I just returned from a writing/coffee date with a lovely lady of whom I’ve internet-known for awhile now, but just met in person. Social time = good. I forget that sometimes, and live a little too much like this ThinkGeek tshirt:

(which is a shirt I really want, BTW)

Anyway, we had a lovely conversation, and we briefly touched on the Clarions (she is considering applying) and it reminded me that Clarion West is now accepting applications for the 2009 workshop (through 1 March 2009). The teacher roster kicks ass for 2009, if you haven’t noticed:  John Kessel (!!!), Rudy Rucker (they all deserve !!!, actually), Elizabeth Bear, Karen Joy Fowler, Nalo Hopkinson, and David G. Hartwell.

I’ve talked a lot about my experience at Clarion West to many folks, but I still get asked, from time to time, by someone if they should apply. So, I want to state publicly a resounding YES to anyone in the studio audience who is asking themselves that question (or about to ask me).  If you are at the point where you are considering whether attending a Clarion is right for you, then you are probably at exactly the right point to apply.

Now, you may not get accepted. The Clarions are pretty freaking competitive, and the competition gets stiffer when the roster of teachers is as impressive as, say, my year (which I say without ego, pinky swear) or this year. But you should apply.

I’ve learned a few things about applying, however, that I will happily share with you to make your application as strong as possible. Here is what I have been told makes a strong application (and some of what I did myself):

1. Submit stories that you  not only consider you best work, but also your most interesting. Send in pieces that stretch, search, experiment, and maybe even fail a little. Pieces that show a strong voice, a different approach to SFF, and the willingness to risk will always stand out. Don’t play it too safe.

2. Take your time with your personal statement and really explain why you want to come to Clarion and what you hope you can gain from the experience. The best Clarion students, I am told, are the ones who come to the workshop with an open mind and a willingness to fail and fall and flail during the workshop in order to try new things. If you aren’t willing to throw aside and away everything you think you know about your writing, Clarion won’t be that great an experience for you—but if you are, no matter what stage of experience you’ve reached, then say so. That is what Clarion is about.

3. For the love of all that is holy, follow the submission directions, and submit a complete application before the deadline. I know that sounds…obvious, but I’ve heard of many an application having to, heartbreakingly, be axed because the applicant did not follow directions. Follow the page count, even if you have to excerpt a story. Follow directions! I mean it! Look at my exclamation marks!

4. Prepare NOW as if you will be accepted. Six weeks is an awfully long time to be away from your job, your family, your pets…even if you are in the same town, as I was. Begin to sniff out how you would pull it off if you get in sooner rather than later. I mean, don’t give notice at your job or sell your house or anything until you do hear, but starting to brainstorm strategies about how you could make it happen now is far less stressful than trying to get it all figured out in two months. Trust me on that.

Anyway, I will keep my fingers crossed for those of you applying for 2009. It really was, for lack of a better sounding phrase, a life-changing experience for me–in almost *all* good ways. I have a whole new set of colleague-friends, a new toolbox of skills–but most importantly for me, my drive and ambition back.

And maybe I’ll see you around. Since I’m a local, Clarion West can’t get rid of me. I’ll be sniffing around, volunteering and baking banana bread for the new class, just as past CWers did for my class.