Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat and Workshop

2026 Instructional Theme: WRITING IN HARD TIMES

Critique, Classes, Camaraderie

April 24-27, 2026
Albuquerque, NM

SOLD OUT
Join the wait list for future events here.

You're filled with stories, but life keeps getting in the way. Whether you could use a break from work, daily life, or the general state of the world, being around other writers is healing, inspiring, and exciting. Reconnect with your WIP and your reason for writing.

Our 2026 instructors, critiquers, and pitch guests include:

• Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award winning author, Charlie Jane Anders
• Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award winning author, Mary Robinette Kowal
• Ignyte- and World Fantasy-nominated author and publisher of Neon Hemlock Press, dave ring
• NM-AZ Book Awards winning author and Artemesia Books publisher, Geoff Habiger
  
• NM-AZ Book Awards winning author and Book Pipeline finalist, Marie Parks
• Harriet's House editors, Alexandria Valentine and Darling Heart (virtual guests)

When you register, you can expect:

• Small-group critique session for up to 5,000 words. You'll also critique the other pieces in your small group on characterization, tone, clarity, pacing, etc. (not line edits). Please note: Critiquer preference not guaranteed.
• Instructional classes with interactive elements.
• Re-critique session with your small critique group of up to 1,500 words after you've made revisions (or your query/pitch/synopsis).
• Intimate group of no more than 25 writers, for individualized interactions with on-site instructors and attendees.
• Opportunity to write and revise in a supportive, peaceful setting.
  
• Pitching practice in a safe environment with industry pros to give valuable feedback.
  
• Community building with fellow writers.
• Delicious meals every day! Meals + snacks included.

2026 is our third annual Sandia Starforgers Writers Workshop and Retreat. The general schedule is:

• Friday evening: First class
• Saturday: Critique session and second class
• Sunday: Recritique session and third class
• Monday: Panel, fourth class, and pitches

Sandia Starforgers is for you if you...

• Are a writer at any point in your career. We are open to writers in any genre, but please note that the experience of our instructors is mostly in adult speculative fiction. We all can become more effective storytellers and worldbuilders. Leveling up your writing is a lifelong process.
• Are willing to gracefully give and receive thoughtful critique with a spirit of learning, kindness, and curiosity.
• Want to learn more about writing, so you can advance your career and become a more engaging storyteller.
• Are interested in publishing your writing (including major publishers, small presses, magazines/anthologies, and self publishing).
• Crave genuine community and connection with other writers.
• Believe writing doesn't have to be competitive, but instead we can all support one another.
• Desire for writing to be more inclusive, and you celebrate diverse voices.

Class topics (subject to change)

• "Unpleasant Conversations (and How to Make Them Happen)" by Anders
• "Mining Your Personal History" by Kowal
• "The State of Short SFF Markets" by ring
• "Writing Challenges Best Practices Group Session" by Habiger
• "Taking a Trauma-Informed Approach to Writing" by Parks

"This entire event was amazing. I had one of the best critique experiences I’ve ever had at Sandia Starforgers 2025. The classes were good and either very vital to the overall publishing process or on new topics. I really enjoyed the food and location too. And the snacks and coffee truck. But most especially the people. I felt like I got something positive out of this experience on both a personal and a writing front and would definitely attend again.“
– 2025 attendee

Instructors

Charlie Jane Anders (she/her) is the author of Lessons in Magic and Disaster. Her other novels include All the Birds in the Sky, The City in the Middle of the Night and the young-adult Unstoppable trilogy. She's also the author of the short story collection Even Greater Mistakes, and Never Say You Can't Survive, a book about how to use creative writing to get through hard times. She's won the Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, Lambda Literary, Crawford and Locus Awards. She co-created Escapade, a transgender superhero, for Marvel Comics and wrote her into the long-running New Mutants comic. And she's currently the science fiction and fantasy book reviewer for the Washington Post. With Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct.

Mary Robinette Kowal (she/her) is the author of The Spare Man, The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, and the Lady Astronaut Universe. She is part of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the Nebula and Locus awards. Her stories appear in Asimov’s, Uncanny, and several Year’s Best anthologies. She is a host of the Hugo Award-winning podcast, Writing Excuses. Mary Robinette, a professional puppeteer, also performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and John Scalzi. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob.

dave ring (he/him) is a queer editor and writer of speculative fiction living in Washington, DC. His short fiction features in publications including Podcastle, Fireside, and Lightspeed. His novella The Hidden Ones was published in fall 2021 by Rebel Satori Press. He is the Ignyte- and World Fantasy Award-nominated publisher and managing editor of Neon Hemlock Press, and the co-editor of Baffling Magazine. A frequent anthologist, dave edited the Shirley Jackson Award-winning Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness (2021) and, most recently, The Crawling Moon: Queer Tales of Inescapable Dread (2024).

