Here's Your Chance to Support Great Writing

Ed Bryant
Tobias S. Buckell
Octavia E. Butler
Ted Chiang
Robert Crais
Cory Doctorow
Scott Edelman
George Alec Effinger
Gregory Frost
Theodora Goss
Eileen Gunn
Nalo Hopkinson
James Patrick Kelly
Kathe Koja
Geoffrey A. Landis
Kelly Link
Vonda McIntyre
Pat Murphy
Jenn Reese
Madeleine Robins
Kim Stanley Robinson
Richard Paul Russo
Al Sarrantonio
Lucius Shepard
Martha Soukup
Bruce Sterling
Mary Turzillo
Lisa Tuttle
Leslie What

If you've ever read and enjoyed writing by any of the people listed above (or even if you haven't), I'd like for you to consider doing something.

The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop has been shaping and developing writers of speculative fiction since 1968. The people above are just some of those who have benefited from the Clarion experience. I could write for pages about the great experience I had at Clarion (2004) and the wonderful people I met there. But I want to ask you to consider helping Clarion continue.

Clarion has recently suffered a tremendous removal of financial support, both from government and other institutions. The Clarion Foundation (all non-paid volunteers) is currently seeking financial support in order to keep the workshop alive. You can read the details and find out how you can help here.

I said that I could fill pages on what Clarion has meant (and continues to mean) to me. Contrary to what some would have you believe, Clarion is not some elitist club of writers being indoctrinated into "The Formula" of science fiction and fantasy writing. There is no "formula." Clarion is simply a highly intense, yet supportive place where for six weeks you can learn how to improve your writing.

Publishing is important to writers. Over one third of those who attend Clarion are eventually published. After just eighteen months, half of our Class of 2004 is now published. But to me, that's not the most important thing.

What's important is that Clarion teaches you and gives you the tools to become a better writer. Yes, it feels great to have published two stories on the Internet and one in print, but it feels better knowing that I've grown as a writer. I don't know – I might never publish anything else, but I know I'm developing as a writer. That's what it's all about. And Clarion was a big part of that.

Last weekend Clarion held a one-day workshop for young writers led by Charles Coleman Finlay and Holly Black. Forty young writers attended. That's exciting, seeing the future of fantastic fiction getting such a tremendous start.

If speculative fiction, fantastic fiction, science fiction, fantasy (use whatever labels you like) is important to you, I urge you to consider a donation to The Clarion Foundation. Thanks for reading.

Now Playing = I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning – Bright Eyes
Listening To = The Handmaid's Tale – Margaret Atwood