Insert Witty Journal Title Here

I'm participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon. The first time Clarion UCSD has joined in. So, first, some background.

What is Clarion?

Clarion is a six-week intensive writing workshop for science fiction and fantasy writers. Each week is taught by a different, stellar instructor. Most of the workshop is focussed on writing and critiquing each other's work. Short stories for the most part. Sometimes an instructor will have a formal or informal lecture, or discussion. And guest speakers may make an appearance.

There are three Clarions -- Clarion (East, The Original) which is held at the University of California - San Diego; Clarion West which is no longer really West of East, but it's in Seattle; and Clarion South which is in um.. okay, Australia somewhere!

Why is Clarion Awesome?

I attended Clarion the first year it was at UCSD, 2007. Our instructors were Gregory Frost, Karen Joy Fowler, Jeff (and Ann unofficially) VanderMeer, Cory Doctorow, and Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. My classmates were awesome, and you may have seen some of their names in print!

Why Does Clarion Need Money?

There's the costs from the university -- dorm use, food, etc, etc. There's a coordinator who needs to be paid. And instructors to be flown in. And just, in general, running something like this isn't cheap.

Clarion does charge tuition and room and board, but not nearly as much as other six-week programs run at universities. Just try to take one summer class and see what you get charged!

As it happens, though, the people who attend Clarion tend to be in transition stages in their life. Who can afford to take 6 weeks away from home? People who are still in college, who have just left college, who are changing careers, who are moving across country. In short, generally people who don't have a whole lot of money to spare.

That's why it's important that Clarion be able to keep what it charges students as low as reasonably possible. And that's why scholarships are really, really, really important.

I wouldn't have been able to attend Clarion, as I was unemployed at the time, without the help of a scholarship and without the help of my parents. Some money given to Clarion goes to fund scholarships. You can even sponsor a scholarship yourself if you want.

Clarion needs money to continue to exist, first of all, and to continue to be affordable to any student with the desire and the ability to attend. Whether a student goes on to become a known writer in the field, or contributes in other ways (editing, publishing, agenting, academicking), Clarion is an experience that's worth it. And that's worth supporting.

What's the Clarion Write-A-Thon?

For six weeks, I and others will be writing our little hearts out. Sharing in spirit with the current class of Clarion UCSD, 2010. We'll be doing it to raise money for Clarion, for its future, and its future students.

How do I sponsor you?

You can pledge (by telling me about it) a certain amount per word, or per story, or per day I write. And then you can donate the money to Clarion at the end of the six weeks.

Or, you can trust I'm going to write and just donate whatever sum you like right now. Or at any point during the six weeks.

The page to do that on is right here.

My stated goal is $1000 and I would really like to hit that target.

What's in it for me?

Okay, okay, you're not that selfish, right? But for every $300 sponsored, I will post a short story, online, for free. I will even make downloadable PDF and EPUB versions.

So if I hit my $1000 target, that's 3 awesome stories of mine you'll get to read for free! And you'll make me very, very happy.

And you'll be helping a future student find his, her, or hir way to Clarion. Adding another voice to the science fiction and fantasy genre.

Anything Else I Should Know?

Yes! If you'd like to sponsor some of the other cool people who are doing the Write-a-Thon, go right ahead! I don't mind (much).

Here's the list of participants.

If you'd like to donate to more than one person, say, me and all of my classmates, then you can click the red Donate Now button. That form will let you specify who and how much. You'll only have to fill out one form that way, and your card will get charged once. (I presume.)

Anything Else?

No, not really. Watch this space for updates on my progress.

And thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Last day to sign up for Wiscon programming, including readings! Go! Do!

http://www.wiscon.info/

And congratulations to the new Clarion class 2010! Hope you all have a wonderful, amazing, productive, mind-blowing time!

http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Time is running out! The application deadline for this year's Clarion is March 1st. And if you think any or all of these authors/editors are awesome, then why haven't you applied yet?

Delia Sherman, George R. R. Martin, Dale Bailey, Samuel R. Delany, and wrapping up the last two weeks, Jeff and Ann VanderMeer.

And, let me tell you, Delia, Jeff and Ann are totally awesome.

What is Clarion? It's 6 weeks of intensive writing, and even more intensive reading and critiquing. Students work on science fiction and fantasy short stories (and maybe a story or two that don't quite fit into the traditional 'science fiction' or 'fantasy' molds). The six weeks might include lectures, will almost certainly involve informal discussions, may include guests, will include author readings at Mysterious Galaxy, and will include one-on-one sessions with each of the instructors.

