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Last Call for Clarion

February 17, 2010 at 5:15 pm
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Applications for the 2010 Clarion Writer’s Workshop in San Diego close on March 1… so if you’ve been thinking of applying, now’s the time to get your act together.

I will be one of the instructors at this year’s Clarion.

The good folks at the workshop sayeth:

“Clarion is widely recognized as a premier training ground for aspiring writers of fantasy and science fiction short stories. Many graduates have become well-known writers, and a large number have won major awards. Instructors are among the most respected writers and editors working in the field today. The 2010 writers in residence are Delia Sherman, George R.R. Martin, Dale Bailey, Samuel R. Delany, Jeff VanderMeer and Ann VanderMeer.

“The six-week workshop is held on the beautiful beachside campus of the University of California, San Diego. Since its inception in 1968, Clarion has been known as the !œboot camp! for writers of speculative fiction. Each year 18 students, ranging in age from late teens to those in mid-career, are selected from applicants who have the potential for highly successful writing careers. Students are expected to write several new short stories during the six-week workshop, and to give and receive constructive criticism. Instructors and students reside together in campus apartments throughout the intensive six-week program.

The application period for the 2010 workshop ends on March 1. Applicants must submit two short stories with their application. Scholarships are available. Additional information can be found at http://clarion.ucsd.edu.”

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Learn to Write Good

January 7, 2010 at 12:37 pm
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Judging by the emails I receive, there are a lot of aspiring writers among my readership.

I wanted to make mention of a couple of summer writing programs that might be of interest to you.

First, the legendary Clarion workshop, which began with Damon Knight in Clarion College, Pennsylvania, and is now in scenic San Diego. An intensive six-week writer’s boot camp that will make you, break you, maybe change your life. I will be one of the instructors at this year’s Clarion, along with Delia Sherman, Dale Bailey, Samuel R. Delany, Jeff Vandermeer, and Anne Vandermeer. For more details, check out

http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Applications for Clarion are being accepted now, and will close on March 1… so if you’ve ever wanted to have me read and critique your work, and learn the secret handshake and the diagonal relationship, speak now or hold your peace until the next time I do a workshop (which probably won’t be for a few more years).

[[ I do NOT read unpublished manuscripts that are mailed or emailed to me, so don’t even think that. I do my teaching and critiquing only with a workshop context. And sorry, no, I won’t be your mentor.]]

Clarion has been helping to turn out professional SF and fantasy writers since the 60s. Maybe you’re the next one. You’ll never know unless you apply. But be warned, only a few are chosen. Admissions are extremely competitive, with only one of five applicants getting in.

For writers who are already published, but are looking to take the next step in their careers, there is the Taos Toolbox, founded and run by my friend Walter Jon Williams and held right here in scenic New Mexico.

http://www.taostoolbox.com

Walter Jon’s pitches his Toolbox as more of a “graduate study” program, for writers with a bit more experience. Graduates of Clarion, Clarion West, and Odyssey, neopros with a few sales under their belts, even journeymen looking to improve. I am not connected with the Toolbox, but I did a guest lecture there a few years ago, and it struck me as a great program. This year Nancy Kress will be assisting WJW with the teaching, and Carrie Vaughn (of Kitty and Wild Cards fame) will be giving a guest lecture. And when you’re not writing, reading, critiquing, or listening to lectures, hey, you’ll be in Taos.

Clarion Workshop and the Taos Toolbox. If you want to write, check ’em out.

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