WELCOME ...
The Official Website of D.Lynn Smith
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In 2004, I attended the Clarion West workshop with 16 other talented writers. Clarion West is an intensive six-week workshop for writers preparing for professional careers in science fiction and fantasy, held annually in Seattle, Washington.
Attendees are required to write a short story a week as well as critique their fellow classmates' (or littermates as we called ourselves) stories each week. All this was done under the guidance of award winning writers and editors in the speculative fiction field. When I was there, Pat Murphy was our week 1 instructor. Then came Kelly Link, Geoff Ryman, Jim Kelly and John Kessel, Larissa Lai and Charles de Lint. I was in heaven!
When I was accepted into the workshop I thought, "What have I done." I never believed I could write a story a week. Plus I was going to be stuck in a sorority house with 16 strangers. Not exactly my idea of a good time.
But it was a good time. No, it was a life-altering great time. Not only was I able to write a short story a week, I also made friends who will be friends for life. My writing surged forward. My first professional short story sale was a story I submitted during Kelly Link's week.
It wasn't all work and no play. Every week the science fiction community in Seattle opened their doors and threw a party in our honor. One week it was a Greg Bear's house. He had a signed Ray Harryhausen poster of Jason and the Argonauts. I was covetous.
Many of my classmates have gone on to publish short stories and poetry. Two people from our class, Brian Conn and Anil Menon have published novels. If you would like to see list of my class's accomplishments, go to http://www.brianconn.net/cw2004/cw2004.html and scroll down. I know you'll be impressed.
Today is the official beginning of the Clarion West Write-a-thon, just like a walk-a-thon, but with words. I have pledged to write 4 chapters of my new novel a week—a rather daunting goal. Your tax-deductible donation goes to fund future writers of speculative fiction.
You can see my write-a-thon page here:
http://clarionwest.org/events/writeathon/DLynnSmith
If you don't feel like pledging money for my efforts, you might consider one of the many other fine writers listed here:
http://clarionwest.org/events/writeathon/2010
I'll be posting weekly updates (maybe more, who knows) on my progress on my blog. I'll also be posting excerpts from my work each week. But you must be kind—remember that I'm trying to turn out 4 chapters a week!
Clarion West is a great cause. I hope you'll follow my progress and find it in your wallet to donate so that other talented writers will have a chance to push their writing to the limits—or maybe beyond.
Attendees are required to write a short story a week as well as critique their fellow classmates' (or littermates as we called ourselves) stories each week. All this was done under the guidance of award winning writers and editors in the speculative fiction field. When I was there, Pat Murphy was our week 1 instructor. Then came Kelly Link, Geoff Ryman, Jim Kelly and John Kessel, Larissa Lai and Charles de Lint. I was in heaven!
When I was accepted into the workshop I thought, "What have I done." I never believed I could write a story a week. Plus I was going to be stuck in a sorority house with 16 strangers. Not exactly my idea of a good time.
But it was a good time. No, it was a life-altering great time. Not only was I able to write a short story a week, I also made friends who will be friends for life. My writing surged forward. My first professional short story sale was a story I submitted during Kelly Link's week.
It wasn't all work and no play. Every week the science fiction community in Seattle opened their doors and threw a party in our honor. One week it was a Greg Bear's house. He had a signed Ray Harryhausen poster of Jason and the Argonauts. I was covetous.
Many of my classmates have gone on to publish short stories and poetry. Two people from our class, Brian Conn and Anil Menon have published novels. If you would like to see list of my class's accomplishments, go to http://www.brianconn.net/cw2004/cw2004.html and scroll down. I know you'll be impressed.
Today is the official beginning of the Clarion West Write-a-thon, just like a walk-a-thon, but with words. I have pledged to write 4 chapters of my new novel a week—a rather daunting goal. Your tax-deductible donation goes to fund future writers of speculative fiction.
You can see my write-a-thon page here:
http://clarionwest.org/events/writeathon/DLynnSmith
If you don't feel like pledging money for my efforts, you might consider one of the many other fine writers listed here:
http://clarionwest.org/events/writeathon/2010
I'll be posting weekly updates (maybe more, who knows) on my progress on my blog. I'll also be posting excerpts from my work each week. But you must be kind—remember that I'm trying to turn out 4 chapters a week!
Clarion West is a great cause. I hope you'll follow my progress and find it in your wallet to donate so that other talented writers will have a chance to push their writing to the limits—or maybe beyond.