Writing SF & Fantasy: Intermediate

How long is the workshop? 5 Days
When? May 30 – June 3, 2026
Location? Serendib House, Oak Park, IL (just outside Chicago)
Instructors? Mary Anne Mohanraj and Ben Rosenbaum
Number of spaces? 10 (Workshop) / 8 (Retreat)
What’s the price? $800 for the Workshop / $450 for the Retreat

Deadline to apply? April 22, 2026 

Notified by? April 25, 2026

 

This 5-day, in-person only, workshop is designed for intermediate-level writers; it’s appropriate for writers who have started to publish professionally, for semi-pros, for indie authors working at that level, and for those ready to take the next step beyond courses aimed at beginners.

 

A $150 deposit is required for both the retreat and workshop to reserve your spot once accepted. On May 15th, the remainder will be charged. The total cost (including the deposit) is $800 for the Workshop, $450 for the Retreat.

 

---

TESTIMONIALS

“I loved attending the SLF’s summer workshop! I got a lot of great feedback from seasoned and newer writers alike. It was a positive and supportive environment. Along with critique sessions, Q&A with local writers, and writing exercises, we ate amazing food, played games, and had a good time all hanging out together. I still talk to my cohort all the time, and I’m so thankful for the lasting relationships. Ben and Mary Anne are great teachers and warm, fun people. They have a lot of great advice for writers of all levels. Attending this workshop was such an incredible experience, and I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it.“

“The 2025 SLF Writing Workshop was a great experience! The feedback I received from Mary Anne, Ben, and my peers allowed me to immediately improve my project by leaps and bounds, and has continued to empower me as a writer ever since. The friendships I built with my peers gave me lasting community and support. Each day of the workshop was well-planned to provide a range of engaging learning opportunities, and I appreciated how hard the hosts and organizers worked throughout the event to cultivate a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere in which we could share our work and grow in our craft. I highly recommend the SLF Writing Workshop to any developing speculative fiction writers who are looking for a supportive environment in which to elevate their craft and build their network. If you’ve never attended a writing workshop before, this is a fantastic place to start!“

“The 2025 SLF Writing Workshop was an invaluable experience. I grew my network in the writing community while also receiving in depth feedback on my writing from Ben, Mary Anne, and other writers. The other attendees brought a wide variety of writing skills to the table, and being able to critique their work helped me refine my skills. The workshop helped me see my writing through new eyes, and understand the writing process of others. The SLF organizers created a comfortable atmosphere (with delicious food) that helped me actually get some writing done. This writing workshop would be perfect for early career speculative lit writers looking to build their network and receive useful criticism and support.“

“The 2025 SFF Workshop was a fantastic experience! I felt nervous about the critiquing process, but Ben and Mary Anne created a welcoming environment that encouraged honesty while also placing each writer’s goals at the forefront. I appreciated hearing from seasoned authors such as Sue Burke, Alec Nevala-Lee, and Lori Rader-Day about their experiences with the publishing industry. The workshop not only deepened my writing skills but also connected me with other intermediate-level writers. Months after the workshop ended we still check-in to offer feedback and support, commiserate over submission rejections, and cheer one another’s successes. Definitely recommended!“

---

 

Benjamin Rosenbaum has been a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, BSFA, Sturgeon, World Fantasy, Locus, Otherwise, and Ennie Awards. He is the author of Jewish historical fantasy interactive novel The Ghost and the Golem; far-future coming-of-age novel of love and social unrest The Unraveling; Jewish historical fantasy tabletop roleplaying game Dream Apart, which co-launched the Belonging Outside Belonging family or roleplaying games; and short stories translated into 25 languages. He lives near Basel, Switzerland, where he serves on the board of Basel’s liberal synagogue Migwan. He co-hosts the SLF’s podcast, Mohanraj and Rosenbaum are Humans, with Mary Anne.

 

---

WORKSHOP VS. RETREAT
The main difference between our workshop and retreat will be our critiquing sessions. Once you’re admitted to the workshop, you can submit up to 8,000 words to be critiqued by the other participants (by April 30, 2026). During the morning, Mary Anne, Ben, and the other workshop members will critique these manuscripts.

 

In the morning, a breakfast will be offered to all attendees of the workshop and retreat.

MORNING BLOCK: 9:30am-12:30pm
While critiquing sessions are happening for workshop members, retreat members will be encouraged to gather in a nearby cafe, library, or Mary Anne’s home. She lives in an old Victorian, with several spaces suitable for writing — a writing shed, the library, the front porch, the music room, etc. Mary Anne’s studio space (a 5-minute drive away) will also be available for retreat time periodically. Retreat members are welcome to use these spaces, or we can direct you to several great cafes & library locations in walking distance.

Lunch will be provided, and we encourage workshop and retreat members to gather.

 

AFTERNOON BLOCK: 1:30-5:30pm
Free writing time with optional activities — talks, Q&A, possible field trips, and writing games.

 

We’ll provide a list of local restaurants in walking distance, and encourage writers to choose one together.

 

The Nebula Awards will be held in Chicago from June 3-7. Several of us at the SLF will be attending and we encourage you to as well! If you want to join us, be sure to register before May 1 when they will be raising the cost of attending. Register here. SFWA also will allow free entry to anyone who volunteers for more than 12 hours. To pursue this opportunity, you can reach out to them at:  jscoatsworth@sfwa.org

 

Oak Park is 7 miles from the heart of downtown Chicago.  It offers a host of attractions, most famously, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (the tour is very much worthwhile), Wright’s Unity Temple, and architecturally significant Pleasant Home.  Many restaurants and shops are also walking distance from our location, in both downtown Oak Park, and nearby downtown Forest Park.  A quick Green line subway away (or drive on 290) is the city of Chicago, with fabulous museums (The Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium) and some of the best restaurants in the world.

 

---

HOUSING
There’s a local hotel just up the block (the Carleton), and a variety of Airbnb options in the area. Housing is not included in tuition cost.

 

Breakfast and lunch will be provided by Mary Anne, who is an avid lover of cooking. If you have any dietary restrictions please let us know and we’ll do our best to work around them!

 

The workshop will be held at Mary Anne’s home. There are several steps up to the front door, and she has a gentle cat. The kitchen is not kosher or celiac-safe; we can reimburse you for breakfast and lunch costs if you need to bring your own. We will also be using our SLF Discord for us and other members to communicate.

 

DISCORD COMMUNITY
All participants will be invited to a Discord channel, where we can coordinate in detail and get to know each other. (If access to Discord is a problem, let us know and we can consider other solutions).

 

If you’re applying to the workshop, please submit below a writing sample of between 500-2000 words. It doesn’t need to be related to what ends up being critiqued at the workshop, and it doesn’t need to be a complete work. It’s mostly just to give us a sense of your writing.  (If you’re not sure whether you prefer to go to the retreat or the workshop, go ahead and submit a sample.)

 

If you’re not already logged in, the form below will ask you for a username and password to create an SLF account.

 

We’re doing rolling admissions for this workshop/retreat and will let you know as soon as we’ve processed your application! You will hear back by April 25th at the latest.