The Virtual Clarion Workshop

Improve Your Writing
and Your Chances of Success

Established in 2006, the Virtual Clarion Workshop is the online version of the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers' Workshop at UCSD. Operated and overseen by the Clarion Foundation and Clarion co-founder Kate Wilhelm, Virtual Clarion is designed for writers who find it impractical to attend the six-week UCSD program, as well as for Clarion alumni who wish to continue their writing education online. Though the Clarion experience can't be completely recreated online, our goal is to offer a high-quality substitute that operates on the Clarion model.

Story critiques take place on the Clarion Circle message board and are led by Clarion instructors who have taught at the summer workshop, all of whom are seasoned professional writers and experienced teachers. Novel critiques take place one-on-one via email. The atmosphere is collegial, interactive, and educational.

Your story should be science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Please note: Virtual Clarion does not workshop fan fiction, franchise fiction, or other niche fiction that requires detailed familiarity with the established worlds and characters of other writers. This is not a comment on the quality of such work. It is mainly a practical matter. It is difficult to locate and schedule professionals with the very specific knowledge required to critique these stories.

View a Sample Critique

All stories critiqued by Clarion Workshop instructors

Your story or novel will be read and critiqued by a current or former Clarion Workshop instructor. All instructors are well-known writers or editors. This year's list of Virtual Clarion instructors includes Cory Doctorow, Charles Coleman Finlay, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Nalo Hopkinson, Gwyneth Jones, James Patrick Kelly, and Walter Jon Williams, as well as Sheila Williams, editor of Asimov's SF Magazine.

Same format and techniques as Clarion UCSD

Virtual Clarion employs the same format and techniques as its highly respected bricks-and-mortar counterpart, the Clarion Workshop at UC San Diego. Stories are made available to all workshoppers well before critiques begin. Each workshopper is invited to contribute one substantial critique of the story, after which the pro instructor contributes his or her primary contribution, taking into consideration all previous comments. The instructor's contribution is followed by comments from the author. The critique finishes with a free-form discussion that includes informal interactions among the author, the workshoppers, and the instructor.

Orderly, respectful presentation of comments

A moderator is always present to assure that comments are presented in an orderly and respectful way, just as they would be in a classroom.

All critiques completed within two weeks

Your critique will always be complete two weeks after it begins. At Virtual Clarion there's no waiting extended periods of time for comments to trickle in at random -- a common drawback of most other online writing workshops.

Learn More

WHY CLARION? | HOW IT WORKS | ETIQUETTE | MS REQUIREMENTS | FEES | SIGNUP

or Sign up for Virtual Clarion Now

If you are not already a Clarion Circle member, joining the Circle is your first step toward Virtual Clarion.

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Updated May 16, 2008