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Clarion West
@clarionwest.bsky.social
3K followers 1.2K following 270 posts
Workshops for people who are serious about writing.

Speculative Fiction | Clarion West Six-Week Workshop | Online Classes & Workshops | Programs for Speculative Fiction Writers | Readings & Author Events

Find us at clarionwest.org
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clarionwest.bsky.social
This year, we've put together a series of book lists featuring works by Clarion West alumni and instructors that may speak to some part of what we need right now. Today we highlight the dystopia of it all.
Find these books and more all on our Bookshop shelf here: bookshop.org/shop/clarion...
Clarion West presents: Fantastic Revolutions and Surviving Dystopias - A Reading List Works of resilience and Bad Times by Clarion West alumni and instructors. Find these books and more on the Clarion West shelf on Bookshop.org Featuring: UNITY by Elly Bangs THE BLACK TIDES OF HEAVEN by Neon Yang WALKAWAY by Cory Doctorow SCATTER, ADAPT, AND REMEMBER: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction by Annalee Newitz At the height of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we shut down for a while. It was undoubtedly a frightening and difficult time as we re-imagined school, work, grief, essential functions of society. To manage that stress, we learned to crochet, bake bread, we put dents in our TBR piles and in our Netflix queues. We performed concertos from our apartment balconies to our silent neighborhoods and created shared human experiences even in isolation. We all turned to art. There was time, now. Across the country and in many places around the world, we find ourselves navigating very different but no less harrowing emergencies. Whenever we are in need of healing or relief, escape or a vision of a way forward, storytellers have always been here for us. Clarion West's alumni and instructors are authors of dozens of works on fantastic revolution and surviving dystopias. Enjoy this reading list and support Clarion West’s mission to extend community and world-class instruction to emerging writers of your future favorite science-fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. clarionwest.org/get-involved/give
December 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
It's the end of a big year at Clarion West! Help us keep it going in 2026 by making a donation to our year-end campaign today! Every gift makes an impact. www.clarionwest.org/get-involved...
December 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Join us for the 2nd Annual Community Book Swap!
Saturday, December 13 from 3-5PM
At Common Objects in Belltwon

A free event open to everyone that would like to bring their gently-used books and swap them for others. Read more and RSVP

www.clarionwest.org/event/commun...
Holiday Book Swap December 13 3-5pm at Common Objects. An illustration of three books wrapped like presents with holiday decorations, stars, and a call out that reads: Free and Open to the Public. Two photos of the 2024 book swap with books stacked on a table and a photo of two women talking included.
December 8, 2025 at 11:55 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
This #GivingTuesday we are thrilled that 2025 has been Clarion West's most impactful ever, from the growth of our classes and workshops, to the audiences for our virtual and in-person events, and even our team itself! Help us keep up in a WILD time for nonprofits: www.clarionwest.org/get-involved...
December 2, 2025 at 6:59 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Six-Week Workshops open TODAY! ✏️☕

Want to know more? Check out: www.clarionwest.org/programs/sum...
Clarion West's Six-Week Workshop Applications are Open. December 1st, 2025 to February 13th, 2026. More on the next slide! What is the Six-Week Workshop? Clarion West’s acclaimed Six-Week Workshop is a space for honing your sense of short fiction and other writing skills in a workshop format. We welcome speculative fiction writers across all backgrounds to apply, and we’re looking forward to reading your application! For more information, visit: https://www.clarionwest.org/programs/summerworkshop/ 2026 Instructors Tara Campbell. Woman in red smiling. David T. Moore. Man in glasses. Indra Das. Black and white photo of a man smiling. Photo by Dave Evans. Rebecca Roanhorse. Woman in black smiling. Photo by Emily Blasquez Photography.
December 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Congratulations to the team at Common AREA Maintenance! We can't wait to support this project and find a home for the workshop!
November 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Get that coffee ready! Applications for our 2026 Novel Writing Workshop close tomorrow night (11/13).

Apply here: www.clarionwest.org/clarion-west...
"Image of a notebook, with a picture of a person writing and the date November 13th, 2025 circled. Text says Novel Writing Workshop Applications Due!"
November 12, 2025 at 8:02 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Interested in our novel workshop, but concerned about the financial commitment? Don't count yourself out! Thanks to generous donors, we have three full-tuition scholarships available.