Since it's held at the University of California at San Diego, it will most likely (though after this winter, I wouldn't place too many bets) include sunny weather in the comfortable temperature range, may include trips to the beach, will include college dining hall food, may include trips to a coffee house, may or may not include werewolves or zombies, may include a singing tree, hopefully will not include a rattlesnake, and will definitely include things that only the 2010 class will experience. You can make the rest of us jealous.

Try not to worry about the money and the 6 weeks time off from real life before you apply. Time enough to worry about that after you're accepted.

So.
Go.
Do it now.

http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Clarion needs applicants and it needs money. More on both later. But here's links to three cool posts.

Shweta writes about why Clarion is important and includes some chalk art.
http://shweta-narayan.livejournal.com/60484.html

And then Keyan posts some more of the awesome chalk art.

http://keyan-bowes.livejournal.com/26295.html

http://keyan-bowes.livejournal.com/26446.html

Official Clarion Page

Seriously. Go look at the chalk art!

The Obligatory Workshop Panel

"Find out if attending a workshop is the right thing for you. Learn the pros and cons of the various workshops from people who have been there. Hear solutions to obstacles that stand in your way from attending one, such as time or money. Listen as panelists dispel the myths of what workshops are and what they are not. Most important, discover which workshop has the best food."

I don't have notes on this one, because I was on this one. We were opposite Geoff's GoH reading, as well as redcrowkater's group's reading, and of course the usual bunch of really interesting, ack-I-can't-choose panels. They put us in one of the ballrooms though, so it was a little overwhelming. There were 5 of us on the panel, and an average of 5 people in the audience.

I think it went really well. We were all Clarion or Clarion West grads, and one of us had been to the Writers of the Future workshop. I do wish there'd been a bit more workshop diversity on the panel, but it was also interesting to see how different classes have different experiences while still at Clarion workshops.

It's kind of hard to remember what I said (or just generally think in general), but I know I made my point about choosing a workshop that's not too close to home. If the workshop is close to where you live, then it's really hard to tell family and friends 'No, I can't go home on the weekend.' 'No, I can't have dinner with you.' When fellow classmates do go away for a few hours for something like this, the whole group notices the loss. Do it too often and you're really missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Workshops are as much about making friends and bonding with peers as we all go forward in this writing thing, as it is about anything else.

At Clarion, we eat dining hall food. And in my year, the dining hall was serving groups of freshmen orientation every few days. So every few days, the menu would reset. It got so we could predict what we'd be eating next. As the workshop went on, we got more diversity in the dining hall, and a salad bar showed up. But it was still heavy on the potatoes when it came to eating vegetarian. According to Keffy, the food didn't improve much for 2008. Good luck, Clarion 2009ers!

Meanwhile Clarion West gets a chef. So there's always something available to eat in the fridge. Clarion West also gets lots of parties at the homes of writers who live nearby. But Clarion in San Diego has beaches! And fabulous weather.

But rattlesnakes.

We talked about time off, and how people attending 6-week workshops tended to be in transition phases in their lives. Just graduated/left school, getting married, getting divorced, new job, moving, etc. Because that's when you tend to be able to arrange to have 6 weeks free.

We talked about money and tried to reassure people that they wouldn't have to pay the full cost if they couldn't afford it. Clarion and Clarion West are both really good at providing scholarships for those who need it. Keffy also asked for money on his lj and people were very generous. I said if you make it clear to family and friends what this is all about and how important it is to you, they'll help out. Even if it's in the form of a loan.

So, try not to worry about the money too soon or too often. Don't let it stop you from applying.

The Writers of the Future workshop is a 1-week workshop where all expenses are paid, because you've won the Writers of the Future contest. We learned it's a bit commercial, but well-worth the experience, and they won't turn you into a Scientologist. Plus there's other cash prizes for winning, so no reason not to enter as long as you're eligible. (Too many pro sales and you're no longer eligible.)

The audience asked some questions, which is my favorite part. So even though we had a small audience, they were a good one.

I'm sure we said other stuff, but I could go on and on about Clarion, so I'd better stop and do some actual work.

Feel free to ask questions in the comment thread though. Love questions.

Just to let you know a few things:

1. Clarion and Clarion West's application deadlines for this year's workshop are both March 1st. It's not too late to apply! Write a story, finish a story, edit a story, and send it in.

2. Broad Universe, a writing organization by and for women sf/f writers to promote their work, is offering a membership special. Starting March 1st, you can buy a 1-year membership and not have it expire until Wiscon 34. (That's May 2010, for those not in the know.)

3. While I'm at it, one more plug for Wiscon. Go sign up for panels! If you haven't registered yet, do so quickly. There's a cap of 1000 and I wouldn't be surprised if they meet that cap next month. Con hotel is full, but the overflow hotel still has room, AFAIK.

