Clarion West

Clarion West is a nonprofit literary organization based in Seattle, Washington.

We serve and support writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, focusing especially on underrepresented voices in these genres. Clarion West Writers Workshop is a nonprofit literary organization based in Seattle, Washington, with a mission to improve speculative fiction by providing high quality education to writers at the start of their careers. As an extension of its primary mission, Clari

on West also makes speculative fiction available to the public by presenting readings and other events that bring writers and readers together. Clarion West also has an active Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2424444143/ Join us there today!

06/05/2026

Have you been longing for an adventure?

Now is your moment! Clarion West’s Story Oracle, a LitRPG penned by CW friends and alumni kicks off soon. Step into the labyrinth by making a donation of $5 or more. From there, travelers will navigate a world of mystery, romance, and danger.

Where does the path lead? Your own personalized reading list based on your unique choices, curated by some of your favorite authors like Stephen Graham Jones, Martha Wells, Fonda Lee, and Cory Doctorow!

Want in on the journey? Grab your walking staff and sign up for the newsletter for updates: https://secure.clarionwest.org/forms/newsletter-sign-up

Image description: Beside a crystal ball, the words: "Story Oracle: a game by Clarion West. ...coming this summer. Story Oracle is a LitRPG written by friends and alumni of Clarion West. Make a donation during the campaign, and be transported to a narrative labyrinth where you'll be invited to make a series of fantastic (or romantic, mysterious, terrifying...) choices. Your decisions will generate a recommended reading list curated just for you by some of your favorite SFFH authors!"

06/04/2026

⭐ Before Rebecca Roanhorse’s decorated career as an author, she graduated with a degree in religious studies from Yale University and went on to earn a law degree at the University of New Mexico, specializing in Federal Indian Law.

⭐ She not just writes award-winning speculative fiction, but also has written for television on shows like Murder at the End of the World and Echo.

⭐ She’s also penned stories for Marvel Comics.

⭐ And she’ll be in Seattle this July 23 for a conversation with Tara Campbell, where she’ll answer questions about her life and work!

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4u8IX0w

Image description: Over an abstract background of teal wings, the words, "Clarion West presents: Rebecca Roanhorse in conversation with Tara P. Campbell. July 23, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Seattle Central Library." There are labeled photos of Rebecca and Tara, along with the logos of The Seattle Public Library and Third Place Books.

06/03/2026

Earthseed is happening on Thursday, June 25 from 5:30-9pm PT at Third Place Commons in Seattle. And it’s being led by three incredible PNW-based speculative fiction writers: Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith, and Imani Sims.

This once-a-year event celebrates the legacy of Octavia Butler—who spent the last years of her life in Lake Forest Park, within walking distance of Third Place Books.

This year’s celebration includes the reveal of new bus stop artwork, a performance of original music inspired by The Parable of the Sower, an open mic, reception, and, of course, readings from Amber, Rashida, and Imani.

Sign up for the open mic or just reserve your spot at the party by RSVPing here: https://bit.ly/4ntaE1v

Image description: Over a teal and pink background of abstract circles, the words: "Earthseed 2026: Honoring the Past and Future of Feminist Science Fiction, celebrating Octavia butler and her legacy. Event includes: original music, open mic, and featured readers: Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith (CW '05), and Imani Sims. June 25 | 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Third Place Commons. Brought to you by: Third Place COmmons, Clarion West, Two Hour Transport, The Bushwick Bookclub, Third Place Books, Terry Morgan, King County Metro, and the Lake Forest Park in Action Book Club/Lake Forest Park Climate Club."

06/02/2026

Is the action of your story stalled because you don’t know a jab from a cross punch or jiu jitsu from judo? We’ve got the class for you!

Designed to develop your understanding of physical conflict and strengthen your ability to write it, Fighting in Fiction is happening in just a few days, on Saturday, June 6.

Led by martial artist and best-selling sci-fi writer Jason Bond, this class will bring technical accuracy to your written combat scenes. No fighting required!

The class is almost full! Snag your spot here: https://bit.ly/4wdbyTP

Image description: Overlaying artwork of winged figures in teal and pink, the words, "Fighting in Fiction: Writing a Knockout Scene. Saturday, June 6, 10am - 2pm, Seattle, WA. In-person class with Jason Bond."

06/01/2026

Novelist, poet, and playwright Andrea Hairston (CW ‘99) recently shared with CrimeReads her path to writing her most recent novel, The Redemption Center Is Closed On Sundays—a genre-bending murder mystery.

Clarion West even gets a shoutout! Andrea describes her forays across mediums and genres, including how she went from writing plays exclusively to writing fiction, too. That quest brought her to the Six-Week Workshop in 1999. “The workshop turned a drama queen into a novelist,” she writes.

Read the full article here: https://crimereads.com/andrea-hairston-on-crossing-genres-science-fiction-and-taking-romance-seriously/

Image description: The title of the image says, "Clarion West alumni in the news." What follows is a screenshot of the CrimeReads website with a photo of Andrea and the cover of her book. The article headline and subheadline read, "Andrea Hairston on Crossing Genres, Science Fiction, and Taking Romance Seriously: The author of The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays shares her peripatetic genre journey."