Geoff Habiger (he/him) is an author and the creator of Artemesia Publishing. Geoff grew up in Manhattan...Kansas, not New York. (That's the Little Apple, not the Big Apple, for those of you playing along at home.) His co-author (Coy Kissee) co-created the company Tangent Games in 2004, through which they've published card games and supplements, adventures, and rule books for role-playing games. Geoff is a senior partner in the publishing company, Artemesia Publishing, and co-author of fantasy series, including the Constable Inspector Lunaria Adventures and the Saul Imbierowicz Trilogy. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, son, and two cats.

Marie Parks (she/her) is a queer fantasy author, whose titles Unrelenting and Undeniable were co-written with Jes Honard. Unrelenting won the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Best LGBTQ Title and was a finalist in the Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. Marie was also a finalist for the Futurescapes Award for Most Promising New Author for her social justice fantasy heist, Flightless (Shadow Dragon Press, 2026). She is a New Mexico Writers Grant Awardee. Marie lives in Albuquerque, where she loves to camp, garden, game, and eat green chile.

Alexandria Valentine (they/she) (VIRTUAL GUEST) is Editor-in-Chief of Harriet's House, and is a writer and editor from Chicago. They earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Fine Arts at the Columbia University School of the Arts. Their writing has been supported by The Kenyon Review Fiction Workshop, Tin House Workshop and the Periplus Collective. Valentine's work has appeared in South 85 Journal, Arkana and elsewhere.

Darling Heart (VIRTUAL GUEST) is Associate Editor of Harriet's House. Darling is a Louisiana-born, Maryland-based writer, editor, creative, and communications professional. Darling earned dual bachelor's degrees—a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, a Bachelor of Arts in African and African-American Studies—from Louisiana State University and a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University. Darling has served as a writing tutor and a slam team member. Darling's written work is highly technical while still touching the heart of the reader. It is grief-stricken and love-drenched, and it is Darling all along.

“Starforgers has been a wonderful experience in finding community and honing my skills, I absolutely recommend this workshop to others.”

– 2025 attendee

Venue Information

The venue is a historic farm 20 minutes from the ABQ airport. The property includes bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and communal areas, as well as a number of outdoor areas. Amenities include hot tub, climate control, gardens and patios, smart TVs, high-speed wifi, on-site parking, washer/dryer, hair dryer, clothes iron, and a basketball half court. It's directly across the street from a city park with walking trails.

This is an old house, and noise carries through the walls. While we do have nightly quiet hours, if you have extreme noise sensitivity, you may wish to book lodging at a nearby hotel.

The venue is located on the homelands of the Tiwa Pueblo people. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and gather on this land. Sandia Starforgers will make a donation to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center upon the conclusion of the event.

“The smaller class size is what makes this event so enjoyable for me. I’m glad it’s capped at a small number of students. It makes it easier to get to know people and have more meaningful conversations. The venue is great, too.”
– 2025 attendee

Ticket and Pricing Information

OFF-SITE LODGING TICKET OPTION: The in-person attendance with off-site lodging option is ideal for writers who live locally, will stay with a friend, or wish to make their own lodging arrangement. Your ticket includes all of the "you can expect" bullet points above. It does not include breakfast on Tuesday morning.

• On-Site Attendance without Lodging (SOLD OUT): $1,800. Lodging is not included; you will make your own lodging arrangement. You may still enjoy the other full in-person benefits of the event's programming and activities, including meals as described in the paragraph above.

ON-SITE LODGING TICKET OPTIONS: For attendees who purchase a ticket that allows them to sleep on-site at the event, your included lodging and meals will include the evening of Friday, April 24 through the morning of Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Your ticket includes all of the "you can expect" bullet points above.

The property has limited queen/king size beds and a larger number of double beds; if you want to share a bed with your roommate, specify this ASAP after you enroll through our information form.

You will be responsible for getting to and from the event venue.

• On-Site Attendance with On-Site Double Occupancy Lodging: $2,400 for shared bathroom (SOLD OUT) or $2,600 for private bathroom (SOLD OUT). You will have a roommate.
  
• On-Site Attendance with On-Site Single Occupancy Lodging: $2,900 for shared bathroom (SOLD OUT) or $3,100 for private bathroom (SOLD OUT). You will not have a roommate.

