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Home , Daryl Gregory, Nisi Shawl, Rachel Swirsky, Sunburst Award

The Annual Report clarion west writers workshop • 2018

To provide a high-quality Clarion West is a nonprofit literary Our Mission: organization and is committed to equal educational opportunity for opportunity. Although there are fine writers of and writers of all at the start of their careers. ethnicities, races, and genders, historically Speculative fiction (science fiction, the field has reflected the same prejudices fantasy, horror, , and found in the culture around it, leading to slipstream) gives voice to those who proportionately fewer successful writers explore societal and technological change, of color and women writers than white along with deeper considerations of male writers. Clarion West is dedicated to the underlying archetypes of human improving those proportions. experience. Clarion West brings new As an extension of its primary mission, writers to the field by providing a Clarion West seeks to make speculative transformative experience in the form of fiction available to the public, and thus an intensive workshop focusing on literary holds readings and other events that bring quality, diversity of viewpoints, range of speculative fiction writers and readers material, and other essential qualities. together.

Looking over the previous year, I am so received the inaugural Special Award Executive thankful for all of the support from our for Community Building and community. As we strive to meet the needs Director's of today’s writers, I am always grateful for Inclusivity, highlighting the contribu- our volunteers: those that offer their time tions of our workshop staff and alumni. and personal vehicles, sit at information We had some staff changes in 2018 as Message tables, and join committees, as well as the well. We say goodbye to Katie Sparrow, donors and sponsors that help ensure our who is leaving our programs have the funding they need. One-Day Workshops Some of my favorite events from team, though not our hearts. Taking over 2018 were our partnerships from her is Tegan with other fantastic writ- Moore, whom we ing organizations: Brewing were lucky to re- up Other Worlds, held in partner- cruit last fall. Tegan Tegan Moore ship with Two-Hour Transport; is coming on at an Writers Under the Influence: exciting time, as we look at adding more Ursula K Le Guin, held in partner- year-round programming and workshops. ship with Hugo House; and Worlds Clarion West is helping a new genera- Beyond Here, a science fiction exhibit tion of writers and readers, and we are all arnee hua M C featured at the Wing Luke Museum. And richer for it. Inside this publication, please Executive Director who could forget the multiple exciting and find our 2018 financial report, workshop free workshops we held at Norwescon and report, and information about our spon- GeekGirlCon? sors and alumni. We thank you for your At the Locus Awards, Clarion West continued support.

The Annual Report | 2018 | Page 1 Dennis E. Summer 2018 This was a year with an international flair, Staples, and for the first time in several years we recipient of had no Seattleites in the class. Instead, the Octavia Workshop students gathered from five continents E. Butler and eight countries: Brazil, Croatia, Memorial Report Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nigeria, Scholarship the U.K., and the U.S. Our U.S. students came from Alabama, California, , challenges of Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, week two suc- Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Despite cessfully, laying Six Weeks of their far-flung roots, they embraced each a groundwork other and grew into a tight network over for the students Serious Work six weeks of producing fantastic work. and drawing from the roots of speculative We’re already starting to see their names fiction in insightful history lessons. The in print — and one, Natalia Theodoridou, students and Ken found delight in explor- and won a this fall! ing some of Seattle’s sights beyond the Staff this University District as well. Serious Fun year were Neile Week three saw the students digging and Jae, our into the critique schedule and continuing new Workshop to churn out stories. Yoon Ha Lee showed Administrator, them how to craft intricately wrought with Tegan worlds. His playfulness and humor were Moore and welcome as students learned how to man- Huw, our age their myriad responsibilities. previous By the fourth week, the students were Workshop ready to think about the larger elements of Administrator, their stories, like theme and cohesiveness. 2018 Students: Natalia As the students’ stories matured, Karen as classroom Theodoridou assistants. Joe Lord’s lessons ran the gamut from story Neile Graham (CW '96) was back to keep our instructors and stu- unity to writing action scenes — complete Workshop Director dents deliciously and nutritiously fed, and with an outdoor sword lesson. She deftly Esther returned to keep the house in order. handled the group at a time when exhaus- We also had the support of numerous vol- tion typically sets in, and we’re happy to unteers, who helped us move in and out, report everyone kept their heads. get students to and from the parties, and By week five, keep things working in the classroom and the students were at all our events. We are so, so grateful to still enthusiastically everyone who helps us make the workshop supporting each happen! other and reaching The weather started off cool — a out to editors and little uncomfortable for the students writers beyond the from warmer climes — but warmed up workshop for video to become another sometimes-too-toasty conferences. We Seattle summer. were concerned Jae Steinbacher (CW '14) Despite the early chill, Daniel Abra- about week five orkshop dministrator ham (CW '98) warmed things up with burnout, but Karen W A Wen Ma dramatic readings and hands-on exer- Joy Fowler’s arrival cises. A workshop alum himself, Daniel only revealed a deeper dedication to the introduced students to plot, conflict, and craft. With Karen they delved further into voice with panache and a bit of theater. character motivation and the openings and He helped students discover from the first endings of stories. week that they could follow their voices Finally, editor sent them and achieve great heights in their fiction. off in style. Ellen swept in to offer her And the students began on the path to experienced eye and New Yorker realism trusting one another in their critiques. to each student’s work. She regaled them Ken MacLeod was a sure and seasoned with industry tales and advice from her instructor, despite being a newcomer to many years of editing. Equally importantly, the Clarion technique. He navigated the she encouraged them to begin thinking 

