It's a long way to Norwescon 44, so dock your spaceship at Waypoint Norwescon! We've had to make a couple of changes, and one of them is that Waypoint is now FREE.
Register here and join us for some games, hanging out (virtually) with friends, and a hand-picked selection of content from Norwescon 43.
Norwescon's COVID policy for the convention includes requiring proof of vaccination for all members, masking, and implementation of prudent safety practices. The convention services team is leading a cross-sectional effort to determine how to implement items like vaccine status verification at check-in, configuration of physical spaces for social distancing, and monitoring compliance during con. Many details remain to be worked out, but a truly awesome team is working to get it done, under the guidance of safety manager Felice Nightengale. Stay tuned, and please write to conventionservices@norwescon.org if you have any questions.
Do you have a fannish club, group, convention, or organization which you wish to promote at Norwescon? Having a club table is a great way to talk about it with Norwescon members. The sign-up form is now available. Deadline to apply is December 15th.
The third Monday 7 p.m. online meetings of Norwescon's official book club continue on December 20 with The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, January 17 with Starless by Jacqueline Carey, and February 21 with You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo. Find us on Facebook or email Kevin Black for a link to the meetings.
Hark the herald salesmen sing, advertising wondrous things! As you look for presents this holiday season…consider shopping at smile.amazon.com. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Norwescon! Link: https://smile.amazon.com/
The Norwescon 44 Art Show is now accepting applications from artists. We would love to hear from you! The goal of the art show is not to just feature the most well-known and successful artists, but to provide a venue for up-and-coming artists to hone their craft, get seen, and build a successful career. We would like you to be part of our community. Please visit the Art Show page on our website for more information on how you can sign-up for the Norwescon 44 Art Show.
Whether you have had a hard day of work or a delightful evening out, nothing beats coming home, shedding your coat and shoes, and hanging up your hat. Our judges are prepared to be dazzled and amazed by your versions of this year’s patterns, Simplicity 8361 and Simplicity 8713.
The object of the competition is to create a one-of-a-kind garment using one of these patterns. Adjustments or changes to the pattern are allowed, as long as the end product reflects the original pattern. No pre-registration is required! Submit your entry at the judging session. For more information, see the Single Pattern Contest page on our website.
Norwescon 44 will be an in-person convention, so get your room now! Reserving your room helps us make our room block and avoid penalties, and gives you a base of operations for the convention. Reserve your room at (redacted) or by calling the hotel at 206-246-8600.
Get relaxed and join us at our January relaxacon, Waypoint Norwescon. See replays of the best of Norwescon 43 and hang out with friends in Airmeet. This one-day virtual event is FREE—but you will need to register to get an event link. Get further details on our website:
https://www.norwescon.org/waypoint/
Waypoint will open for socializing at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 14. So register before then! Programming will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 15. All times are in Pacific Standard Time.
We are using the Airmeet digital platform, which has two stages for panels, and virtual tables for hanging out and discussing all things fantastical. Once you register, you will receive an email on Friday with a link to the event.
We will also stream portions of Waypoint Norwescon on the Norwescon Twitch channel. Visit us there: https://www.twitch.tv/norwescon
A complete schedule will be posted before the event at https://www.norwescon.org/waypoint/
It’s a long journey to Norwescon 44 on April 14–17, but we look forward to catching up with you at Waypoint Norwescon this weekend. Hope to see you there!
Registration is now open for Waypoint Norwescon, a two-day virtual relaxacon to be held January 15–16, 2022. For just $15 you can enjoy two days of content, catch up with friends in our social lounge space, and help support Norwescon.
More information at http://www.norwescon.org/waypoint.
Register here: https://cm.norwescon.org/kiosk/wpwebreg/
Do you have a fannish club, group, convention, or organization which you wish to promote at Norwescon? Having a club table is a great way to talk about it with Norwescon members. The sign-up form is now available. Deadline to apply is December 15th. https://www.norwescon.org/con/exhibitors/club-tables/
Norwescon’s Bibliophiles, the official book club of Norwescon will be discussing The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman on December 20, Starless by Jacqueline Carey on January 17, and You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo on February 21. Discussions are held online using Google Meet from 7–8 p.m.
Register for the discussions at the Facebook group or email kevin.black@norwescon.org to be sent login information.
Norwescon is seeking applicants for the staff position of secretary second, to assist the exemplary current secretary, Michael Hanscom. This person would train in the position as backup and to potentially take over this executive team position for Norwescon 45. Candidates should have good organizational skills, with strong writing abilities preferred (many tasks involve documentation and communications). Interested? Questions? Email secretary@norwescon.org.
Have you visited our Norwescon Historical Archives recently? We have 44 years of convention history, with a lot of artifacts there to browse. However, we’d love to have more. If you have old flyers, programs, swag, shirts, or any other memorabilia, snap a picture or make a scan! Reach out to us if you’d like to send something physical. We welcome old photos for the photographic archives. We also gladly accept your stories and reminisces of con-related adventures. Please send all submissions or inquires can be sent in to website@norwescon.org.
The games team is looking for people to run games for Norwescon 44. We have lots of space to work with, and can accommodate games of all kinds—board games, card games, role-playing games, miniatures, and story/narrative games!
You will need to purchase a registration before submitting. We are especially looking for introductory-level RPGs and newbie-friendly board/card games. Also kids games, family games, and dexterity games. Teaching sessions have highest priority. We look forward to folks teaching games to potential new gamers!
Ready to submit some games? Use our scheduled games submission form, here.
If you wish to run a tournament, you are a company looking for an industry demo table, or you have any questions/concerns, please contact our games department head Donna Prior at games@norwescon.org.
