The Seventh Week features a roundup of news from within the Clarion West community. You’ll find interviews with instructors, former students, and volunteers; reports from staff and board members; and articles on the world of creative writing.

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Interviews

This summer, we’re featuring three interviews with people from our community:

  • Q&A with 2023 Six-Week Workshop instructor Samit Basu
    Get to know our Week 3 instructor, Samit Basu, as he shares about writing and publishing across multiple genres (and countries!), plus what he’s looking forward to with Clarion West.
  • Interviews with Sagan Yee (CW ’21) and Fawaz Al-Matrouk (CW ’21)
    Six-Week Workshop alumni Sagan Yee and Fawaz Al-Matrouk share their virtual workshop tips and insights for this year’s class. Helpful advice on balance, self-care, and facilitating online connection — useful for anyone interested in virtual learning!

Fall 2022: Watch ‘Round, Cayden Browne by N.A. Blair; Workshop Report by Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14), Workshop Coordinator; Donor Spotlight: Isabel Cañas (CW 18) by Stefani Cox, Communications Specialist; In Memoriam by Marnee Chua, Executive Director

Spring 2022Alumni Highlight: Sheree Renée Thomas (CW ’99) by Stefani Cox, Communications SpecialistSummer Workshop Instructor: P. Djèlí Clark by Stefani Cox, Communications SpecialistIntroducing the Clarion West Class of 2022! by Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14), Workshop CoordinatorWrite-a-thon 2022 by Evan J. Peterson (CW ’15), Development and Outreach Coordinator

Fall 2021The Plagiarism of Locusts by Rhiannon Rasmussen (CW ’14) and Veles SvitlychnyComings, Stayings, and Goings by Marnee Chua, Executive Director; Donor Spotlight: Linda Deneroff by Evan J. Peterson (CW ’15)Six-Week Workshop in Review by Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14)Update: Incubating a New Workshop Culture by Marnee Chua, Executive Director2021 Write-a-thon by Evan J. Peterson (CW ’15) & Stephanie Malia Morris (CW ’17)

Spring 2021: Let’s Face It; Students Are Pretty Magical: An Interview with Nalo Hopkinson by Yang-Yang Wang (CW ’14) and Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14) • Living as a Writer: An Interview with Tod McCoy and M. Huw Evans by Emily C. Skaftun (CW ’09) • Nerdlesque: Our Next Evolution Revealed! by Evan J. Peterson (CW ’15, Fundraising & Outreach Coordinator) • Summer 2021 Updates by Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14, Workshop Coordinator)

Fall 2020: Volcano Woman Story by Kiini Ibura Salaam (CW ’01) • Welcome New Board Members and Staff by Marnee Chua, Executive Director • Donor Spotlight: Susan C. Petrey Fund by Evan J. Peterson (CW ’15) • Summer 2020 Review by CW Workshop Team • Writing Prompts from 2021 Six-Week Workshop Instructors by CW Workshop Team and more.

Spring 2020Opposites Attract: a Co-Interview on Craft by Tina Connolly and Caroline M. Yoachim • The 2020 Write-a-thon is Coming! by CW Staff • Announcing New Staff by Marnee Chua, Executive Director • As Important as Anyone Else’s Story: An Alumna Interview With Maura McHugh by Nisi Shawl • Online Workshops In Development by Jae Steinbacher, Workshop Coordinator • Inclusive Buildings House Great Writing and Lasting Memories by Marnee Chua • 2020 Summer Readings and Interviews by CW Staff and more.

Fall 2019The Cool Kids Story by Elly Bangs (CW ’17) • Clarion West Receives Copyrights and Bequest by CW Staff • Summer of ’19 by CW Staff • Vonda N. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship by CW Staff • Reflections from the 2019 Six-Week Summer Workshop by Monte Lin (CW ’19) and more.