Page 2 | The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 Student Photos by Ted Mahsun In Students' Words "The workshop was so warm and inviting and nurturing. So many other words come to mind. Comfortable. Blissful. Se- rene. All those outshine the moments where we challenged our- selves, where we were stressed about deadlines, about word counts, about critiques, which were all great in the end anyway because we knew it was all ultimately worthwhile in order to better our craft or learn something we hadn’t thought of before. "I can’t think of any other experience in life that would ever come close to Rafeeat Aliyu what it would feel like to be in a fairy tale." — Dennis Staples  about sending their stories out into the "It was as if my chest had come off its hinges. I felt radically open, expanded in world. my ability to create, but also to love. That kind of emotional vulnerability is created by For Neile and Jae, this class was an safety. This summer I was surrounded by people with whom I felt very safe. I felt — for absolute delight. Despite the fact that lack of a better word — healthy, as a person and a writer." — Brittany Pladek Daniel, Ken, Yoon, and were all teaching for us for the first time, we "The Clarion West workshop was key in helping me realize that I can be had few bumps and couldn’t imagine a a writer. It gave me the tools and the networks I desperately needed. I’m eternally better year to introduce so many “newbies.” grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Clarion West family!" — Rafeeat Aliyu The class continues to interact well beyond the workshop and send out stories (as "Clarion is an inexplicable experience. It’s frightening. It’s exhausting. It’s well as encouragement!). It’s been a truly wild. It’s the nerd event of the century. It will improve your writing more than you ever rewarding experience, and we hope this thought possible in six weeks. It’s heartbreaking to leave. It’s the time of your life while year will bring an equal measure of hard you are there. It will make you forget that life outside of the house exists. You work and play. This summer, we look for- will make the best friends of your life. You miss your friends and family ward to squeezing seven instructors into back home like crazy. You will join a community of writers that six weeks! Liz Hand and Stephen Graham want nothing more than to help you achieve your dreams." Jones return to teach weeks one and two — Woody Dismukes for us. Then we welcome Amal El-Mohtar, Ibi Zoboi (a CW '01 grad), and a duo of "Clarion West was one of the best experiences editors, and . of my life. It helped me grow both as a writer and as a Capping off the six weeks will be the person. I hope to be able to pay it forward one day." inimitable Ann Leckie (CW '05).  — Natalia Theodoridou

The Class of 2018

L to R, down in the front: Woody Dismukes, Brittany Pladek. L to R, back row: Dennis E. Staples, Joe Schindler (our cook), Jen Sexton-Riley, Wen Ma, Rodrigo Assis Mesquita, Rachel Simmons, Greg Scheckler, Ted Mahsun, E.C. Barrett, N.C. Calder, Ellen Datlow (Week 6 instructor), Natalia Theodoridou, Clay P. Greene, Dora Klindžić, Isabel Cañas, and Rachel Broderick.