4. Oh yes, TODAY ONLY, Sellout.Woot has an Eee PC netbook for 160$! Yes, you can get better Eee PCs now, but it'll cost you at least twice that. So it's a good deal if you want a netbook but are low on the money thing.

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."

( Can't you? )
* "...But I can't take 6 weeks off of work."

( Are you sure? )

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

( It sure is. )

The "sometime" bit:

Why "sometime"? Why not now?

( Why? )

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

Clarion Application Info Here

Clarion 2009 at UC-San Diego will begin accepting applications on January 2nd. Now's the time to polish up those stories, or write new ones.

The instructors this year are: Holly Black, Larissa Lai, Robert Crais, Kim Stanley Robinson, Elizabeth Hand, and Paul Park.

So now is also the time to start reading a bunch of their books and short stories. :)

Go here for more info: http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Or if you're looking for that not-yet-last-minute Christmas or Hannukah gift, why not give that someone special some Clarion Swag?

Anyone going to Clarion early can catch Lynn Flewelling at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego on Saturday the 28th at 2pm. Go. Buy her new book. Get books signed. Support MG. Make me jealous.

Not sure why it's not on their events page. But you can see her page for proof.

This is aimed at Clarion Diego, but most of it is probably relevant to Clarion West and Clarion South and possibly other intensive writing workshops as well.

Before Clarion

* Tell your friends and family you'll be incommunicado. I found that some of them didn't really get it even after I tried to impress it upon them. This means telephone, Email, online chat, Skype, popping out to a restaurant if you're local. If you desperately want time to spend with friends or family during Clarion, you're going to have to plan it in advance, and be willing to give up something for it. One suggestion is to give everyone the address to a blog (it doesn't have to be your main blog) and promise to post updates now and then. Even if it's just 'Alive. Writing. See you in August.' Then you just have to post one thing for everyone to feel they've had some contact with you. And they can leave as many comments as they want.

* Pack less than you think you need, especially if you're flying. San Diego has stores. The CVS is pretty convenient. If you find you need snacks, drinks, toiletries, beach supplies, you can get them there. I actually bought the notebook and pens I used at Clarion right there at the CVS. Do you want to lug three or four pairs of shoes back home with you, or would you rather pack one or no pair of shoes and a whole lot of signed books? You're going to be going home with books, and you'll also probably want to go home with copies of people's comments on your stories. All that stuff starts to get heavy. And with airlines charging for all checked bags.. ugh. Though keep in mind you can mail a box of things home if you find you've acquired too much.

( Click here for more Before Clarion advice! )

At Clarion

* Unless you're really sick, attend every workshop session. Try not to be late, but if you are late, it's better than never. I would advocate going even if you haven't read the stories to be discussed that day. You'll probably still learn a thing or two. And maybe admitting you haven't read the stories will guilt you into not making it a habit. And I really mean this bullet point. Don't choose to skip the session so you can write. Don't skip it so you can sleep. Be there. Tell yourself you can go back to writing or sleeping in a few hours.

* Spend quality time with your classmates and instructors. By 'quality time', I mean time where you can talk. Going out to the movies was fun, but don't make it a habit, as it's 2 hours when you're not writing, reading, sleeping, or talking. Quality time can be one-on-one, a small subgroup, or the entire group. As long as you're talking. And it can be about anything. It's as much about bonding as it is about learning. These are your colleagues and potential friends. Do it at a restaurant, do it on the beach, do it in a dorm room, wherever.

* Try to write a story a week. Don't kill yourself though. Every other week can still work pretty well. Do get one out early, one out in the middle, and one out near the end though. You'll get the perspective of different instructors and your classmates will have a chance to tell you when you're repeating yourself, or when you've grown. I finished 3 stories for critique plus one other for a special project. I had been aiming for 6 and I still would've liked to have done 6. I just don't know if I could have.

( Click here for more At Clarion advice! )

As you may have discerned, Clarion is all about priorities and balance. You can't attend everything and read everything and write six stories and hang out on the beach and eat and sleep and in general, not die.

What I'm saying is that everything I've listed above is important. Do your best to incorporate everything in there, but how much and when is down to the individual. Don't be afraid to readjust throughout. Don't settle into a habit that's not working for you.

Here's some bonus items.

* Take notes. You may decide you don't have the time and energy for long blog posts, but you'll probably want notes of some sort. I never regretted taking notes. Just wish I'd taken more! Take notes at discussions, at workshop sessions, at meetings with the instructors, in a free moment when you want to write down everything you've done or seen or heard or thought about...

* Take pictures. This Clarion will only happen once.

If you've got questions, feel free to drop a comment. I know some of my classmates read this lj from time to time as well, so probably a few of us will chime in with an answer.