The archive of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop documents the science fiction and fantasy writing seminar from 1969-1970, 1973-2002, and 2007-2024 (with a gap for 2020). The collection includes writings of participants, memorabilia, and class rosters.
Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop: Archive of Stories by Participants, 1969-2022 (MSS 681)
Extent: 37.0 Linear feet (93 archives boxes and 2 oversize folders), + .527 GB of digital files
Digital Content
Content from 2017 to present is only available in digital format. Users may search for content and request to view authors' works through the Digital Collections website and the Virtual Reading Room service.
The Clarion Workshop is an intensive six-week summer program focused on fundamentals particular to the writing of science fiction and fantasy. It is considered a premier proving and training ground for aspiring writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Clarion was founded by Robin Scott Wilson in 1968 at Clarion State College (now Clarion University) in Pennsylvania. Wilson built his system partly on the tradition of mutual criticism in use at the Milford Science Fiction Writers' Conference, a workshop for professional SF writers established by Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm (who helped Wilson with Clarion as well). From 1972 through 2006, Clarion Workshop was hosted by Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. In 2007, the workshop moved to University of California, San Diego.
The archive of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop documents the science fiction and fantasy writing seminar from 1969-1970, 1973-2002, and 2007-2024 (with a gap for 2020). The collection includes writings of participants, memorabilia, and class rosters. The folders are arranged chronologically, and then alphabetically by author within each year. After 2017, all additions to the collection are digital, and may be requested and viewed via Special Collections' Virtual Reading Room service on the Digital Collections website.