The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 | Page 3 2018 Financial Jan - Dec 2018 Jan - Dec 2017 Revenue Statement Corporate Contributions $24,650.00 $17,336.00 Individual Giving $13,946.00 $17,539.00 Write-a-thon $22,687.00 $20,548.00 Scholarships $45,125.00 $36,250.00 Instructorships $7,200.00 $14,955.00 GiveBig $6,977.00 $8,385.00 Grants $2,760.00 $10,500.00 Six-Week Workshop Income $47,830.00 $45,085.00 One-Day Workshop Income $13,800.00 $14,035.00 Miriah Hetherington Women in Speculative Fiction Treasurer Giving Circle $1,077.00 $550.00 Dividend & Interest $229.00 $2,605.00 We began the year knowing Total Income $186,281.00 $187,788.00 that fundraising would be Expenses crucial to Clarion West's efforts to grow programs and continue to provide Outreach and Promotion $30,807.00 $12,528.00 high-quality education to speculative Six-Week Workshop $96,359.00 $88,929.00 fiction writers. To this end, we made the commitment to invest some of our savings, One-Day Workshop $10,367.00 $8,362.00 if needed, to help grow program activi- Administration $32,468.00 $58,071.00 ties and ensure the paid staff time needed to create them. Despite some significant Fundraising $8,890.00 $6,791.00 funding challenges, including the loss of Total Expenses $178,891.00 $174,681.00 four large, anticipated sources of income, Surplus 7,390.00 13,107.00 we came through ahead be- Clarion West 2018 Workshop Income and Expenses Comparison cause of our donors, sponsors, CLARION WEST 2018 EXPENSES BY PROGRAM and volunteers. Clarion West 2018 Expenses by Program At the end of 2018, Clarion West's Outreach and cash and investment assets totaled Fundraising 5% $201,501, or approximately one year Promotion 17% of operating expenses. Our Administration development chair and investment 18% manager, Susan Gossman, continues to supervise our investments to ensure that One-Day Workshop 6% Clarion West can survive a stark year. Six-Week With the expansion of our donor base, new focus on grant applications, and Workshop 54% growth of our investment assets, Clarion West is making the commitment to set aside additional scholarship funding to students in need each year, while maintaining our savings for future funding challenges.

Page 4 | The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 Clarion West 2018 % Income by Source

Women in Speculative One-Day Dividend & Fiction Giving Workshop Interest <1% Circle 1% Corporate Income 7% Contributions 13% Six-Week Individual Workshop Giving 7% Income 26%

Write-a-thon 12%

Scholarships 24%

Grants 1% Give Big 4% Instructorships 4%

CLARION WEST 2018 WORKSHOP INCOME & EXPENSES COMPARISON

Cl arionCLARION West WEST 2018 2018 Wo WORKSHOPrkshop I nINCOMEcome & and EXPENSES Expenses COMPARISON Comparison Expenses Day -

One Expenses Workshop Income Day -

O ne-Day One Workshop Workshop Income

Expenses Week Workshop -

Six-Week Six-Week Expenses

Workshop Income Six Week Workshop - Income Six $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000

Supplies $0 Travel$10,000 Housing/Venue $20,000 $30,000 Instructors $40,000 & Other$50,000 Contractors $60,000 $70,000Other $80,000Staff $90,000Total Income $100,000

Supplies Travel Housing/Venue Instructors & Other Contractors Other Staff Total Income

The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 | Page 5 You’re First year as board chair complete! Noth- TV monster B-movies by sailing around ing’s blown up despite the trying circum- the world. Fashion designer Betsey John- stances. Instead, we won another award son used to be his babysitter, so babysit the Best on our way to a number of highlights (see him if you want a career in fashion. Marnee’s letter). Clarion West is in great TJ Berry grew up in Hong Kong and shape financially and as an organization. once wrote (and sold!) an entire novel out This was achieved through the efforts of spite. She’s an ex-professional baker of our amazing staff and board, our ever- who still has hundreds of cookie cutters. wonderful executive director, and with the While she can’t whistle, we’re still singing support of our outstanding community — about her joining the board. and by extension: you. Gordon White once threw and caught I invite you to take a moment now to a boomerang, performed in Carnegie recall how you supported Clarion West Hall, and (probably) heard a ghost while last year. Whether you volunteered, donat- staying in a haunted house. House ghost ed money, attended an event, mentioned beware — our students are now protected us positively, gave constructive feedback, by boomerang! or simply thought about us and wished us There are more wonderful things to well: look forward to in 2019. Accessibility, new Thank you. We appreciate you. We’re programming, and audit-readiness con- Yang-Yang Wang (CW '14) lucky to have you. tinue to be priorities for our organization. CW Board Chair In sadder news, board member There’s also a secret project to unveil later Geetanjali Dighe stepped down from her this year. I’d tell you more, but my request seat. Her intelligence and organizational for free drinks was ignored last year so I’m skills will be missed. To fill her stylish staying quiet (#bitterface). shoes, we had to recruit three new board Thanks again for helping Clarion West members. Introducing, in random order: get through a tough year.  Brooks Peck recovered from writing