These prices allow us to:

• Provide daily meals + snacks
• Rent this accessible, peaceful venue
• Pay all instructors/staff for their time and expertise
• Bring supplies for a productive experience

“I loved the classes! I learned so much about critiquing and pitching! I left the retreat so excited about my writing and I haven’t felt that in a long while!”
– 2024 attendee

We are offering one scholarship to a writer with financial need. This is a scholarship for an Event Attendance with Off-Site Lodging ticket. The scholarship recipient will be granted admission to the event at no cost and will be responsible for their transportation and lodging. The scholarship application is now closed (application due date was November 30, 2025; join our newsletter to be alerted about upcoming scholarship opportunities).

“The conversations I had with other writers at Starforgers truly helped me get unstuck from some patterns that had developed in my writing process. I came home energized and ready to get back to work with a healthier approach.”
– 2025 attendee

Refund Policy

All refunds are less a processing fee of 4%. Full refund through November 30, 2025. 50% refund through December 31, 2025. 25% refund through January 31, 2026. No refunds may be issued starting February 1, 2026, as final payment for our vendors is due at this time.

Additional Policies and Disclaimers

Our attendance policy and rules:

• All attendees must be 21+ years old as of April 24, 2026.
• No smoking, vaping, firearms, knives, or weapons are allowed anywhere on the property.
• Only registered ticket holders may attend the event. No unregistered family members or friends are allowed at the event.
• Do not record any classes or share any handouts/materials you receive through or at the event. We will be recording some aspects of the event for personal use only.
• You give Sandia Starforgers photo, video, and audio release to use photos, videos, and audio recordings that may include you, your voice, and your likeness in future marketing materials.

Health policy:

• All attendees must sign an affidavit upon check-in confirming they have taken a rapid Covid-19 self-test on April 23 or 24, 2026 and received a negative result.
• We are mask-positive in our communications, but we are not requiring masks at the event.
• We will not have medical experts or supplies on hand. If you are ill, seek the care of a medical professional.
• No refunds may be given as a result of illness, injury, or any other reason, February 1, 2026 or later.
• If you are ill with a contagious illness, we may take steps to quarantine you. Recordings of some classes may be made available to you.
• You commit to washing your hands regularly during the event.
• You accept the inherent risk of this in-person event that you might get sick as a result of attending.

Accessibility information:

• The event will take place in a building with no steps other than door thresholds/curbs.
• Walk-in showers (low curb) can be available upon advanced request, for on-site lodging ticket holders.
• Live captions for live classes can be provided upon advanced request.
• Speakers during classes will be outfitted with personal amplification devices.
• We will make every effort to accommodate your dietary needs and allergies, as well as accessibility needs. Please provide advanced notice.
• Albuquerque is situated "at elevation," located at 5,400 feet above sea level. This can cause elevation sickness and adverse reactions in some people.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion information:

We actively seek to ensure every attendee, instructor, staff member, and vendor—regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, ability, education level, body type, or any other factor—feels valued, respected, and heard.

We acknowledge that systematic disenfranchisement, oppression, and discrimination of the BBIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities occur, and we must always be vigilant to not perpetuate any of these. It is everyone's responsibility to contribute to actively dismantling them. We are unafraid to be held accountable and promise to correct any missteps with tangible action. We commit to supporting vendors and businesses owned by marginalized communities whenever possible and/or that strive to create equality.

Also, we are offering one scholarship for this event for a writer with financial need (see above).

Anti-harassment policy:

Our goal is to offer a peaceful, respectful workshop experience, regardless of attendees' gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, ability, education level, body type, or any other factor. We have a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any attendee. All attendees are subject to this policy. If any attendee violates this policy, conference organizers may take any action deemed necessary at their sole discretion including, and up to, expulsion from the event without refund and refusal to re-admit the offender to any future events.

We define harassment as offensive verbal comments related to another person in attendance, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, sexual images in public spaces, inappropriate and/or nonconsensual physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

If you are concerned about harassment, contact event staff immediately. We will take all necessary steps to help attendees feel safe.

Disclaimers:

We can't be held responsible for your outcomes from this event. We make no guarantees that you will have a particular level of success with your writing, be matched with your preferred critiquer, or any other outcome, now or in the future.

This event offers an opportunity to receive small-group critique on your work, network with other writers, attend classes, and practice pitching your story. How you use the time is your choice, and your participation in any or all of the events is not mandatory; you may choose to spend the event writing quietly in your room, if desired.

Questions? Email marie@marieparks.com.

If 2026 isn't a good time for you, but you want to learn about future events, join the waitlist. We also offer solo weekend retreats and periodic virtual events.