The way to Norwescon 44 in April is long, so dock your shuttle at Waypoint Norwescon! Waypoint Norwescon is a two-day virtual relaxacon happening the weekend of January 15–16, 2022, held on the conferencing platform Airmeet. Join us for two days of programming, special events, and community. On Saturday, attend live and pre-recorded panels, readings, and events lasting into the wee hours. The fun continues on Sunday as we time warp to a curated collection of pre-recorded panels and events from Norwescon 43. Take advantage of our social spaces to gather with friends and colleagues on both days. The cost to attend is just $15.
We can’t wait to see you at Waypoint Norwescon!
Norwescon is thrilled to announce Rashida J. Smith has accepted our invitation to be a co-director of the Norwescon Writers Workshop. Rashida writes fantasy and paranormal romance as Jasmine Silvera, and is passionate about helping other writers achieve their goals. Learn more about Rashida and co-directors Barth Anderson and Alaina Ewing here. Remember, the submission deadline for the Norwescon Writers Workshop is January 1!
Norwescon’s official book club is meeting online this Monday, October 18 at 7 p.m. to discuss A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. November’s book is the Hugo and Nebula Award-winner Among Others by Jo Walton, on November 15.
For more fun, the Book Club Fall Social is happening in person on Sunday October 24th at 2 p.m. at Teya Viola and Jon Lavinder’s home at 5322 240th Ave. NE in Redmond. We’d love to see you there! All are welcome and no reading is required, but please be vaccinated and dress for the outdoors. The details for all these events can be found in the Norwescon’s Bibliophiles Facebook group. Not on Facebook? Email kevin.black@norwescon.org.
Norwescon runs on volunteers, and we are currently looking for people to fill some very important roles. Help make the convention a success!
Publications Department - contact publications@norwescon.org
Programming Department - contact programming@norwescon.org
Is there a topic you'd like to hear discussed at Norwescon 44? Now is the time to let us know! We are accepting panel suggestions through October 25 and this link.
Do you have a skill or talent that you would like to share at Norwescon? Workshops are not limited to arts and crafts—they can include hands-on work making music, technology, costuming, game design, and things we haven’t thought of! A workshop can be one to two hours long, and is taught in a classroom. Submit your workshop description using our panel suggestion form.
The games team is looking for people to run games for Norwescon 44. We have lots of space to work with, and can accommodate games of all kinds—board games, card games, role-playing games, miniatures, and story/narrative games!
You will need to purchase a registration before submitting. We are especially looking for introductory-level RPGs and newbie-friendly board/card games. Also kids games, family games, and dexterity games. Teaching sessions have highest priority. We look forward to folks teaching games to potential new gamers!
Ready to submit some games? Use our scheduled games submission form, here.
If you wish to run a tournament, you are a company looking for an industry demo table, or you have any questions/concerns, please contact our games department head Donna Prior at games@norwescon.org.
Announcing our virtual fall event! We sure miss our Norwescon family. While we are planning an in-person, on-site event in 2022, we don’t want to wait until next spring to see you. Please join us November 6–7 for a virtual mini-con. We are planning two stages of content to enjoy, with panels, readings, NS special events, along with our open lounge for reunions and socializing. This event will help Norwescon raise money and ensure our solvency going forward. Watch for announcements on our website and social media as we confirm guests and schedule events - registration will open soon. We look forward to seeing you!
Norwescon is more than just a convention: it is a community. As such, we all have a duty to protect each other and keep our community safe.
Norwescon 44 will be following all applicable local mandates, and additionally, will require all attending members to show proof of full vaccination and wear a mask at all times while inside.
What does that look like? Upon arriving at the hotel, you will need to put on a mask, and keep it on at all times unless you are in your own hotel room, outside, or actively eating or drinking. At registration, you will need to provide your proof of vaccination, with the final shot being on or before March 31, 2022 to receive your badge. Seating will be less compact than you may be accustomed to. Try to maintain social distancing.
The Norwescon 44 team is watching the progression of the pandemic closely. We’ll follow the science and make changes as necessary to keep our members, staff, and professional guests safe. If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines available, please check out this great web page from the CDC: Myths and Facts about the COVID-19 vaccines For our FAQ, and any updates to our policy, check out our web page: Norwescon 44 COVID Policy.
Norwescon's Bibliophiles, the Norwescon Book Club, is meeting online on Monday, September 20, to discuss Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The Bibliophiles are in the process of selecting new books for October and November. To join, find us on Facebook: Norwescon's Bibliophiles
Our first convention planning meeting of the year is just days away - Saturday, September 18, 10am, on Zoom. Link Here
We're looking for a few great folks to help us out with our spring convention. Interested in being a part of Norwescon?
Information Table Manager - The mission of the Info Table is to help our members have a great convention experience. We're looking for someone to hire staff, manage the schedule, and coordinate with other departments. Contact memberservices@norwescon.org if you're interested.
For Programming department positions (following), contact programming@norwescon.org:
Pro Check-In Staff - Working in Cascade 1, you'll help check-in our panelists and performers.
Stage Management Staff - No heavy lifting required! Help us keep the batteries in the clocks fresh and give time cues to our panelists.
Writing Class Coordinator - Keep track of signups and communicate with applicants leading up to the con, then manage the writing classroom at the con.
Hands-on Workshops and Writing Classes Assistant - Help check people into our very popular hands-on workshops and writing classes.
Youth Programming Assistants - Assist our Youth Programming track lead and help lead activities for our youngest NorwesKids.
Tween Track Lead - Put your experience with tweens into action developing panels and activities for our 8 to 12-year-old NorwesKids.
NWW is a Milford-style workshop: a peer-to-peer critique facilitated by professional writers, editors, and agents. There are no fees beyond your Norwescon 44 membership to participate. For information about how to apply and more, click here.