how to address a broader range of disabili- 2018 Board of Directors Accessibility ties in action, support, and language. Yang-Yang Wang | Chair The committee has written a mission Rashida J. Smith | Vice Chair statement and seeks to have all programs Tod McCoy | Secretary physically accessible to a broader range Miriah Hetherington | Treasurer Vicki Saunders | Past Chair of students by 2021. We are immediately Geetanjali Dighe seeking opportunities to provide support Susan Gossman for disabled people with other accessibility Nisi Shawl concerns. Misha Stone Clarion West Writers Workshop’s Marnee Chua | Executive Director | ex officio Neile Graham | ex officio intent is to provide high-quality educa- tion to diverse voices in speculative fiction. 2018 Staff Students and instructors encompass a broad range of ages, nationalities, cultures, Workshop races, genders, and sexual identities, but Neile Graham | Workshop Director despite our intent, and to our detriment, Jae Steinbacher | Workshop Administrator Katie Sparrow | One-Day Workshop Administrator the workshop is not yet accessible to many M. Huw Evans | Workshop Specialist disabled writers and instructors. Tegan Moore | Workshop Specialist We are actively addressing this issue, Database seeking out adaptive devices and resources In 2018 Clarion West created an Kate Schaefer | Database Volunteer for people with sensory and mobility Suzanne Tompkins | Finance/Database Specialist accessibility committee to address the disabilities, along with Workshop hous- immediate challenges of ensuring access ing and event spaces that are wheelchair- Communications and inclusivity for disabled people in all of accessible. We hope to achieve this for the Jeremy Sim | Communications Specialist our programs. The committee has focused Vicki Saunders | Art Director Six-Week Workshop by 2021, and plan to Tom Whitmore | Copy Editor/Proofreader primarily on the full accessibility of our continuously address and solve accessibil- Jae Steinbacher | Copy Editor venues, but is also seeking guidance on ity issues as they occur.  Erik Owomoyela | Website Manager

Page 6 | The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 Thank You Clarion West is grateful to our contributors, whose generous gifts enable us to provide high-quality writing workshops and other events for speculative fiction writers and for Your readers. Please consider making a donation today at clarionwest.org/donate. These organizations provided significant grants to support Clarion West, Support of its writers, and its public reading series: $10,000 — National Endowment for the Arts (2-year period) Clarion West $5,000 — Amazon Literary Partners $2,760 — Civic Partners Grant, Office of Arts & Culture, City of Seattle $2,700 — 4Culture For the period of A sincere thank-you to our 2018 named scholarship donors! January 1, 2018 Scholarships made in memory of the following honored individuals: to December 31, 2018 ••Elliot Alexander Memorial ••Michael Alexander Memorial ••Elliot and Michael Alexander Memorial ••Mark Bourne Memorial • The Poul and Karen Anderson Memorial International Travel Fund ner Dozois' ard Ver • Gordon R. Dickson Memorial (supported by the Midwestern SF g G y B in els an es community) d nov d no t o lu ni ve f • The Donald A. and Elsie B. Wollheim Memorial c m ll t in lu s, and po as h Scholarship Fund , a say em r e s es s e • Susan C. Petrey Memorial ie W s, p le B C e d our fre u a e g ri de e b s 9 n r l s t Full and partial scholarships are lo o e e is e 1 st t a h o • t C d d generously supported by the following: t a W e h s r in in d t o 0 2 g • The Class of 2013 Anniversary Scholarship n p 4 0 h 6 1 s a o s 8 • Norwescon h i e s n r k • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers r n m of America o e u

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w • Leslie Howle, Week One • Sally Klages Memorial, Week Four, sponsored by • Susan C. Petrey, Week Six Thank you to the businesses that sponsored our 2018 Write-a-thon! $1,000 — Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour $500 — Dr. Thomas Bridgman, DDS $250 — Third Place Books $250 — Brick & Mortar Books 

The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018 | Page 7 Scott H. Andrews photo credit Al Bogdan List of Award- Winning Alumni

Alumni Awards and Major Achievements Announced in 2018

Clarion West alumni are making significant contributions to the world of speculative fiction — a literary genre that is well-known for critical thinking skills, building greater empathy, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, community activists, engineers, Clockwise from top: Daryl Gregory, Tina and writers. Their stories impact readers around the world from all different backgrounds. Connolly, Scott H. Andrews, Seanan Mc- Clarion West alumni achieved a huge number of important publications, novels, and Guire, Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, Henry Lien. prestigious award nominations in 2018. Note that this is only a partial list.

