Workshop Decisions

[cathschaffstump]

I’ve spent some time researching and thinking about workshops. While there’s always more I could learn, I’ve taken short story workshops frequently in college, and that’s not my genre, so I’ve ruled out Clarion.

There are about 3 I’ve found that interest me as a novelist. Here are the links.

CSSF SF Novel Writers Workshop: Two weeks writing in Laurence, KS during the summer.

Viable Paradise: One week in October on Martha’s Vineyard focusing on a variety of topics.

Odyssey: Six weeks in New Hampshire studying the craft, with a focus on novels available.

My personal restraints:

1. The college probably wants me around on and off during the summer.
2. There’s a two-week workshop on mythology that I’ve already committed to.
3. I would like to use my professional development to pay for it.
4. As well as working on my craft, I would like to learn more about the industry.

Frankly, Odyssey would be great, but I doubt that the college would be happy with me disappearing for six weeks and I have that work shop. It doesn’t seem to be the summer for it.

CSSF would give me two weeks of writing, but wouldn’t teach me the other pieces.

This year, I will apply for Viable Paradise, unless my circumstances suddenly change. Perhaps during a future year, I will apply for Odyssey.

At this point, then, I need to decide what 8000 words to send them. I’ll see what develops, as their deadline for application is June 30, 2009, and I believe two short stories would be my best bet. Mark Twain’s Daughter, perhaps, and something else.

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[m-stiefvater.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Six weeks seems tremendously long by any standards!

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

Obviously, this is a great opportunity to focus on your writing, but seems designed for people who are less professionally obligated than a 43 year-old professor/coordinator!

Catherine

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

Any news about Mark Twain's Daughter?

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

Not yet. We're not due to know until sometime in January. If it is rejected, I'll give it another polish and use it as half of my workshop application, as I have another feedback email in my box at this time.

Catherine

[everflame.livejournal.com]

Hey, I live in Lawrence and know a few of the people involved in the SF workshop. They have a lot of fun every year, and are great people. :D

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

It sounds good, and it is very economical. With two other weeks of workshop this summer, I'm not sure the college would go for it, so I thought I would check before applying.

The real world job gets in the way sometimes, but most of the time they try to accommodate.

I've heard Laurence is a rockin' town...

Catherine

[redcrowkater.livejournal.com]

Have you already attended Clarion? Is that why it's not on the list?

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

I have NOT attended Clarion. However, it's a short story workshop, and I find myself more drawn to the novel as a form.

Catherine

[redcrowkater.livejournal.com]

I'm much more of a novelist than a short story writer too, but I feel I got a lot out of Clarion. I would highly recommend it.
(The networking and post-workshop support is as much a reason to go as the actual writing instruction.)

All of these are very competitive. I know with Clarion, at least, they have many more eligible candidates than spaces, and I'd imagine that Odyssey is the same. It's very easy to be good enough to get in, but still not secure a space. If you were to apply to the Clarions as well, you'd have more chances.

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

I know that these are VERY competitive, and I'm planning my summer as if I weren't accepted, the same thing I did when I was applying for Fulbrights. :)

The Clarion workshop does say on its prefatory pages that you shouldn't bother if you are a novelist, because of its short story orientation, and I took them at their word.

That said, I've heard excellent things about it. ecmyers also recommends it highly, and I'd love to make those connections. I doubt that my job would feel good about letting me go for six weeks to either Clarion or Odyssey, were I to be accepted, at least at this point. But I shall ponder and see what I do.

Thank you for the excellent advice.

Catherine

[ckastens.livejournal.com]

Viable Paradise is an excellent workshop, both for learning and networking. And the one-week format is perfect for those of us who can't get six weeks off from work.