“Studying with the most wildly imaginative and brilliant thinkers and writers for six straight weeks pushed me to my limits.” – Andrew Kelly Stewart, Class of 2011

Dear Clarion Community,

Once again in 2021 we made the sad decision to postpone the Clarion Writers’ Workshop due to COVID-19. 

Although the magic of the in-person workshop can’t be replaced, we held a week-long online workshop for the Clarion Ghost Class who missed out on their Clarion experience. It was my pleasure to workshop with the students and I know they will do brilliantly next year. We’ve also held special sessions for them on topics like working with a literary agent and publishing short stories.

This Giving Tuesday, we’d love your support as we plan a way to bring the in-person workshop back in 2022. We will be working through how to adapt to COVID-19 protocols and keep our participants safe and supported while they learn from some of the world’s best science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors. 

Andrew Kelly Stewart, who attended the workshop in 2011, shares: “[At Clarion] I discovered where I was succeeding in my writing, and where my blind spots were. It was good, difficult work. The best work.” Andy’s stories have been published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, ZYZZYVA, and Juxtaprose, and his debut book We Shall Sing a Song into the Deep was published this year from Tor.com.

Our students, teachers, and alumni contribute to the speculative fiction field through their stories every year. Many students come from marginalized or traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and go on to enrich the science fiction, fantasy and horror community with their voices. 

We are committed to keeping the workshop as affordable as possible. Your donation will help replenish the scholarship fund and support the workshop’s running costs, since every single student’s tuition is subsidised by at least $1,300 whether they receive a scholarship or not. 

It’s been a tough two years, and many of us have turned to our favourite works of fantasy and science fiction, either for an escape or to help us understand our world. You can help continue the writing workshop that has turned out students of the calibre of Ted Chiang, Carmen Maria Machado, and Octavia Butler, writers who have gone on to produce new classics of the genre. Your donation will help give readers the chance to discover new stories and ideas in years to come.

Please also consider signing up for automatic monthly donations – just a few dollars per month can make a huge difference to Clarion and its students. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Note that Paypal must be used to complete these transactions (both monthly and one-time). If you cannot use Paypal, email treasurer@theclarionfoundation.org so we can help!

Thank you so much in advance. We are immensely grateful for this community and your continued support.

Kind regards, 

Karen Joy Fowler
President, Clarion Foundation