Workshops

Attend one of DemiCon's workshops to learn some new skills or just to have fun.  In past years at Demicon, our attendees have built blinkies, constructed jetpacks, and so much more.  DemiCon 25 will be offering a wide range of workshops for various age groups, so visit this page again to see updates.

If one of our workshops requires reservations due to limited seating, we'll post instructions here for registering for that event.  In addition, you can register for those limited-admission workshops by visiting the Hub during the convention.

Upcoming Workshop

Critique Workshop: Receive critiquing on your written work and join professional writer Lettie Prell for this great workshop. Due date for participants to email Lettie their manuscripts is midnight Sunday, April 13. This workshop will happen on Sunday of the convention. Time not yet determined.

Send one short story, poetry up to three pages, first chapter of your novel, or first 20 pages of novel to lettie@lettieprell.com. Send in Doc or Rtf using standard manuscript format -www.shunn.net/format.html. 

Is there a particular workshop that you'd love to see at DemiCon?  Was there a workshop in the past that you're hoping to see repeated?  Please let us know!  Send your questions and suggestions to workshops@demicon.org.

DemiCon Programming

DemiCon is known for its wide range of programming.  If there's a programming topic that you'd like to see at DemiCon, please send your suggestions to programming@demicon.org.  We know you've got some clever ideas to share with us.

As the con approaches, the links below will show you what our Programming Department has planned for you.  The schedule grid is subject to changes, and then it stabilizes a few weeks before the convention.

If you want to host a panel, workshop, or other type of programming, the due date to submit your request is March 15th. 

On-Line Programming Grid

A mobile-friendly version of Programming Grid will be available. 

Dealer Room

Welcome to the Dealer Room page!  Once again, we will have plenty of dealers selling a vast assortment of riches and treasures at DemiCon. The Dealer Room is located on the hotel's main level, and will be open for business during these hours:

Friday — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Saturday — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Sunday — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Dealers at DemiCon 

If you have not received a confirmation email from our Dealer Department head and have paid, please email dealers@demicon.org.

History of DemiCon

DemiCon has a long and wonderful history. Please take a look at all of our guests of honor that have attended.

Full list of DemiCon conventions

• DemiCon: Witness the Birth was held on March 23 - March 25, 1990. Guests of Honor were C.J.Cherryh, J.R.Daniels and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 2: The Voyage Continues was held on April 26 - April 28, 1991. Guests of Honor were Joe Haldeman, Lucy Synk, Gay Haldeman and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 3: My God! - It's full of Stars was held on March 27 - March 29, 1992. Guests of Honor were Rob Chilson, David Cherry, Myrna Logan (The Dragon Lady) and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 4: The Dawn of Fan was held on March 26 - March 28, 1993. Guests of Honor were Mickey Zucker-Reichert, Erin Mckee, Mark Moore and Rusty Hevelin
• The Fifth of DemiCon: The Smoothest Convention Around was held on April 22 - April 24, 1994. Guests of Honor were Glen Cook, David Lee Anderson, Pierre and Sandy Pettinger and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon VI: The Undiscovered Con was held on May 5 - May 7, 1995. Guests of Honor were Roger Zelazny, Wilson Tucker and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 7: God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days.../DemiCon VII. We may have taken 6 years with DemiCon but on the Seventh Con, We'll party was held on May 3 - May 5, 1996. Guests of Honor were author Algis Budrys, artist Keith Berdak, fan guests Otto and Ruth Sheller and toastmaster Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 8: Sorry, But We've Chosen Not to become Evolved - Supporting your Eternal right to Entropy was held on May 2 - May 4, 1997. Guests of Honor were author Barbara Hambly, artist Mitchell Bentley, fan guest Charles Piehl and toastmaster Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 9: Plan Nine from Des Moines was held on May 1 - May 3, 1998. Guests of Honor were author George Alec Effinger, artist William J. Hodgson, fan guests Marshall and Dee Willis and toastmaster Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 10: Generation X: Too old to be Neos...Too Young to be Nostalgic! was held on April 30 - May 2, 1999. Guests of Honor were Spider and Jeanne Robinson, Nè Nè, Bill Broughton and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 2000: Y2K Compliance is Futile. This one goes to Eleven was held on May 5 - May 7, 2000. Guests of Honor were Lois McMaster Bujold, Susan Van Camp, Alois and Wendy Tchampl and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 2001: A Con Oddity was held on May 4 - May 6, 2001. Guests of Honor were Harry Harrison, Sergey Poyarkov, Tadao Tomomatsu and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon the 13th: Con of the Living Dead was held on May 3 - May 5, 2002. Guests of Honor were F. Paul Wilson, Alan M. Clark, Dennis Lynch and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 14: Contemplating the FUTURE was held on May 2 - May 4, 2003. Guests of Honor were Octavia E. Butler, Lubov, Lynda Sherman and Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon XV: DemiCon-A-Fan-alistic-XV-Fun-A-Liscious was held on April 30 - May 2, 2004. Guest of honor were Emma Bull and Will Shetterly, Alan Gutierrez, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 16: Life, the Universe and DemiCon was held on July 29 - July 31, 2005. Guests of Honor were Brad Linaweaver, Mike Cole, Sheila Lenkman and Scott Corwin, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin
• DemiCon 17: Enter the Twilight Zone of Imagination was held July 28 - July 30, 2006. Guests of honor were Janet Chui, Ted Poovey and Darice Schirber-Poovey, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin. Frederik Pohl was not able to attend due to health reason but was able to participate over a conference call.
• DemiCon 18: You Can Go Home Again... Just Use Your Imagination was held May 18 - May 20, 2007. Guests of honor were author Catherine Asaro, artist Theresa Mather, actor James Koro, fan guest Steve "Wookie" Houle, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin.
• DemiCon 19: Back Where We Belong was held May 2 - May 4, 2008. Guests of honor were author Steven Barnes, artist Mitchell Davidson Bentley, fan guests Joe & Inger Myers, Tadao Tomomatsu and toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin.
• DemiCon 20: All of Our Cons Remembered was held May 1 - May 3, 2009. Guests of honor were author Joe Haldeman, artist Sara Butcher, fan guest Roger Tener, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin The convention was held at Hotel Fort Des Moines.
• DemiCon 21: Everything is Better with Pirates! was held May 14-16, 2010. It was held at the Holiday Inn West, Des Moines, Iowa. Guests of honor were Author Karl Schroeder, Artist Don Maitz, Fan Guest Gregg Parmentier, Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin.
• DemiCon 22: Here Be Dragons! was held April 29, 40 and May 1, 2011. It was held at the Holiday Inn West, Des Moines, Iowa.  Guests of Honor were Sarah Prineas, Sarah Clemens, John and Denise Garner, Tadao Tomomatsu, Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin and special Dragon of Honor Tiamat!
• Demicon 23: Full Moon Fantasy was held May 4-6, 2012.  It was held at the Holiday Inn West, Des Moines, Iowa.  Guests of Honor were Patricia Briggs, Allen Williams, Ange & Brian Anderson, Mike aka Adam Selene, and Tadao Tomomatsu.
• 24 Karat DemiCon: Celebrating the Golden Age of Science Fiction was held May 3-5, 2013. Guests of Honor were David Weber, Scott Ross, Mitch and Mary Thompson, Bob Harper, and Denny Lynch.
• DemiCon 25: Hi-Yo, Silver! Celebrate Away! will be held on May 2-4, 2014.