Workshops for people who are serious about writing
Clarion West is a nonprofit literary organization that supports emerging and underrepresented writers with world-class instruction and opportunities for connection.
We run the acclaimed six-week workshop every summer, a nine-month novel writing workshop, online and in-person classes, a library of on-demand classes, public readings and panels, and other events throughout the year.
Latest News
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Introducing Clarion West’s 2026 Novel Workshop Class
We are delighted to welcome ten writers this year’s 2026 Novel Writing Workshop. These writers will be working to complete a novel draft under the…
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In Memory of Lile Gowen
April 15, 1957 – January 5, 2026 Every summer from 2011 through 2024, uninterrupted except for the COVID-19 Pandemic, Lile Gowen hosted a party in…
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Now Hiring: Six-Week Workshop Co-Facilitator
Clarion West is now hiring a Co-Facilitator for the 2026 Summer Six-Week Workshop. This is a part time, seasonal, and hybrid position. the Co-Facilitator will assist with engagement for all Six-Week instructors, participants, and staff.
40 Years of Workshops
At Clarion West, you’ll be among award-winning and best-selling writers in science fiction, fantasy, games, horror, and everything in-between. Our workshops and classes are taught by world-class instructors from across the field of speculative fiction. Wherever you may be in your career, whether novice or sage, we offer a diverse listing of classes that is packed with valuable information to take your writing to the next level.
Every summer, the Clarion West Six-Week Workshop offers time away from everyday distractions and encouragement to experiment and take artistic risks. The critique sessions are the heart of the workshop: students learn not only by receiving critiques, but by reading others’ work and constructing their own critiques. Instructors work directly with attendees to present group critiques of newly written stories, participate in discussions about writing techniques or professional concerns, and hold individual or small-group conferences.
Learn more about the Six-Week Workshop.
Learn more about the Novel Writing Workshop
Year-Round Programs for Writers & Readers
In addition, we offer instruction, author events, and writing community throughout the year through workshops, classes, readings, writing sessions, and more that vary in intensity, topic, and number of sessions. We invite prominent authors from across a broad range of speculative fiction to teach our classes and workshops. A few of our most recent instructors include Martha Wells, Diana Pho, Juan Martinez, Maurice Broaddus, Usman T. Malik, Carmen Maria Machado, N. K. Jemisin, Samit Basu, Cat Rambo, Ted Chiang, P. Djèlí Clark, Karen Lord, Daniel Abraham, Elizabeth Hand, Cadwell Turnbull, Amal El-Mohtar, and Nisi Shawl.
Learn more about our online classes and workshops.
Support Us!
You can support Clarion West’s mission to forge new voices in speculative fiction in many different ways.
Learn how you can get involved with the Clarion West community!