Because I am unable to copy and paste, or possibly because I was traumatized by the idea of choosing between THREE workshop instructors, I left off one of the Best Series nominees:
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (Tor US; Tor UK)
We will celebrate all of them! And never, never tell who we vote for in Best Series and Best Semiprozine...
Best Semiprozine
Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and Valerie Valdes, assistant editor Kevin Wabaunsee
The Deadlands, art director Cory Skerry
Best Poem
“The World to Come” by Jennifer Hudak (Strange Horizons, Issue 22 December 2025)
Best Series
The Craft Wars by Max Gladstone (Tor; Tordotcom)
White Space by Elizabeth Bear (Saga Press; Gollancz)
Best Editor Short Form
Scott H. Andrews
We have SUCH an abundance of Viable Paradise workshop instructors and alumni on the Hugo nomination list this year. So. Exciting.
Best Novella
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia UK)
Best Novelette
“Kaiju Agonistes” by Scott Lynch (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 62)
We are disappointed to announce that scheduling issues will prevent Fonda Lee from joining us at the workshop this year. But no fear: James Patrick Kelly, experienced instructor and Hugo/Nebula/Locus award winner, will be returning to Viable Paradise.
viableparadise.com/viable-parad...
If the Oscars can have a tie, so can the Nebulas. We couldn’t possibly choose for Best Novel.
Jennifer Hudak, workshop graduate, nominated for Nebula Award for Best Poem for “The World To Come.”
Aimee Ogden, workshop graduate, nominated for Nebula Award for Best Short Story for “Because I Held His Name Like a Key."
Faculty member Amal El-Mohtar (sadly not joining us this year), nominated for Nebula Award Best for Novella for The River Has Roots.
Daryl Gregory, workshop faculty, nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novel for When We Were Real.
John Wiswell, workshop grad and joining us on the faculty this year, nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novel for Wearing the Lion.
Friends! There is so much to celebrate on the Nebula nominees list! We are delighted for everyone, but especially for our alumni and faculty.
"Mother, Darling" got me into @viableparadise.bsky.social. I wrote "Bootcut" soon after. VP showed me there were readers out there for *this* Peter Pan retelling told through the lens of motherhood AND for a darkly funny, violent 2nd POV story about possessed pants. And that I *could* write both.
I wrote this story in 3 days @viableparadise.bsky.social in 2019. I'd just turned 30. I put it up on the wall with everyone else's then took an exhausted nap, and when I woke up, I was told @tnh.nielsenhayden.com and @pnh.nielsenhayden.com were looking for me. Truly most surreal sale I've ever made.
We do! Isn’t that great?!!
If you’re an SFFH writer and have ever asked yourself “how do I find a writing community?” then you should definitely apply! (The bad news mentioned below no longer applies — apps are open!)
No more bad news. We’re ready to go!
Are you a writer resolving to build craft and community in 2026? Applications to the Viable Paradise workshop are now open! We’re looking for 24 writers to join us in October.
Learn more and apply: viableparadise.com
The bad news? We’re not quite ready to open for applications at midnight. We expect to open by late on January 1, or possibly on January 2. We know you’re eager to apply, but please be patient.
You can get the latest status at viableparadise.com
They’ll be teaching alongside regulars Max Gladstone, Daryl Gregory, Scott Lynch, and Sherwood Smith. Elizabeth Bear and Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden will be in residence, and also Holly Black.
viableparadise.com/viable-parad...
Writers! How are your workshop applications coming?
I have good news and bad news…
The good news is that we have a STELLAR group of instructors this year! Fonda Lee is back this year after a break, joining Arkady Martine and Valerie Valdes, and new to the faculty: John Wiswell! FOUR amazing alumni!
_screams in delight_
Congratulations to N. K. Jemisin, who attended Viable Paradise in 2002 (VP VI, back when we counted that way), and has gone on to do remarkable things!
Sidewalk chalk drawing of a jellyfish and some smaller fish.
It’s workshop time! Is everyone ready?
I can't wait to read this book, from one of the members of my @viableparadise.bsky.social cohort!
This story is built around 2 folksongs: The well known Whiskey in the Jar, and the less popular Parting Glass. I chose that one because it's personal to me. I have sung that song and wept at the passing of my closest friend's mother, and on the farewell evening of @viableparadise.bsky.social
Courtney was the first of our @viableparadise.bsky.social class (not already represented) to sign with an agent, sell her book and see it released almost exactly 3 years later. She is our vanguard and we march at her back, cheering and inspired. God willing and the creek don’t rise, see you soon.🪼🤘
Glad to join #VP2025 and meet alumni staff and my cohort!
I am incredibly offline at the moment, so I am late to the news, but WELCOME VP2025!!! You may still be in shock. You may be thinking that, surely, some clerical error is to blame for your acceptance (I did 😂), but I PROMISE you earned this, and you're about to have an absolutely amazing experience.
Somewhat late, but I was accepted to VP 2025! Aaaah! I am so thrilled, and also a little bit nervous, and totally shocked that it happened. Was not expecting this at all! Aah! So excited to meet my cohort and learn from our instructors and read everyone's work! Aaaaah!