Clarions

[albionidaho]

Clarion SD and Clarion West have both announced their 2009 instructors.

If you believe that this sort of environment would be beneficial for you and you want to go, do all you can to make it happen.

At this time a year ago I could see no possible way for me to go, and I got there. And it completely changed my life in 1,000 good ways. I can't tell you what it's done for me as a writer. I can't tell you how much I would love to go back another year.

If I could work it out anyone can work it out -- if you want to go, you can make it happen.

Now, go write an application story.

Addendum: Paul Park is at Clarion SD this year, seemingly for the last two weeks with Liz Hand. (At this point.) I cannot say enough good things about him. He is an amazing instructor.

Comments

[stonetable.livejournal.com]

I am seriously considering applying again. It's scary in so many ways (leaving home for six weeks, abandoning family to care for the responsibilities I leave behind, explaining to work why I want to take six weeks of vacation).

There's also the planned move from Illinois to Ontario, potentially in the spring, that would add more stress to the planning but would ultimately make six weeks away easier to do.

Then, there's all the good things about Clarion that make it so worthwhile. I'm writing a couple stories now, perhaps good for the application. I'll have to seriously consider the possibilities. I really want to go to Clarion. I really hate saying "well, maybe next year."

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Good luck Adam!

[welshwmn3.livejournal.com]

I would really love to go. Unfortunately, being Conall's mother's caregiver (and having no option for anybody else to do it at any time in the future), I won't be able to.

One of these days. Until then, I keep writing and dreaming. :)

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Yes, one of these days ;).

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Clarion can break a writer just as easily as aid them.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Thus the, "If you believe that this sort of environment would be beneficial for you". Clarion isn't for everyone.

But I also think finitemonkey, also an alumni, has a good point.

[finitemonkey.livejournal.com]

clarion can't break a writer unless that writer was already going to be broken in some way or other anyway. the clarion 'never write again' mythology is over-emphasized, i think.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear. It does happen to some writers, but I know a lot of Clarionites who have continued to write and do well.

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Actually, many members of my class have stopped writing altogether.

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

I disagree.

First of, Clarion reward writers who write often and write quickly and can produce first drafts that are very coherent. Not everyone works/writes that way.

Secondly, it can create unreasonable assumptions. I have heard time after time that a story the students did not like was sold after Clarion. Not because of the critique but because the author kept at it. What was learned?

And there is also the social dynamics. Every class is different. My own class, there was very immature behavior that turned spiteful often against individuals. That is not a healthy environment.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Perhaps our class was very unique.

[mznetta.livejournal.com]

as an introverted extrovert (or extroverted introvert, the jury is still out) and with no academic training, i'm not sure i could handle it. i'm not fast, and i'm not prolific. but it is something i dream of, deep in the night when dreams seem possible.

and of course, i'm getting older by the day.

:)