I'm sure most of the people reading this blog are readers, but I bet a good number of you are writers as well. It happens to be that time of year when aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers consider applying to the various workshops that are available. Here's a rundown of the ones I'm aware of, though I'm sure I don't know all of them.
Click on any of the instructor names given below to find a list of books written by them that the library has in its collection.
Clarion (http://clarion.ucsd.edu/)
This is the "original" Clarion workshop. It's recently moved to its new home at the University of California - San Diego. For six weeks, approximately 18 students live and write and read and write and critique and write with each other. The workshop is taught by a different professional writer each week.
This year's instructors: Holly Black, Larissa Lai, Robert Crais, Kim Stanley Robinson, Elizabeth Hand, and Paul Park
Applications are accepted until March 1st.
Workshop Held: June 28-August 8, 2009
Great weather, close proximity to the beach, and it generally coincides with San Diego Comic Con. Clarion's pretty good about offering partial scholarships to those who need them.
Clarion West (http://www.clarionwest.org/)
Clarion West is long established in its own right and is held in Seattle, Washington. It follows the same model as Clarion -- six weeks, approximately 18 students, different professional writer instructing each week.
This year's instructors: John Kessel, Elizabeth Bear, Karen Joy Fowler, Nalo Hopkinson, David G. Hartwell, and Rudy Rucker
Applications are accepted until March 1st, but get it in before February 1st and save $100 on the tuition.
Workshop Held: June 21-July 31, 2009
Many people make the choice between Clarion and Clarion West based on the instructors for the year, or the dates. Some people apply to both workshops to double their chances of being accepted into one of them.
Odyssey (http://www.sff.net/odyssey/)
For those looking for something a little closer to home, Odyssey is held for six weeks at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH. The format of this workshop is a little different. It's run for all six weeks by Jeanne Cavelos, a professional editor. Though it also has guest lecturers.
This year's scheduled guest lecturers: Patricia Bray, Jeffrey A. Carver, Jack Ketchum, Melissa Scott, Ginjer Buchanan, and Carrie Vaughn as Writer-in-Residence for Week 5.
Applications are accepted until January 31st for early admission and until April 8 as the regular deadline.
Workshop Held: June 8-July 17, 2009
Odyssey tends to be better than Clarion at offering feedback on novels in progress, rather than just short stories.
Viable Paradise (http://www.sff.net/Paradise/)
If six weeks seems too long for you, an alternative is Viable Paradise. It's also somewhat local, as it's held on Martha's Vineyard. It has much of the same content as the longer workshops and also has professional writers as instructors.
This year's instructors (I believe): Elizabeth Bear, Debra Doyle, Steven Gould, James D. MacDonald, Laura J. Mixon, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, and John Scalzi.
Applications are accepted until June 30.
Workshop Held: October 4-October 10, 2009
A good excuse for a one-week vacation on Martha's Vineyard?
If you're thinking about applying to a workshop, but aren't sure which one to pick, I recommend doing a blog search on Google to find what past participants have to say about the various programs.
Not quite ready for a workshop? You can browse the library's collection of books on writing. I particularly liked Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury.
Happy writing! And good luck to those who apply!
