Frequently Asked QuestionS

The workshop is open to all adults 18 and older who read, write, and speak English fluently. Minors can apply if they will turn 18 before the first day of the workshop. There is no need to be enrolled in a college in order to qualify. Writers from all countries are encouraged to apply.

Writers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences have found Clarion to be an overwhelmingly positive experience. Some have been writing for years, participating in other forms of workshop, and may be placing stories in well-regarded venues; others are earlier in their journey and this might be their first time in a writing workshop. Some attendees have BAs or MFAs in creative writing, while many others are entirely self taught. Some attendees have extensive backgrounds or careers in different genres, like nonfiction or television writing, and are just beginning to explore the world of speculative fiction.

The common factor that helps you know if this is the right time for you to go to Clarion is if you are ready to share work with a community of peers and to provide feedback, support, and conversation about their work as well. Being in deep community is the heart of the Clarion experience, and that involves a willingness to share in-progress work and push creative boundaries amongst a group of like-minded writers.

If that kind of engagement with your work seems premature, or if you’ve been publishing multiple books and building a career, the Clarion Workshop may not be the best fit for your needs.

The Clarion Workshop focuses on the production of short fiction. Writers are typically encouraged to write a new piece of short fiction every week. Although many Clarionauts also engage with longer projects, writers who exclusively focus on novella or novel-sized projects might not find the workshop to be the best fit for them.

To apply for the workshop, you need to submit the following:

1. Non-refundable application fee.

2. Application form.

3. Scholarship application (optional)

4. Two short stories that conform to our guidelines.

The application form takes roughly an hour to complete and consists of short-answer questions about your goals for the workshop and as a writer; your writing habits; and the skills, life experiences, or perspectives you will bring to your peers. You will also have the optional opportunity to share your publication experience.

Our short stories guidelines require that each submitted story is between 1,500 words and 6,000 words in length. The stories should represent your best fiction work to date. One story, preferably both, should be genre (science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, etc). Clarion is a short story workshop; please do not send screenplays, poetry, essays, or portions of a novel.

Although most Clarion attendees focus on adult-oriented writing, we encourage the submission of thoughtful young adult or middle grade work as well.

Submissions should be in standard manuscript format.

• Double-spaced; plain serif font (e.g. Courier, Times); 1-inch margins all around

• Your name, email address, and word count on the first page

• Story starts immediately below the title on the first page

• Abbreviated title, last name, and page number in the header of every page (“Smith/Fairies, p. 3”)

• If you used a reviewing program, accept all changes and save as final

• Save files in PDF or .doc format.

Founded by a Clarion alum in 1971, Clarion West follows the Clarion model but is independently run. Applicants are encouraged to apply concurrently to both workshops, which operate on similar schedules.

While applicants are encouraged to apply to both workshops, past attendees of Clarion are not considered at Clarion West, and vice versa.

Applicants will typically hear back in the spring, typically late March/early April. Check the website’s workshop page for more specific dates.

Yes. If we have more qualified applicants than spaces, we will create a waitlist. In prior years, we had some cases where up to two applicants were accepted from the waitlist following withdrawals.

Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing.

Clarion receives far more talented applicants than we can accept in any given year. And don’t give up hope! Many applicants get into Clarion after applying multiple times.