All About Milford

Minimum Qualification * What Happens * Milford Rules * Outline of the Week
Preparation * Venue * How do I sign up and what does it cost?
Cut the explanations, I already know all I need to know. Take me to the booking page.

MILFORD is a gathering of authors who write speculative fiction (in its widest sense). It is not a school for beginners; there are no "teachers" or "students". It is not an elitist in-group. Invitations are extended to any SF author - from relative newcomers to those may only dimly recall what rejection slips look like. Generally the workshop includes some writers who have not attended a previous Milford, and they are particularly welcome.

The conference has been a regular and almost annual event since 1972, drawing members from Britain, Europe, America and Australia. Over the years it has settled into a comfortable, workable format: demanding and exhausting, with much hard work being done; but convivial, with much sitting around and talking about hard work. In short, it's a social as well as a literary event.

Minimum qualification for attending Milford

Minimum qualification for attending Milford is one fiction sale to any recognised professional, semiprofessional or 4theluv market as long as your work has been selected by an editor for publication. Please note that though self-published works do not generally count, however if you have self-published on a large scale with some success, it may be worth contacting the secretary to see if this can be counted.

What Happens

The authors are there to give and receive critique of ongoing work and to workshop ideas relating to that work.
Each participant submits up to 15,000 words in one or two pieces (short stories or novel excepts) for critting. A timetable is drawn up and the pieces slated for discussion on specific days. Mornings are free (for reading or whatever) and the formal critting takes place in the afternoons.
Milford rules apply.
In the evenings the library at Trigons available for socialising and for occasional silly literary games if the mood takes anyone (not obligatory)

Milford Rules

Milford rules allow even the shyest member's voice to be heard.
Constructive rather than destructive criticism is encouraged.
The group meets in a comfortable room with chair drawn up in a circle.
Each participant in rotation spends up to four minutes (timed) giving their critique of the work at hand.
No interruption, whether by the author or anyone else, is allowed during this stage of the proceedings.
After everyone has spoken the author gets an uninterrupted right of reply.
This is followed by a more general discussion.
It's customary for the critee to scribble copious notes, but the critter normally gives the crittee a written version of their crit or maybe their original MS with notes.

Outline of the Week

Beforehand — Participants are encouraged to distribute their manuscripts by email before the workshop begins. This gives people the chance (if they wish) to read MS in advance, reducing the workload during the week itself.
Saturday — Arrive any time from mid-afternoon. There's no programme, just dinner at Trigonos and getting to know each other. The week's timetable is posted (if it hasn't been emailed already) setting out when each MS will be discussed.
Sunday to Thursday — These are the main working days. Mornings are free, and can be used to read manuscripts and prepare notes or go walkabout in North Wales if you're ahead on reading. Coffee and biscuits are served at 11.00 a.m. Lunch is served at 1.00 p.m. Workshop sessions occur in the afternoons, from 2.00pm. to 6.30p.m. (with a coffee and cake break). Here the stories are discussed one at a time as forthrightly and constructively as possible.
Wednesday — Milford is constituted so that the current 'members' (i.e. this year's attendees) are obliged to hold an AGM and elect officers for the coming year, thus each Milford provides for the next one. It usually only takes a few minutes after dinner.
Thursday — The evening generally includes a markets session, discussing where the week's MSS could usefully be submitted on completion.
Friday — Usually this is a free day, in which the group may undertake excursions to nearby places of interest, but it's always a fall-back day in case the workload is too heavy and additional critting time has to be scheduled.
Saturday — Depart after breakfast.
Afterwards — If your manuscript is subsequently published please let us know for our Success Stories page.

Preparation

Our one truly inflexible requirement is that you must bring (or send in advance) one or two pieces of unpublished work for discussion..
Works may be science fiction, fantasy, horror, children's fiction, or of ambiguous genre such as slipstream, alternate history, steampunk etc.. Complete stories, partial stories and novel excerpts are acceptable; extracts should be accompanied by leading and/or trailing synopses where appropriate.
The maximum allowance is 15,000 words. This may be split between more than one work, e.g. a 5,000-word story and a 10,000-word novel chapter. However, we prefer no more than two separate works please.
If you have not previously circulated your MS by email, please bring sufficient hard copies for all participants. Correct double-spaced manuscript format isn't necessarily required, especially if you need to save weight in your suitcase. No one is going to crit the format as long as it's clear and readable. You will be informed beforehand how many people are expected to attend the workshop. Even if you have distributed your MS in advance, please bring a few spare printouts in case recipients have had computer or printer problems.
Beforehand, or on arrival, please inform the secretary of the number and length of your MS, so that the workshop schedule can be organised/fine-tuned..

