Online Classes & Workshops
Our high-quality online writing classes, critique groups, and workshops are tailored for writers creating amazing worlds of speculative fiction.
Live Online Classes
Thrive on the energy of learning with others? Our high-quality online writing classes, critique groups, and workshops are tailored for writers creating amazing worlds of speculative fiction.
Instructors and classes are vetted by our team of experienced workshop leaders to best support genre fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and everything in between.
On-Demand Classes
Missed a live class? Hosted on Teachable, our previously recorded online writing classes focus on genre, craft, and the business side of writing to help speculative fiction writers at every level achieve their goals.
Taught by professional writers, teachers, and authors, Clarion West classes vary in length, format, and expected time commitment and are designed for writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. New classes are added regularly.
Asynchronous Classes
Like learning with others on your schedule? Tackle cohort-based intensive classes on worldbuilding, structure, openings, and more for speculative fiction writers.
Hosted on Teachable, each class has opportunities for live Q&A with your instructor and regular connection with fellow students in online meetups.
Writing the Other and Clarion West
Founded with the idea that representation is fundamental to writing great fictional narratives, Writing the Other has partnered with Clarion West to provide online writing classes and workshops in all genres.
We believe that our writing classes and workshops should be available and accessible to all who want to participate. We offer discounts and sliding scale pricing to reduce the cost of online classes, free events and programs for our community, and free seats in online classes for PGM/BIPOC writers. Read more about our financial aid programs and policies and our accessibility commitment. See the individual program pages for available discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clarion West Online Programs
What are your accessibility policies?
Clarion West uses Zoom for our online programs, classes, and workshops. We always make Zoom’s auto-generated closed captions available for all our online sessions and live captioners for streaming events.
Requesting an interpreter: If the class is discussion-intensive or uses features that make the auto-generated captions impossible (for example, if a class uses breakout rooms), a live captioner or ASL interpreter can be requested. We ask that students request a live captioner or interpreter 3–5 business days before the class date. For live captioners, we are currently partnering with VITAC Internet Captioning Services.
Chat and closed caption transcripts can be sent to you after the class. We ask our instructors to provide reading materials and slides in advance, whenever possible. If you have specific needs or requests for your instructor, please send in your request 3–5 business days before the class date.
What software is required for online classes?
This class will be held online via Zoom. Students should plan to test their video and microphone in advance. Click here for more information about our Zoom policies. If you have difficulty logging into an online class, email helpdesk@clarionwest.org.
Will I get a reminder for the class?
Yes. One day before the class begins, we will send a reminder to the email you used to register. Please add your class to your personal calendar when you register, with reminders if needed. Unfortunately, we cannot refund class fees if you miss a class.
How old do I have to be to take an online Clarion West class?
Unless designated for teens, all online classes and workshops are recommended for anyone aged 18 or older. If you have a question about the minimum age requirement, please email us at helpdesk@clarionwest.org.
What’s the refund policy?
Clarion West will refund all class fees if the request is made 30 days before the class date. Refund requests made within 30 days of the class will be honored if we can fill the seat. Any exceptions are subject to approval by our workshop staff. Please email helpdesk@clarionwest.org.
I want to buy/give a friend a ticket. How do I do that?
Please enter the name and email address of the person you purchase the class for under the first step of the registration process, “Attendee info.” If you want to buy a gift certificate for a friend, please email helpdesk@clarionwest.org and tell us your information and the name, email, and contact information of the person you wish to send a gift certificate to. Clarion West does not share contact information with any other organization.
What are your equity policies around class enrollment?
We reserve a percentage of seats in every class for writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color (BIPOC) and People of the Global Majority (PGM) on a first-come-first-served basis, regardless of financial need. Learn more about our Equity & Inclusion policies. To request a seat, please fill out this form, and include the names of the classes you are interested in, in order of preference. If a seat is available, we will email you 10-14 days before the class begins.
Do you offer financial aid?
We offer sliding-scale ticketing prices for our online classes. Please use the Helping Hands ticket price if it would help you to take the class, regardless of your background. Learn more about financial aid for online classes here.
What is your harassment policy and code of conduct?
By participating in any Clarion West activity, you are agreeing to our Code of Conduct, the Clarion West Harassment Policy, and our Zoom Guidelines.
I have more questions! Where do I send them?
Please email any questions to helpdesk@clarionwest.org.