05/29/2026

Celebrate the publication of Clarion West Founder Vonda N. McIntyre’s final novel this July in Seattle!

On July 16, we’ll host an in-person event at Elliott Bay Book Company wherein Nisi Shawl—one of the individuals responsible for the book’s publication—will read a selection from the book. The reading will be followed by a conversation with Theo Downes-Le Guin, head of the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation.

Register here: https://www.clarionwest.org/event/vonda-n-mcintyres-the-curve-of-the-world-reading-conversation/

Image description: "Clarion West presents: Reading & Conversation - The Curve of the World by Vonda N. McIntyre. With Nisi Shawl and Theo Downes-Le Guin. July 16, 7:00 P.M. Pacific Time, Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122." The image also features photos of Nisi and Theo, as well as the cover of the book.

05/28/2026

Congratulations to the Clarion West alumni and instructors recognized by the Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy (BASFF) in 2026!

Please give them a follow and pick up the anthology when it is available.

Read the full list: https://www.johnjosephadams.com/projects/best-american-science-fiction-and-fantasy-2026/2026-notable-stories/

Image description: Clarion West News: Clarion West alumni and instructors honored among the Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy (BASFF). Alumni: Isabel Cañas (CW ‘18), Somto Ihezue (CW ‘24), Justin C. Key (CW ‘15), Wen-yi Lee (CW ‘22), Stephanie Malia Morris (CW ‘17), Kristina Ten (CW ‘19), and Cadwell Turnbull (CW ‘16). Instructors: Elizabeth Bear, Tobias S. Buckell, John Chu, P. Djèlí Clark, Joe Hill, Matthew Kressel, Annalee Newitz, Sarah Pinsker, and Martha Wells."

05/27/2026

Octavia Butler once said, “Writers use everything. We can’t help it. Whatever touches us touches our writing.”

Find some inspiration and use it in your writing at Earthseed this June, an event celebrating Octavia Butler’s legacy!

It’s happening on Thursday, June 25 from 5:30-9pm PT at Third Place Commons in Seattle. It’s being led by three incredible PNW-based speculative fiction writers: Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith, and Imani Sims and also features the debut of music inspired by Parable of the Sower, new artwork, and an open mic!

Shout out to all the organizations joining Clarion West in making this possible: Third Place Commons, Two Hour Transport, The Bushwick Bookclub, Terry Morgan, King County Metro, and the Lake Forest Park in Action Book Club/Lake Forest Park Climate Club.

Attend, sign up for the mic, and celebrate Octavia Butler’s legacy by RSVPing here: https://bit.ly/4ntaE1v

Image description: Over a teal and pink background of abstract circles, the words: "Earthseed 2026: Honoring the Past and Future of Feminist Science Fiction, celebrating Octavia butler and her legacy. Event includes: original music, open mic, and featured readers: Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith (CW '05), and Imani Sims. June 25 | 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Third Place Commons. Brought to you by: Third Place COmmons, Clarion West, Two Hour Transport, The Bushwick Bookclub, Third Place Books, Terry Morgan, King County Metro, and the Lake Forest Park in Action Book Club/Lake Forest Park Climate Club."

05/26/2026

Award-winning writer and martial artist Jason Bond is joining us in Seattle on June 6 to teach Fighting in Fiction. During this 4-hour class, Jason will demonstrate techniques and discuss the realities of fighting—all to help writers deliver a knockout scene.

How does a person lose consciousness? How can a villain be disarmed of their weapon? Jason has the answers!

It’s going down on June 6, in-person in Seattle. Don’t worry—no IRL dueling or physical contact required. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4wdbyTP

Image description: Over an artistic background of winged figures in teal and pink, the Clarion West logo and the words, "Fighting in Fiction: Writing a Knockout Scene. Saturday, June 6. 10am - 2pm, Seattle, WA. In-person class with Jason Bond."

05/22/2026

The Curve of the World, the final novel by Clarion West founder, Vonda N. McIntyre, has officially been on shelves and in readers’ hands for a week!

Last Saturday, we hosted a virtual launch party with the team that brought the book to publication after Vonda’s passing in 2019. It was truly one to remember—thank you to all who came!

Nisi Shawl said during the event, "The book is so enormously pleasurable from cover to cover.... The most arresting scenes to me were not the action scenes or fighting the sea monsters, but the ones of every day life, the idea that we're not in a palace, but an apartment building.... The gentle, but firm, negotiations taking place throughout the book play a significant role and are so important to see how they could be done in today's world."

Pick up a copy for yourself, and 30% of your purchase will go straight to Clarion West: bit.ly/3P4QdLR

Watch the replay of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9TYaaDKqJU

We’ve delighted in the conversations and responses that readers have shared with us so far. We can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Image description: "Catch the Replay: Book launch event for The Curve of the World by Vonda N. McIntyre. A conversation with Nisi Shawl, L. Timmel Duchamp, Debbie Notkin." There's also a screenshot of the event and the cover of the book.

Address

Seattle, WA

Telephone

+12063229083

Website

http://www.clarionwest.org/

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