Spring 2019Our 2019 Editors Interview Each Other Interview by Jack Dann and Jonathan StrahanIn Memoriam: Vonda N. McIntyre (1948 – 2019) by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)Clarion West… on Reddit!? Highlights from two AMAs by Jeremy Sim, Communications SpecialistBuilding Bridges: Clarion West at the Wing Luke Museum and Hugo House in 2019 by CW StaffCW Summer Reads: Publications by our alumni this year by CW Staff and more.

Fall 2018A Manual for Reading Books / Un Manual para Leer Story by Andrea Chapela (CW ’17)What We Did Last Summer by Jeremy Sim, Communications SpecialistA Farewell to the 2018 Six-Week Summer Workshop by Dennis Staples (CW ’18)In Memoriam: K.C. Ball, Gardner Dozois, Ursula K. Le Guin and Mary Rosenblum by CW Staff and BoardThe Women in Speculative Fiction Giving Circle by Marnee Chua and more.

Spring 2018Indrapramit Das: There for Each Other Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92); Workshop Update: The Workshop’s Busy Season by Neile Graham (CW ’96), Jae Steinbacher (CW ’14), and Huw Evans (CW ’12); Letter from Our Executive Director by Marnee Chua and more.

Fall 2017 Workshop Report

Spring 2017: John Chu: Improvising Statues Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92); Workshop Update: Plots and Plans by Neile Graham (CW ’96), Huw Evans (CW ’12), and Katie Sparrow (CW ’05); From Our Executive Director by Marnee Chua, Executive Director and much more…

Fall 2016 Workshop Report

Spring 2016: Elizabeth Bear: The Real, Live Bear Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92); Workshop Report: Quietly Busy Bees by Neile Graham (CW ’96) and Huw Evans (CW ’12); Forging New and Diverse Voicesby Caroline Bobanick, Executive Director and much more…

Fall 2015 Workshop Report

Spring 2015Cat Rambo: Most Awesomely Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92); Workshop Report: Ready for Inspiration by Neile Graham (CW ’96), and Huw Evans (CW ’12)How to Con Like a Pro by Cynthia Ward (CW ’92) and much more…

Spring 2014Eileen Gunn: Stubborn and Tightly Stacked Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)Eventful Horizon: Our First Workshop Report by Neile Graham (CW ’96) and Huw Evans (CW 12)Rolling with the Punches by Mark Bukovec, (CW ’06) and much more…

Fall 2013: Eugene Myers: Building on the Work of Others by Kelley Eskridge; Clarion West’s 30th Anniversary Workshop by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), Workshop Director and much more…

Spring 201330th Anniversary Commemorative Photo Essay by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), Workshop DirectorLooking Backward and Forward by Leslie Howle (CW ’85); and much more…

Fall 2012Clarion West Founding Mothers Round Robin conducted by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)Writers and Tigers and Sharks by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), Workshop Director; and much more….

Spring 2012Rachel Swirsky: Communities of Choice Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)Living with Louise by Arinn Dembo (CW ’90)Heroes and Stories by Leslie Howle (CW ’85); and much more….

Fall 2011Hiromi Goto: Interrupting Expectations Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)How to Build a Good Author Website by Patrick Samphire(CW ’01)Going the Distance by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), Workshop Directorand much more….

Spring 2011Andrea Hairston: Making Meaning and Finding Patterns Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)A Day in the Life of a Video Game Writer, Part Two by Diana Sherman (CW ’02)Springing Ahead and Looking Back by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), Senior Workshop Administrator; and much more….

Fall 2010Minister Faust: Writing is not a performance art Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)A Day in the Life of a Video Game Writer, Part One by Diana Sherman (CW ’02)Celebrating Old and New Traditionsby Leslie Howle (CW ’85) and much more….

Spring 2010Kij Johnson: A Million Suppositions, or Turtles All the Way Down Interview by Nisi Shawl (CW ’92)From the Chair by Kelley Eskridge2010 Musings by Leslie Howle (CW ’85), and much more….