Code of Conduct

Clarion West is committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment for participants in all our programs. We’ve written this code of conduct to clarify our expectations for this community.

All Clarion West participants agree to:

Approach all interactions in Clarion West forums, classes, and events with kindness and respect. It is our mission to support emerging and underrepresented voices, and we encourage all participants to be open to learning from each other and to engage with each other in a friendly and polite manner.

Respect the confidentiality of fellow attendees or posters. Folks may choose to share personal stories or interactions in these spaces. These conversations are confidential. It is not okay to post about specific conversations that happen in a Clarion West class, workshop, or other activity without direct consent. We expect all participants to ask for consent (i.e., directly asking a poster, “may I share this comment on my Twitter account?” and receiving a clear “yes”) before sharing comments or interactions. It is not okay to describe other participants’ actions or words in any way that makes them identifiable without their explicit permission. If you feel the need to address a question or topic outside of these forums, please do it in a way that respects the confidentiality of individuals and the group as a whole.

Be sensitive to the language you use and the ideas you express. Be aware that your intentions and words have impact. We understand that fiction often explores uncomfortable or difficult topics and situations. Furthermore, many writers explore outside their comfort zones or areas of expertise. 

Clarion West is committed to supporting underrepresented voices. We prioritize marginalized people’s safety over privileged people’s comfort. We reserve the right not to act on complaints regarding:

  • “Reverse” -isms, including “reverse racism,” “reverse sexism,” and “cisphobia”
  • Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as “I’m not discussing this with you.”
  • Communication in a “tone” you don’t find congenial or friendly.
  • Criticizing racist, sexist, cissexist, or otherwise oppressive behavior or assumptions.

If you feel that someone is behaving in a manner that harasses or threatens you or others in the forum, or violates this code of conduct, even if it seems inconsequential or minor, please contact an administrator immediately. Clarion West is dedicated to providing a harassment-free environment. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Participants violating these rules may be removed from the event and all further activities at the discretion of Clarion West staff and board.

Harassment includes written or verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, and religion, as well as sexual images in our forums, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Offenders asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Our full harassment policy is posted on this page.

Take care of each other. Seriously. One of the most amazing things about Clarion West is our wonderfully inclusive community. We hope you make new connections in this space and engage in intimate conversations that will help you grow your writing (and critiquing) abilities. Please be respectful of others when discussing difficult or contentious conversation topics. Do not assume your fellow participants’ comfort level. When in doubt, check-in.