{{Short description|Literature convention held in Oak Brook, Illinois, US}} {{Infobox Convention | name = Windycon | image = | caption = | status = Active | genre = Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention | venue = | location = Oak Brook, Illinois | country = United States | first = October 25-27, 1974 | last = November 10-12, 2023 | next = November 8-10, 2024 | organizer = ISFiC | filing = Non-profit | website = {{URL|http://www.windycon.org/}} }}
'''Windycon''' is a science fiction and fantasy literature convention held annually in the Chicago, Illinois area. In the past, it was held on the weekend closest to Veterans Day; as of 2026, the date has been moved to the second weekend of October.
ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon,<ref name="pavlac">Pavlac, Ross, [http://www.isfic.org/WhatIs.asp What's an ISFiC], ISFiC Web Site, retrieved, 2015-11-10</ref> was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in Chicago or a Chicago suburb.<ref>[http://www.isfic.org/conspast.asp The Windycon Big List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801122309/http://www.isfic.org/conspast.asp |date=2009-08-01 }}, Windycon Web Site, retrieved, 2007-05-19</ref> It is a general interest convention.
ISFiC and Windycon were founded to raise the profile of fandom in Chicago in preparation for a Worldcon bid.<ref name="pavlac"/> In 1982, Chicon IV was the result. From its small beginnings, Windycon has grown to have an annual membership hovering around 1300. It is the largest of the two fan-run Chicago conventions.
Annually since 1986, ISFiC has hosted a writers contest, open to unpublished authors. The contest is judged by professional authors and editors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isfic.org/Winners.asp|title=ISFiC, Inc.: Writers Contest Winners|website=www.isfic.org|accessdate=15 September 2018|archive-date=30 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030234458/http://www.isfic.org/Winners.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Separately, Windycon has hosted a writers' workshop under the coordination of Richard Chwedyk since 2000.<ref>{{Citation | last = Foster | first = Adrienne | title = Next Manuscript, Please: Amazing Tales of the Worldcon Writers Workshop | newspaper = SFWA Bulletin | pages = 10 | date = August–September 2009 }}</ref> From 2004 to 2015, ISFiC Press, the publishing arm of Windycon's parent organization, published a Guest of Honor book to be released at the convention.
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{official website|http://www.windycon.org/}} *[http://www.isfic.org ISFiC], Windycon's parent corporation
Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States Category:Recurring events established in 1973 Category:Creative writing programs
{{sf-convention-stub}} Category:Fantasy conventions Category:Science fiction conventions Category:Long stubs with short prose