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[personal profile] julieandrews
I know there's a lot of people out there saying "I'd love to attend Clarion sometime, but..". I'd like to first address the 'but' first, then I'll tackle the 'sometime'.

* "...But I can't afford it."


Answer 1: Clarion is really good at providing at least partial scholarships to people who need it, through various scholarship programs, including the Carl Brandon Society's Octavia Butler scholarship that goes to Clarion students of color. If money is the only thing stopping you, it's my recommendation that you apply. First see if you get in, then see how much they're able to offer you. You can always say no at that point. Yea, you'll be out a 50$ application fee. So you do have to ask yourself how badly you want to go. If that 50$ is going to stop you.

Answer 2: You may be surprised by how willing family and friends (and readers if you have them) are to chip in to help you go. Especially if you make it clear to them just how important it is to you to go. You can simply ask them, or you can do a more fundraising-type activity, like holding an online auction or a write-a-thon.

Thoughts: Many Clarion students really do not have a lot of money kicking around. (Or any money.) I know I didn't. So I do understand how even that 50$ application fee is a lot of money. If you're certain you can't swing the money now, then make a plan for next year. Find little extra things you can do to make money and squirrel it away especially for Clarion.


* "...But I can't take 6 weeks off of work."


Answer 1: You may be surprised here as well. Sure, few people have 6 weeks of vacation and personal time they can just take off. But your employer may be willing to entertain the idea of 6 weeks unpaid time. You can always wait and see if you've been accepted before you ask. Or you might want to start talking about it early, so your employer is prepared to think about it. As with the above, let them know how important it is to you, and show them how Clarion is a real, worthwhile workshop, and you're not just taking a long vacation in southern California.

Answer 2: If you're thinking about Clarion for next year, you can start to prepare now. Take a seasonal job that leaves you the summer off. Become a contractor or a temp. Or think about changing jobs conveniently or going back to school. Or find a gainfully-employed person to marry.

Thoughts: Someone in my class observed that a lot of us were in transition stages in our lives. Some of us were preparing to move from one state (or country) to another. Or starting families. Or finishing up school. Or changing careers. Me, I was doing some temp work, but was generally unemployed, and had recently finished my master's. If you're considering a similar transition, can you time it well to coincide with a 6-week interlude at Clarion?



* "...But Clarion is so far away."



Answer 1: I don't have a spouse or kids, so my answer here may not carry much weight with you if you do, but please read it and consider at least. Reality shows are frequently 6 weeks or even longer and people spend time away from their families. For some shows, it seems like a frivolous reason. At best, a shot at a bunch of money. But Clarion is rather more like Biggest Loser. Yes, it's time away from your family, but it's time well-spent. It's time focussed on you, on something important to you, and that can only help your family. And I don't mean financially, when you become a big, famous writer. I mean just by having taken the time to pursue a dream of yours.

Answer 2: I can say there's always phone calls, the Internet, and Skype, but I know that's not the same thing as being there. And I'd be lying if I said you'd have time to do a lot of that. You actually have to make it a priority to you to fit it into a Clarion schedule. You might have to give up a meal or sleep to make that phone call. But suffice it to say, you've not quite fallen off the face of the Earth.

Answer 3: I actually feel it's better to go to a workshop away from home. Family and friends may think you're readily available to go out with them, or come home for a weekend, and not understand that you're at Clarion to work. A large part of Clarion is getting to know your classmates and doing things with them. Seeing/talking to your friends and family needs to be something you do because you need the break for yourself, not because (or not _just_ because) they miss you.

Thoughts: A change in scenery, especially if it requires a flight to get there, helps you to know this is a completely new experience. It'll help you disrupt your routine and get into a Clarion routine, whatever your Clarion routine may turn out to be. And San Diego was pretty awesome. I expected it to be hotter than New England, but it was mild and nice. And it _never_ rained. Just watch out for the rattlesnakes.



The "sometime" bit:

Why "sometime"? Why not now?


It's fine if you don't feel you're ready for Clarion yet. If that's why the "sometime" is in there. But make sure you revisit the question every year the application window approaches. "Why not this year?"

Just make sure your answer is a real answer and not an excuse.

How do you tell if it's an excuse? If your answer has a real chance of changing for next year, then it's a reason. If it's something you're likely to say again next year, and the year after, then it's an excuse. Find a way to get over it.


And it's not too late to apply. (I applied in typical procrastinatory fashion in the last few hours.)

Clarion Application Info Here

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julieandrews

May 2014

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