Okay guys, so, just for the record, I'm not dead, I'm just busy working on NaNoWriMo and trying to not-fail my classes and stay on top of my homework and also find some free time to work on some projects with my roommates and oh it's great fun, I just need to wait for December 1 before I can breathe again. *wheeze* B-But, uuuuuh, yeah! I'm still kicking!
Oh, and just for the record guys, for those of you also doing NaNoWriMo and interested in buddying up with me, my username's Shenandoah [link]
How're all your stories coming along?? C:

Anyway, on to the inevitable advertising~ _{But first, the ranting!}
As some of you well know from my rambling and hyp(erventilat)ing, this summer I attended the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop. I spent 6 weeks on a college campus in New Hampshire feverishly writing, critiquing, and learning pretty much everything there was under the sun about how to write. I lost some sleep I could've had. I avoided taking summer classes that I knew would've helped me next semester in school. And I came away from Odyssey at the end of those six weeks unbelievably changed.
Odyssey has been like nothing else I've ever experienced. It ranks up there as one of the single-handedly most important and influencial things that have ever happened to me, and it has undoubtedly helped to shape me both as a writer and as a person, and will continue to shape me for the rest of my life. Trust me, if you're seriously thinking about writing and becoming published, and speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, and horror) are right up your alley, then seriously, apply for this. You won't regret it.
I was a little down at first during the application this past summer since I'd also applied to Clarion, the other huge name in SpecFic writing workshops, from which I was summarily rejected. But going to Odyssey has made me unbelievably glad that this was how things had worked out--there is just no possible program that could ever replace Odyssey in terms of how much you'll learn in six weeks, about how to write and how to get yourself published. Clarion was more focused on one-week sessions with individual guest authors, and just on workshopping--Odyssey is really the classroom experience taught by Jeanne Cavelos, a truly wonderful person who has been both editor and published author, and she will guide you to where you need to go. I can't recommend Odyssey enough, seriously.

...R-Ranting aside, here's the actual info you'll probably need! <8D;;

Odyssey, the Fantasy Writing Workshop [link]
WHO: Anybody, anywhere _{(though, do take note, this is a professional adult workshop, so the preferred age range is 18 and up, but don't let that stop you!)}
WHEN: June 7-July 16, 2010 _{(Please do notice, this is a 6-week intensive workshop. Don't go if you're not ready to dedicate yourself to writing!)}
WHERE: Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH
APPLICATION: Applications for EARLY ADMISSION are due January 30, 2010 and REGULAR ADMISSION applications are due April 8, 2010. Mark your calendars! I decided to post this earlier this year to ensure that everyone has ample time to work on their admission pieces, speaking of which...
Application pieces should be a single piece of writing totaling no more than 4,000 words, though multiple submissions are allowed, as long as the word count does not exceed 4k. Make it your best! Show them what you're made of!
For more questions about the experience or about how to apply, bug me all you want or see the website: [link]
GOOD LUCK!

And, but of course, since I know that some of my watchers are younger, haven't attended a workshop yet or don't feel that they have enough experience, well then, here's my yearly call-out for Alpha! Alpha is another Science-Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Workshop, but this one is geared especially toward young writers, and it is a wonderful way to introduce yourself into the workshopping and publishing industry! (I would know; I went to it the summer of '07, and look at where it's led me now.) Alpha is a ten-day-long workshop held in Pittsburgh, PA during the summer, so seriously look into it! I know that some of you showed quite some interest last year when I brought this up... ...yes, I'm looking at YOU, ~KingdomHeartShera, ~Minsuil~ I better see you guys applying!

Alpha, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Workshop for Young Writers! [link]
WHO: Anybody, anywhere, ages 14-19
WHEN: July 14-23, 2010
WHERE: University of Pennsylvania's Greensburgh Campus, Pittsburgh, PA
HOW TO GET IN: Submission deadline is March 1, 2010! The admission is based solely on a single written prose piece of SF/F/H content, 2,000 to 6,000 words.
Alpha's guest authors this year include:
Holly Black, Tamora Pierce, and Timothy Zahn!
And, once more, feel free to bug me or visit the website for more info: [link]

And hey, sorry for bugging those of you who aren't (or simply don't) consider yourselves writers... but even if not, spread the word! I'm sure that you all know someone who's a kickass writer~ Encourage them to try out! I wouldn't be here today if ~Keilexandra never told me to apply to Alpha; I'd never even considered doing anything with my writing before! So, let them know! You could change a life.

Good luck to everyone with everything, and always, always, keep on writing!