Events
From time to time, Clarion West brings together authors and the public for the opportunity to interview prominent writers in both intimate and public settings. When possible, Clarion West teams up with other organizations to make this happen.
Summer of Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Series
Clarion West invites each of the Six-Week Summer Workshop instructors for a reading & discussion. Readings may include selections from recently published books, unpublished stories, or novels-in-progress. The featured reader(s) also answers questions about writing, teaching, editing, and other topics. When the Workshop is in Seattle, readings are typically held on Tuesday evenings at 7PM Pacific, unless otherwise stated. When the Workshop is virtual, readings may be scheduled at the best times to accommodate the instructors and potential hybrid locations.
2026 Reading Series Dates Coming Soon.
See the phenomenal lineup of instructors for 2026 Six Week Workshop.
Flash Fiction Groups
June 7 – July 4, 2026
Looking to bring a more personalized and dynamic writing and critiquing experience to your summer? Our popular Flash Fiction Groups will be back in 2026!
The Flash Fiction Groups are a structured way for you to start with small group critiques and deadline-driven story generation. Groups are capped at six to eight writers, and a weekly pre-recorded video lecture is offered covering the nuts and bolts of craft elements. You’ll write four stories in four weeks and have a weekly prompt to help ignite your creativity. Learn the positives and challenges involved with group critiquing and workshopping stories. Clarion West hosts groups in private Discord channels and assists with group placement. Participation on Discord offers a seamless, self-hosted story-sharing experience.
Registration Opens: May 4, 2026
Join Our Discord Community Year-Round
Our Discord is open year round with writing sessions, opportunities to form writing groups, find critique partners, and build community.
Write-a-thon Pause
Clarion West will not be holding a Write-a-thon in 2026. Over the years, the Write-a-thon has taken on many shapes, most importantly, as a fundraiser to support the Six-Week Workshop and an opportunity to build community! However, over the last two years, the program has required a heavy lift by staff and supporters to keep it going. Not to worry! The Discord Community will continue writing sprints and encouragement, and the Flash Fiction Groups will continue!
What’s in the works? Clarion West will take this time to plan a month-long writing challenge for our speculative fiction community in 2027. An International Speculative Writing Month (an InSpeWriMo?) for the entire community! Similar to the Write-a-thon, participants will set writing goals and follow them through the month with a cohort of other writers from around the world. Build your writing habits, strengthen your pencils, and get creative! Stay tuned for more information next year.