BIPOC Stories Matter!

Clarion West seeks to foster a global community of writers and readers. To do so, Clarion West must actively support and make room for a great deal more diversity in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their related works. Our anti-racist efforts include partnering with organizations like Writing the Other, FIYAHCON, and Voodoonauts and focusing on steadily integrating more instructors, editors, and leaders who are BIPOC–Black, Indigenous, and People Of Colo(u)r.

Creating opportunities can only work when people know these opportunities are available. On this page, you’ll find a list of our fall 2020 programming that is centered on and/or led by the BIPOC members of the genre-writing community. Scholarships are available in all workshops for BIPOC writers and other marginalized groups. To apply for a scholarship, please contact workshop@clarionwest.org with a one-paragraph statement of your interest and need.

Community members, allies, and angels can sponsor scholarships and tickets for BIPOC writers at this link. Let us know that you’re donating to sponsor scholarships!

Fall Programming Highlights (updates TBA):

Wednesday, Sept 23 at 1:00 PM PDT: Building Black Inclusive Worlds
A collaboration with FIYAHCON, featuring L. D. Lewis, Danny Lore, Eden Royce, Nia/N. E. Davenport, and Brent C. Lambert
Free panel presentation (donations accepted to cover panelist fees and free public livestream)
Forge the way forward from simple tokenism and appropriation into truly inclusive stories that recognize that Black identities, opinions, and experiences are widely varied.

Saturday, September 26 at 2:00 PM PDT: Working with Your Inner Editor with Chimedum Ohaegbu
90 Minute Workshop (Seats available, scholarship seats filled.)

Sunday, October 11 at 8:00 PM PDT: Stealing Bones with Usman Malik
90 Minute Workshop (Sold out, scholarship seats filled.)

Thursday, October 15 at 5:00 PM PDT : Make it Real, Make it Scary with Alyssa Wong
90 Minute Workshop (Sold out, scholarship seats filled.)

Saturday, October 24 at 3:00 PM PDT: Hearts, Minds, and Guts: Making Horror Political with Nadia Bulkin (60 Minute Workshop)

Sunday, October 25 at 12:00 PM PDT: Creating Resonant Characters Using Jungian Psychology with Whitney “Strix” Beltrán. (60 Minute Workshop)

Monday, October 26 at 5:00 PM PDT : Finding Your Target Audience with Crystal Connor (Two Hour Workshop)

Thursday, October 29 at 5:00 PM PDT : Writing Horror for Children with Crystal Connor (Two Hour Workshop)

Multiple dates beginning November 2 at 5:30 AM PST: NaNoWriMo: Pace Yourself! Timed Sprints hosted by Rashida J. Smith (FREE Two Hour Online Writers’ Session)

Wednesday, November 4 at 4:30 PM PST : Close Reading (and Dabbling in) Comics with Rachelle Cruz (Two Hour Workshop)

Saturday, November 7 at 10:00 AM PST : Beginnings that Grab with Julia Rios (Two Hour Workshop)

Sunday, November 8 at 10:00 AM PST : Endings that Land with Julia Rios (Two Hour Workshop)

Saturday, November 14 at 10:00 AM PST : Interactive Fiction with E. Lily Yu (One Day Workshop)

Saturday, November 14 at 12:00 PM PST : Fix It, Jesus! With LP Kindred (Two Hour Workshop)

Sunday, November 15 at 12:00 PM PDT: Intro to Freelance Video Game Writing with Whitney “Strix” Beltrán. (60 Minute Workshop)

Wednesday, November 18 at 4:00 PM PST : Mind Mapping the Narrative with Karen Lord (Two Hour Workshop, class full. Scholarships for BIPOC writers still available!)

Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22 : Writing the Other Weekend Intensive: Quick & Clean with Nisi Shawl and Tempest Bradford

Sunday, November 29 at 10:00 AM PST : Negritude in the 6th Dimension: An Afrofuturist Craft Excursion (3 Hour Workshop/Panel Hybrid)

Please consider sponsoring a BIPOC author by purchasing a ticket at the “Sponsor a BIPOC writer’s voyage” level.