Major Workshops

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Clarion

The grandpappy of them all. Once referred to as Clarion East, its move to San Diego made that impractical. People seem to now call it Clarion San Diego or Clarion SD. Six weeks with 17 classmates; a different instructor each week.

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Clarion West

Younger brother of the original Clarion, Clarion West is a completely separate entity, run by different people. It takes place in Seattle. Often the same instructors will do both workshops in different years.

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Clarion South

This is the Australian cousin of the Clarion workshops. Same ideas, sometimes even same instructors, but different hemisphere. When a story idea goes down the toilet there, it spins the other way. :)

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Odyssey

Not quite the same as Clarion, but in the same vein. Instead of switching instructors each week, Odyssey maintains the same writer-in-residence throughout the six weeks and brings in guest lecturers to supplement. Takes place in New Hampshire.

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Viable Paradise

This is a one-week workshop on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s quicker and costs about half what a six-week workshop costs. Six instructors spend the week with you, one lecturing each day.  (Thanks to Linda for the accurate info.)

Orson Scott Card

Uncle Orson’s
Writing Class & Literary Boot Camp

A three-day class overlapping a one-week workshop run by none other than Orson Scott Card. All else aside, he is an exceptional writer and teacher. Workshop takes place in Vriginia…I think.

Selected Online Workshops

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Critters

The biggest and cheapest (free) workshop online. Members are expected to do at least 3 critiques a month in order to be allowed to submit. It takes about six weeks from the time a story is submitted until it is up for comments, where it stays for a week. Active and (mostly) friendly.

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Full name: Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. This is a fee-based workshop. Members must earn 4 critique points (2 to 4 stories or chapters) in order to submit a story. Fewer critiques roll in than Critters, but the quality is usually fairly high.

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Codex

I know people in this writer’s group, but I don’t have a lot of details. It’s free, like Critters, but is selective in its membership — requires one professional sale (per SFWA guidelines) or completion of one of the above workshops. I cannot currently join.

Be Part of a Writing Community

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Clarion West Forums

The forum for a current year’s workshop has a tendency to get very busy. Applicants, graduates, and staff all have a presence. It’s a great place to become part of a writing community whether you end up going to the workshop or not.

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Writers of the Future Forums

This forum is maintained by and focuses on L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest. Relax, it’s not Scientology thing. It’s a good place to get to know other beginning writers.

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Critters Forums

Several forums to choose from, including the flame-friendly Volcano Bar &Grill. The writing forum may be more friendly. Q&A, discussions, and getting to know writers. Some discussion focuses on the workshop, some does not.

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sff.net

A place for all sorts of writers and editors to discuss all sorts of aspects of speculative fiction. There are free parts, but it has fee-based membership.

Workshop Resources

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Turkey
City Lexicon

Don’t workshop without knowing this stuff. Don’t even write without knowing it.

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SFWA

Science Fiction Writers’ Association — The organization for professional writers of speculative fiction.

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HWA

Horror Writers’ Association

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Diplomatic Critiquer

It’s not what you say but how you say it.

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It’s Not What You Say…

Tips on getting people to listen to your advice.

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Other Resources from Critters

Too many for me to link to them all. Includes another link to TCL.

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How Not to Write SF

Howard Waldrop’s essay (rant) about reading submissions for Clarion West. Good insight into the judging process and some good tips on what NOT to do. Electric Story membership required, but it’s free.

Other Links

Instructors

Rudy Rucker

CW 2009 Instructor

Q&A on his blog

Jeff VanderMeer

CS 2009 Instructor

A Teacher’s Perspective

Graduates

Rochita Loenen-Ruiz

CW 2009 Graduate

In Anticipation of Clarion

Apex Books

Clarion (SD/W/S)

Description & Links

Clarion vs. Odyssey

observations from Morgan Hua

grad of both

Application Advice

from CW ‘08 grad

Caren Gussoff

Reflections on Clarion ‘04

from grad Trent Hergenrader

David Levine

CW 2000 Graduate

Journal, Links, and Packing List

Michael A. Burstein

CE 1995 Grad

Is Clarion for You?

Kurtis N. Roth

CW 1996 Grad

Dispelling the Clarion Myth

Jed Hartman

CW 1991 Grad

Some good insight, some outdated

Julia Duncan

Odyssey 1998 Grad

Harlan [Ellison]’s Week at Odyssey

Another essay about Harlan at Odyssey

from Julia Duncan

Wikipedia
Clarion Workshop entry @ Wikipedia Odyssey entry @ Wikipedia Clarion West entry @ Wikipedia
Books

Storyteller

27 years of Clarion

from one of the originators

Paragons

A Post-Clarion Masterclass in a Book

Those Who Can

Another Post-Clarion Masterclass in a Book

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