Free Virtual Panels and Readings for the Write-a-thon!

Every year, Clarion West brings the Write-a-thon to our global community. As we host our usual summer six-week events online for the second year in a row, the global community has once again shown up, signed up, and turned out for what will certainly be our biggest Write-a-thon ever! Thanks for a fantastic first week!

Here’s what you can look forward to over the coming weeks.

All events are listed in Pacific time.

Releasing Your First Book

July 5 at 6:30 PM
Featuring: E. Lily Yu, Elly Bangs, Emily Skaftun, and Lauren Dixon

Releasing your first book is tough at any time, let alone during 2020. Hear from four Clarion West alumni who did it last year and learn what the journey is like.

This event will stream live on YouTube.

Uncovering Cover Art

July 12 at 6:30 PM
Featuring: Grace P. Fong, Sloane Leong, Aimee Fleck, and John Jennings

While books capture our hearts, covers are what call to readers from the shelves. What makes an eye-catching, imagination-sparking cover? What do authors need to know about the process? Come learn the answers from some of the hottest artists and book designers in the industry.

This event will stream live on YouTube.

Mental Health & Writing

July 19 at 6:30 PM
Featuring: Susan Palwick, Chaplain, Cassie Alexander, ICU RN, and Justin C. Key, MD

Authors and other artists are often stereotyped as struggling with our mental health. With increased emphasis in media and culture toward understanding and promoting mental health, writers have more resources and self-care tools than ever before. Learn about establishing healthy writing habits and writing about difficult subjects from a panel of authors who are also professionals in fields related to health and wellness.

This event will stream live on YouTube.

Open Mic Night with Two Hour Transport

July 23 at 7 PM
Featured readers TBA
Open mic sign up: available to registered Write-a-thon participants the week of the event.

Join our WAT Week 5 partner (and Seattle’s own monthly speculative fiction reading series), Two Hour Transport, for a night of new writing from Write-a-thon participants.

Write-a-thon participants will be able to sign-up in advance and participate in Zoom. This information will be provided in the Write-a-thon Slack Channel.

We the Indigenous: Worlds & Myths

July 29 at 6:30 PM
Hosted by WAT instructor D. A. Navoti. Featured readers TBA

We the Indigenous is a virtual reading series showcasing the best of Indigenous literary talent. Created by D.A. Navoti, We the Indigenous debuted in Seattle, WA, and will stretch along the West Coast to Portland, OR, then to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Partnering with Clarion West, We the Indigenous will feature indigenous writers from all over California in this July reading.

Special thanks to board member Yang-Yang Wang for organizing the panels and panelists!

Are you participating in the Write-a-thon this year? Join us after each panel for an after-panel discussion with other participants. The Zoom link will be available on the day of each event in your Slack channel.