Venue

Trigonos is situated on the shores of Lake Nantlle in Snowdonia, among the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. It is about 6 miles from Caernarvon, which is accessible from Bangor railway station by a frequent bus service. Full travel details will be sent to participants.
The centre is comprised of an old Victorian house and converted barns, and has a committed approach to sustainable land development and environmental restoration.
Rooms are (mostly) ensuite and are situated wither in the main house or the barn cinversion.
Milford has a dedicated conference room for formal crit sessions with a huge window looking up the Nantlle Valley to Mount Snowdon on a clear day.
The centre runs many courses and workshops, and there may also be individual guests or smaller groups during the time that we will be there, however this doesn't usually impnge on our privacy.
It is full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and hot drinks on demand) and has a vegetarian/organic ethos though will cater for non-vegetarians, special diets and can cater for vegan guests also. The centre grows much of its own organic produce.

How do I sign up and What does it Cost?

Milford itself is run on a non-profit basis, and the only fee payable to Milford is a small charge to cover general administration - generally in the region of £10.
All other costs are payable to the hotel for accommodation and the use of a meeting room for the workshopping sessions. As a guide, the cost for 2011 was £510 per person; this is all-inclusive and covers all meals during the week. We expect a modest price rise in subsequent years as Trigonos puts up accommodation prices.
There is a ceiling of 15 members on a "first come, first served" basis, with a deposit payable on initial booking. (£115 in 2011) This is your deposit for Trigonos and you should note that it's not held by Milford and it's not returnable in the event that you decide to cancel.
The balance must be paid directly to Trigonos during the Milford week
Once the workshop fills up, there is a waiting list (in case someone drops out) which you can join by paying the deposit. This is held by Milford. The treasurer will hold this until the booking is either confirmed or cancelled. If no one drops out and you don't get a place you will get a refund.
Go here for booking details


