is a workshop with Doug Smith on July 14 on story rights and reprints. Keep an eye out for it or drop me a drop to go ahead and preregister; usual price.

Find out about all current classes here (http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/academy/) .
If you enjoy gaming, check out Cat in Esper Genesis (https://www.twitch.tv/videos/252653827) – D&D5E in space — in which Cat runs Petra Cinis, a woman with a Very Large Hammer.