Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is When Words Collide all about?
2. I can't come now. How do I get a refund?
3. How do I get on the waiting list?
4. Am I registered? / Where's my ticket?
5. I can't find an answer to my question here. Now what?

1. What is When Words Collide all about?

   When Words Collide is an annual non-profit festival held in Calgary, Alberta. It is modelled after the volunteer conventions popular in the Science Fiction and Fantasy communities. Nobody is paid for attending (though guests of honour have their expenses covered) and even the organizers buy passes.

   Programming starts a 1 PM on Friday and goes until 5 PM on Sunday. Multiple streams of programming of interest to readers and writers are available covering as many types of the written word as possible.

   There are several, free, associated events open to the public, including a Merchants Corner where books and related things are sold. Part of this is a shared author table for those writers whose books are not carried by the other vendors. Once you have bought your weekend pass, all events except the banquet are included.

   
2. I can't come now. How do I get a refund?

   • The short answer is that we don't give refunds. WWC rates are as low as possible so more people can attend, but that means we can't afford to give people their money back and still pay our bills.

   • However, we do have a page where you can return your pass(es) to a pool that may then be bought by people on our waiting list. If somebody buys the passes you are returning, you will get your money back (minus the non-refundable PayPal fees).

     
3. How do I get on the waiting list?

   Fill out the form on the Waiting List page. Those on the waiting list are served in order, so if you wait too long you are not guaranteed to get a pass to this year's festival. We cannot guess whether you will be able to get in or not.

   
4. Am I registered? / Where's my ticket?

   If you have your 12-digit registration number that was on the summary page just before you went to PayPal to pay for your passes, you can find out if your registration went through.

   When Words Collide does not issue physical festival tickets, nor do we issue separate receipts. If you bought banquet tickets, they will be in your registration package when you arrive at WWC.

   If you paid online via PayPal, you should have gotten an email receipt from them showing that you paid. We do not issue separate receipts. On your registration form (printed or online), you should have specified whether you want your name listed online as an attendee. If you did not opt-in to this, your name will not be listed and you will have to email us to find out if your payment went through.

   
5. I can't find an answer to my question here. Now what?

   Send us an email at info@whenwordscollide.org and we'll find an answer for you.