About Us

Altered Fluid is a speculative fiction writers’ group based in Manhattan. We’re as nice a bunch of people adrift in our own imaginations as you’re likely to find anywhere. We have been meeting since 2001 to workshop our members’ short and long works of science fiction, horror, fantasy and slipstream.

We’re currently ten (or so) regular members plus two who have moved away but continue to participate remotely.

Photo by Devin Poore – Not all members are present (it was 1920 after all)

The group’s founders first met in a writing class at the New School University taught by sci-fi author Terry Bisson, and decided to continue meeting in the same format after course ended. We were all just starting out at the time, but several of us have made professional sales and garnered other acclaim in the last few years. We’ve had a bit of turnover as life events took people out of the area, but all of us have found this group a powerful resource for advancing our writing and learning about the industry.

We use the Clarion Writers Workshop style of critiquing, which means each reader takes a turn making comments and suggestions, and the writer isn’t allowed to speak until the open discussion at the end. The group will spend 30-60 minutes analyzing a story. We occasionally invite instructors and well-known writers and editors to join a session.

Currently, we are not seeking new members.