	All About Milford Minimum Qualification * What Happens * Milford Rules * Outline of the Week *Preparation Venue * How do I sign up and what does it cost? Cut the explanations, I already know all I need to know. Take me to the booking page.** MILFORD is a gathering of authors who write speculative fiction (in its widest sense). It is not a school for beginners; there are no "teachers" or "students". It is not an elitist in-group. Invitations are extended to any SF author - from relative newcomers to those may only dimly recall what rejection slips look like. Generally the workshop includes some writers who have not attended a previous Milford, and they are particularly welcome. The conference has been a regular and almost annual event since 1972, drawing members from Britain, Europe, America and Australia. Over the years it has settled into a comfortable, workable format: demanding and exhausting, with much hard work being done; but convivial, with much sitting around and talking about hard work. In short, it's a social as well as a literary event. Minimum qualification for attending Milford Minimum qualification for attending Milford is one fiction sale to any recognised professional, semiprofessional or 4theluv market as long as your work has been selected by an editor for publication. Please note that though self-published works do not generally count, however if you have self-published on a large scale with some success, it may be worth contacting the secretary to see if this can be counted. What Happens The authors are there to give and receive critique of ongoing work and to workshop ideas relating to that work. Each participant submits up to 15,000 words in one or two pieces (short stories or novel excepts) for critting. A timetable is drawn up and the pieces slated for discussion on specific days. Mornings are free (for reading or whatever) and the formal critting takes place in the afternoons. Milford rules apply. In the evenings the library at Trigons available for socialising and for occasional silly literary games if the mood takes anyone (not obligatory) Milford Rules Milford rules allow even the shyest member's voice to be heard. Constructive rather than destructive criticism is encouraged. The group meets in a comfortable room with chair drawn up in a circle. Each participant in rotation spends up to four minutes (timed) giving their critique of the work at hand. No interruption, whether by the author or anyone else, is allowed during this stage of the proceedings. After everyone has spoken the author gets an uninterrupted right of reply. This is followed by a more general discussion. It's customary for the critee to scribble copious notes, but the critter normally gives the crittee a written version of their crit or maybe their original MS with notes. Outline of the Week Beforehand — Participants are encouraged to distribute their manuscripts by email before the workshop begins. This gives people the chance (if they wish) to read MS in advance, reducing the workload during the week itself. Saturday — Arrive any time from mid-afternoon. There's no programme, just dinner at Trigonos and getting to know each other. The week's timetable is posted (if it hasn't been emailed already) setting out when each MS will be discussed. Sunday to Thursday — These are the main working days. Mornings are free, and can be used to read manuscripts and prepare notes or go walkabout in North Wales if you're ahead on reading. Coffee and biscuits are served at 11.00 a.m. Lunch is served at 1.00 p.m. Workshop sessions occur in the afternoons, from 2.00pm. to 6.30p.m. (with a coffee and cake break). Here the stories are discussed one at a time as forthrightly and constructively as possible. Wednesday — Milford is constituted so that the current 'members' (i.e. this year's attendees) are obliged to hold an AGM and elect officers for the coming year, thus each Milford provides for the next one. It usually only takes a few minutes after dinner. Thursday — The evening generally includes a markets session, discussing where the week's MSS could usefully be submitted on completion. Friday — Usually this is a free day, in which the group may undertake excursions to nearby places of interest, but it's always a fall-back day in case the workload is too heavy and additional critting time has to be scheduled. Saturday — Depart after breakfast. Afterwards — If your manuscript is subsequently published please let us know for our Success Stories page. Preparation Our one truly inflexible requirement is that you must bring (or send in advance) one or two pieces of unpublished work for discussion.. Works may be science fiction, fantasy, horror, children's fiction, or of ambiguous genre such as slipstream, alternate history, steampunk etc.. Complete stories, partial stories and novel excerpts are acceptable; extracts should be accompanied by leading and/or trailing synopses where appropriate. The maximum allowance is 15,000 words. This may be split between more than one work, e.g. a 5,000-word story and a 10,000-word novel chapter. However, we prefer no more than two separate works please. If you have not previously circulated your MS by email, please bring sufficient hard copies for all participants. Correct double-spaced manuscript format isn't necessarily required, especially if you need to save weight in your suitcase. No one is going to crit the format as long as it's clear and readable. You will be informed beforehand how many people are expected to attend the workshop. Even if you have distributed your MS in advance, please bring a few spare printouts in case recipients have had computer or printer problems. Beforehand, or on arrival, please inform the secretary of the number and length of your MS, so that the workshop schedule can be organised/fine-tuned.. Venue Trigonos is situated on the shores of Lake Nantlle in Snowdonia, among the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. It is about 6 miles from Caernarvon, which is accessible from Bangor railway station by a frequent bus service. Full travel details will be sent to participants. The centre is comprised of an old Victorian house and converted barns, and has a committed approach to sustainable land development and environmental restoration. Rooms are (mostly) ensuite and are situated wither in the main house or the barn cinversion. Milford has a dedicated conference room for formal crit sessions with a huge window looking up the Nantlle Valley to Mount Snowdon on a clear day. The centre runs many courses and workshops, and there may also be individual guests or smaller groups during the time that we will be there, however this doesn't usually impnge on our privacy. It is full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and hot drinks on demand) and has a vegetarian/organic ethos though will cater for non-vegetarians, special diets and can cater for vegan guests also. The centre grows much of its own organic produce. How do I sign up and What does it Cost? Milford itself is run on a non-profit basis, and the only fee payable to Milford is a small charge to cover general administration - generally in the region of £10. All other costs are payable to the hotel for accommodation and the use of a meeting room for the workshopping sessions. As a guide, the cost for 2011 was £510 per person; this is all-inclusive and covers all meals during the week. We expect a modest price rise in subsequent years as Trigonos puts up accommodation prices. There is a ceiling of 15 members on a "first come, first served" basis, with a deposit payable on initial booking. (£115 in 2011) This is your deposit for Trigonos and you should note that it's not held by Milford and it's not returnable in the event that you decide to cancel. The balance must be paid directly to Trigonos during the Milford week Once the workshop fills up, there is a waiting list (in case someone drops out) which you can join by paying the deposit. This is held by Milford. The treasurer will hold this until the booking is either confirmed or cancelled. If no one drops out and you don't get a place you will get a refund. Go here for booking details