Online Novel Writing Workshop

Applications are open for the 2027 Novel Writing Workshop. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2026. Read below for more information and for the application guidelines.

Dates:

• Applications Open: November 1, 2026
• Applications Close: November 30, 2026
• Course Dates: March 2027 – November 2027

About the Novel Writing Workshop

Are you a science fiction, horror, or fantasy writer with a partially written novel, but you feel stalled out on where to go next? Do you have early chapters and a sense of the overall arc of your book, but can’t see a way through to the final pages? Are you bogged down in the Mushy Middle with no momentum to reach ‘The End’?

There’s no one way to complete a novel — the journey is about discovering what works for you, your writing style, and the story you want to tell. Whether you’ve outlined extensively or are navigating by instinct, Clarion West’s nine-month virtual workshop is designed to guide you from conception to completion of your novel.

Led by an author and veteran Six-Week Workshop instructor and Clarion West team, this program is built around finding and sustaining your unique process. 

Get ready for:

• Weekly classes (6 months of the 9-month period) on craft, genre, and process, starting with your existing draft or outline.
• Monthly one-on-one meetings with the instructor to help fine-tune your approach and keep you on track.
• Guest lectures from industry professionals to expand your understanding of the speculative fiction landscape.
• Author-centered workshop models that prioritize your goals to help you gain clarity and confidence in your writing process.
• Community and critique partners that will help keep you on track.

At the end of nine months, you’ll have a complete draft, or a solid roadmap for completing your manuscript. We’re here to support your journey.

Application Information

The application includes questions that help us understand you and your current writing process. In addition, you will need to submit:

• Your novel pitch and opening three chapters, OR
• Three opening chapters and a sense of where your book is going, OR
• First chapter, plus an outline and synopsis, and writing sample from other work, including but not limited to a script, poetry, related short story/novella.

Note: Your outline, synopsis or other planning may change over the course of the workshop. We just want to see where you’re starting from!

The total word count for submitted written materials should not exceed 10,000 words. Documents can be uploaded as PDF, .doc, .docx, or .rtf files.

The application takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete and does not need to be completed all in one session — you can save your application and come back to it at a later time.

Read the Novel Writing Submission Guidelines:

If you know you will require the services of a live translator or captioner to attend the workshop, please contact as soon as you know you want to apply so that we can begin seeking grant funding.

Ready to apply?
Log in or create an account on Subfolio by following the link below. Once your account has been created, you can proceed to the Clarion West Novel Writing Workshop application page and follow the directions from there.

2027 Schedule:

Section One (March – May)

Classes: Mondays 5–7pm, Pacific Time
Office Hours/Writing Sessions: Will be coordinated based on group availability
1:1 Meetings: To be scheduled with the instructor based on student availability
Guest Lectures: We will do our best to schedule these based on student and guest availability. We will record sessions for those who aren’t able to attend live.

Section Two (June – August)

Office Hours/Writing Sessions: Will be coordinated based on group availability
1:1 Meetings: To be scheduled with the instructor based on student availability

Section Three (September – November)

Classes: Mondays 5–7pm, Pacific Time
Office Hours/Writing Sessions: Will be coordinated based on group availability
1:1 Meetings: To be scheduled with the instructor based on student availability
Guest Lectures: We will do our best to schedule these based on student and guest availability. We will record sessions for those who aren’t able to attend live.

What Will the Workshop Cost?

The 2027 supporting tuition for the Novel Writing Workshop is $3200*. This rate enables us to continue to pay our staff and instructors equitably and support access for others in a different financial situation.

The 2027 Helping Hands tuition is $2800 and has been set for anyone who is under more limited economic circumstances, regardless of background. Find out if you qualify.

Scholarships

Thanks to our generous donors, we have four scholarships available for 2027.

This includes:
2 Access Scholarships
For full-tuition scholarships for writers of the Global Majority (PGM) or those identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), in keeping with our commitment to equity and inclusion.

2 Michael and Elliot Alexander Scholarships
There are two full-tuition scholarships available in memory of Michael Alexander, who attended Clarion West in 2010, and his son, Elliot Alexander.

There will be a place on the application to let us know that you are eligible and would like to be considered for these scholarships.

If you are interested in supporting additional scholarships, please email us at director (at) clarionwest.org. 

Is the Novel Writing Workshop right for you?

Got questions about who the workshop is for? Find Out More.

As their time in the workshop winds down, six students from our 2025 Novel Writing Workshop sat down with Remy Nakamura (CW’10) to discuss their experiences, working with Samit Basu, and offer advice to potential applicants and future cohorts.

Meet the students of our inaugural Novel Writing Workshop.

Apply for the 2027 Novel Writing Workshop