We're excited to see our next cohort! Applications due November 13th, 2025.
www.clarionwest.org/clarion-west...
Image of a woman reading a book and smiling. Novel writing workshop scholarships. Novel writing workshop scholarships! Don’t let the cost of tuition keep you from applying! For financial aid, we have: Reduced-rate tuition; anyone can opt-in. Two scholarships for writers of the Global Majority (PGM) or those identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) One full-tuition Flores Scholarship for a student who identifies as Latinx/e. Get those writing muscles into gear! Applications are due November 13th, 2025.
November 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Clarion West is teaming up with Bushwick Book Club Seattle for their performance of original music inspired by Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed! The show will be Saturday, November 15th at the Hugo House.

More on the event here: thebushwickbookclubseattle.com/event/origin...
"Original art image of pair of eyes overlooking a red sun and green mountain. Text says the Bushwick Book Club Seattle presents the Disposessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. Saturday November 15th 2025 at 7:30 PM. Hugo House"
November 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Sharing this heartbreaking news about Celeste Rita Baker (CW '19). Her warmth and voice, love and mentorship will be greatly missed.
foxesandroses.bsky.social Eugenia Triantafyllou @foxesandroses.bsky.social · Nov 1
Heartbroken to say the least. My dear friend and CW classmate Celeste Rita Baker has passed away. Words aren't enough to describe what an amazing, talented, warm, and loving human being she was. The world is so much emptier now. 💔
November 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Did you catch the Fiction Science Podcast this weekend? @b0yle.bsky.social's Fiction Science Podcast featured Hole in the Sky by @danielhwilsonpdx.bsky.social this week and the two discuss the burning question, "What would we do if the aliens arrived?"

Catch it here: cosmiclog.com/2025/10/13/n...
Native American legends get woven into an alien tale
Centuries before the Roswell UFO Incident, Native Americans had their own stories to tell about alien visitations — for example, about the “Sky People” who traveled from the Pleiades st…
cosmiclog.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Congratulations to all of the Ignyte Award Winners and Nominees! Love to see so many alumni in the line-up!
October 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The Ember Award for Unsung Contributions to Genre goes to @soniasulaiman.bsky.social
#2025IgnyteAwards
2025 Winner The Ember Award: Sonia Sulaiman
October 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
theignyteawards.bsky.social
Congratulations @soniasulaiman.bsky.social on winning the #2025IgnyteAwards in Outstanding Anthology/Collected Works for THYME TRAVELERS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF PALESTINIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION
2025 Winner Outstanding Anthology/Collected Works - THYME TRAVELLERS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF PALESTINIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION edited by Sonia Sulaiman
October 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
theignyteawards.bsky.social
@carolinemyoachim.bsky.social's WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ wins the #2025IgnyteAwards in Outstanding Short Story
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/we-w...
2025 Winner Outstanding Short Story: WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ by Caroline M. Yoachim
October 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Applications are now open for the 2026 Novel Writing Workshop with @drkarenlord.bsky.social!

Read more & apply before November 13! Link in bio.

#novelwritingworkshop #clarionwest

www.clarionwest.org/clarion-west...
The text on an abstract purple background reads: Clarion West logo with "2026 Novel Writing Workshop" Apply now through November 13, 2025 2026 Instructor Karen Lord with image of the author. March 9-November 23, 2026 Virtual Workshop
October 13, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
spl.org
If you enjoy science fiction that explores indigenous futures and robots, you won't want to miss this @clarionwest.bsky.social Deep Dives conversation.

With @nisishawl.bsky.social, moderated by Geekwire's @b0yle.bsky.social.
October 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
It's not too late to support and participate in #BannedBooksWeek!

Watch this terrific interview with the Banned Books Week honorary chair @georgetakei.bsky.social & consider going to your indie bookstore to pick up a few banned books.
bannedbooksweek.bsky.social Banned Books Week @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social · Oct 10
“Americans are curious, inquisitive, learning, and enriching themselves…”

Banned Books Week honorary chair @georgetakei.bsky.social knows we need the right to read to understand each other.

Full interview: youtu.be/Gm4-SOEwEYk

#BannedBooksWeek #CensorshipIsSo1984

w/@topshelfcomix.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
@danielhwilsonpdx.bsky.social's new novel, Hole in the Sky, is the center of our Deep Dives conversation on October 16 at the Seattle Central Library... and it's been snapped up by Netflix and Aggregate Films!