Anthologies Award, open category One -Day The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth On The Edge of Gone, by Corinne Duyvis (CW Annual Collection, edited by '11) Workshops Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Vol 2017 VOYA Top Shelf Fiction Award 12, edited by Jonathan Strahan The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, by Stephanie Gardner Dozois’s The Very Best of the Best, which Burgis (CW '01) draws from 35 years of The Year’s Best Science Our One-Day Workshops provide excel- Scribe Award for Best Speculative Fiction. These anthologies include stories by: lent educational opportunities to the Original Novel writers’ community in the Pacific North- Indrapramit Das (CW '12) Richard William Larson (CW '14) The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase, by west. These are all-day classes focusing on Vina Jie-Min Prasad (CW '17) Greg Cox (CW '84) specific topics or skills which attract writ- Caroline M. Yoachim (CW '06) Finalists ers from all stages in their careers. Ian McHugh (CW '06) Nominations Instructors Tina Connolly and Daniel Abraham, Caroline Yoachim taught a class on as James S.A. Corey (CW '98) Best Novel: Ann Leckie (CW '05) character-building, which student Best : JY Yang (CW '13) Award Winners feedback described as “jaw-dropping.” Best Novelette: Vina Jie-Min Prasad (CW '17) Jesse Bullington’s workshop on World Fantasy Award, Best Short Story: Vina Jie-Min Prasad (CW Short Fiction category monster-making delved deep into '17), Caroline M. Yoachim (CW '06) Best Related Work: Mimi Mondal (CW '15) bestiaries and ancient fears, helping "The Birding: A Fairy Tale," by John W. Campbell Award for Best New illuminate what monsters really mean. Natalia Theodoridou (CW ’18) , Non-Fiction category Writer: Vina Jie-Min Prasad (CW '17) Elsa Sjunneson-Henry led a workshop Tiptree Award Honor List on worldbuilding for disabled characters Luminous Threads: Connections to Octavia E. that included a great deal of interesting Butler, by Mimi Mondal (CW '15) The Devourers, by Indrapramit Das (CW '12) The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red Threads of conversation among students. And Henry and co-editor Alexandra Pierce. Essays by: Fortune, by JY Yang (CW '13) Lien taught on creating original story K. Tempest Bradford (CW '03) Stephanie Burgis (CW '01) Tiptree Award Longlist content, employing extremely creative Christopher Caldwell (CW '07) strategies for bringing unique themes into The Stars Are Legion, by Kameron Hurley (CW Indrapramit Das (CW '12) '00) your work. Stephen Gold (CW '05) Provenance, by Ann Leckie (CW '05) If you’re interested in our spring One- Alex Jennings (CW '03) "Her Sacred Spirit Soars," by S. Qiouyi Lu Day Workshops, sign up quickly, as they’re Cat Rambo (CW '05) (CW '16) filling up fast. We kicked off 2019 with Jeremy Sim (CW '11) Bram Stoker Award for Superior award-winning author Seanan McGuire Nisi Shawl (CW '92) Achievement in a Fiction Collection Rachel Swirsky (CW '05) and the dynamic Daryl Gregory. March The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales, by Thersa Sheree Renée Thomas (CW '99) brings the singular Scott H. Andrews, Matsuura (CW '15) 2018 Crystal Kite Award editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Sunburst Award for Excellence in from the Society of Children’s Book We’re already making decisions about Canadian Fantastic Literature Longlist Writers and Illustrators our Summer Six-Week Workshop 2020 for Short Story Fiction Will You Read My Book With Me?, Lawrence instructor lineup, and soon we’ll have "On Highway 18," Rebecca Campbell (CW Schimel (CW '91) some amazing fall one-day workshops to '15)  Neukom Institute Speculative Fiction announce! "Spiked," Rich Larson (CW '14) 

Page 8 | The aNNUAL rEPORT | 2018