Join us for the kick-off to our Deep Dives conversation series on October 16!
Abstract background with image of author Daniel H. Wilson and Daniel's newest book, Hole in the Sky. Special call out reads: Now Optioned for Netflix Text reads: Hole In The Sky, A Conversation with Daniel H. Wilson and Nisi Shawl, Moderated by Alan Boyle. October 16, 2025, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Seattle Central Library. Abstract background with a Deep Dives Author Conversation Series logo with a book and the Seattle Space needle. Photos of authors Daniel H. Wilson and Cory Doctorow. Text reads: Hole in the Sky, A Conversation with Daniel H. Wilson on October 16, 2025. and Enshittification and the Rot Economy: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow on October 22, 2025. Logos of event partners include: The Seattle Public Library, 4Culture, and Third Place Books
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
reactorsff.bsky.social
Banned Books Week highlights the importance of free access to information, as well as challenges to that access in the United States. PEN America's list of the Most Banned Books of the Year includes several genre fiction titles:

reactormag.com/most-banned-...
Most Banned Books of The Year List Includes Numerous Genre Titles and Authors - Reactor
Stephen King alone had 87 of his titles banned somewhere in the U.S.
reactormag.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
Thinking about applying for the 2026 Novel Writing Workshop with @drkarenlord.bsky.social?

Applications open October 13 and close on November 13. Get ready to apply with this excellent Q&A led by Clarion West board member and alumni @remymura.bsky.social
Novel Writing Workshop Q&A - YouTube
Meet some members of our inaugural Clarion West Novel Writing Workshop as they answer questions about their experiences, and offer advice on applying!
youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
jenbrownwrites.bsky.social
Ahem...might I offer you some joy, in these trying times? Applications for @clarionwest.bsky.social's 2026 Novel Writing Workshop open soon. So, I wrote about my application experience & programmatic takeaways, thus far.

If you're thinking about applying? Do it. ✊🏾

jencbrown.com/2025/09/27/o...
On Novel-ing: Clarion West’s Novel Writing Workshop (2025)
Seven months ago, I was accepted into the first cohort of Clarion West’s Novel Writing Workshop. (Or NWW, as we’ve lovingly acronymn-ized it.) Seven life-changing months filled with lec…
jencbrown.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
The Deep Dive Author Conversation Series with
@danielhwilsonpdx.bsky.social on October 16th and Cory Doctorow on October 22nd was made possible with the King County 4Culture Public Free Access Grant!

#sciencefiction #authortalks #authorconversations #clarionwest #2025DeepDivesSeries
Text over abstract blue background reads: Deep Dives Author Conversation Series A Program of Clarion West 7-8:30 PM Seattle Public Library. Registration is free thanks to the King County 4Culture Public Access Grant. October 16, 2025 Hole in the Sky: A conversation with Daniel H. Wilson & Nisi Shawl. Moderated by Alan Boyle. This section of the image shows a photo of Daniel H. Wilson in a winter beanie and dark glasses. October 22, 2025 Enshittification and the Rot Economy: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow & Ed Zitron. Moderated by Whitney Beltran. This section shows an photo of Cory Doctorow in orange glasses and a striped shirt. The Clarion West Logo, Seattle Public Library Logo, and 4Culture logo are included.
September 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Clarion West
otherlandberlin.bsky.social
Remembering Vonda
by Jeanne Gomoll, Stephanie A. Smith

Award-winning SFF author Vonda N. McIntyre died April 1, 2019. The world lost a force of nature, a brilliant, kind, generous, fiercely talented artist.
Remembering Vonda by Jeanne Gomoll, Stephanie A. Smith Award-winning SFF author Vonda N. McIntyre died April 1, 2019. The world lost a force of nature, a brilliant, kind, generous, fiercely talented artist. Friends, colleagues, admirers, fans all pay tribute to a radiant life here. McIntyre’s oeuvre includes Dreamsnake (Hugo & Nebula award winner, ’78), The Moon and the Sun (Nebula ’98; & movie, awaiting release); plus stories, novelizations & tie-ins, including Star Trek novel, The Entropy Effect. She founded the Clarion West workshop and was a “fairy godmother” to 100s of students; a quiet, tireless feminist, Kentucky-born McIntyre moved to Seattle & became a life-long resident, as well as a prolific creator of crochet topoplogy; McIntyre also collaborated with Ursula K. Le Guin, and was a founding member of the Book View Cafe, an author-owned publishing cooperative. McIntyre both shaped and nurtured the SF/F community; as her friend Jane Hawkins has said “we shall not see her like again.”
September 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
clarionwest.bsky.social
On October 16: Hole in the Sky: A Deep Dives Conversation with @danielhwilsonpdx.bsky.social and @nisishawl.bsky.social to discuss science-fiction author and roboticist Daniel H. Wilson’s new novel Hole in the Sky.

At @spl.org: Free tickets are supported by the 4Culture Public Access Grant!
Abstract background with photos of authors Daniel H. Wilson and Nisi Shawl and moderator Alan Boyle. Text reads: Hole In The Sky, A Conversation with Daniel H. Wilson and Nisi Shawl, Moderated by Alan Boyle. October 16, 2025, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Seattle Central Library.
September 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM