• Liz is

      a writer of comics, fiction and non-fiction across a range of media.
      She works with community organisations to build participation, membership and meaningful communication, using online and offline tools.

      Where you can find me

      Wiscon May 24-27 - the world's leading feminist science fiction convention, Madison Wisconsin

      Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop, July 14-21, 2013 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

      World Science Fiction Convention August 29 - September 2 - this year in San Antonio, Texas.

      and other places too!

      Cool stuff

      • Month of Letters Month of Letters
      • Things Without Arms and Without Legs Things Without Arms and Without Legs

      me

      • Liz on Facebook
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      Popular Posts

      • Because it's hard
      • Fires, grief, stories and sense making
      • My Clarion Reading List
      • Posts about Clarion by students and instructors from around the globe
      • Rachel Funari – In Memorium

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      Books I’ve read recently

      Liz's bookshelf: read

      iZombie Vol. 1: Dead to the WorldPush of the SkyDoes My Head Look Big in This?Usagi Yojimbo, Book 23: Bridge of TearsZot!: The Complete Black-and-White Collection: 1987-1991Six Memos for the Next Millennium

      More of Liz's books »
      Liz Argall's  book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

      Chronology

      May 2013
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      Recent Comments

      • Liz on Awesomesauce news! Falling Leaves
      • nicole on Awesomesauce news! Falling Leaves
      • Liz on Mermaid’s Hook will kiss your ear-meats
      • Shauna Roberts on Mermaid’s Hook will kiss your ear-meats
      • Being a bit o’ this and that at the beginning or end of one week or another | AndreaBlythe.com on Jealousing is the new writing exercise
    • Feb 16thClarion Blogs February Update

      Three new Clarion blogs have been added to the collection this month – Random Jane, Artemis Jones and Allan Rouselle. I found these blogs through a lovely e-mail Neile Graham sent me many months ago that I’m slowly working my way through. Thanks Neile!


      by Liz
    • Aug 14thClarion reading list

      Updated 5 September – as I go through my notes and find more recommendations.

      One of the many joys of Clarion was to get recommendations for good reads from wise teachers and co-clarionerds. This is an incomplete list, I forgot to jot down the list on the fridge and I’m sure there are ones mentioned in passing that I neglected. My dear co-clarionitics, if you read this and see absences and would like to recommend… or indeed other wise minds who read this and want to add to my enormous reading list please make some suggestions. It’s delightful to have such a rich and diverse list.

      (more…)


      by Liz
    • Mar 31stClarion blogs, journals, articles and interviews

      Last updated 23 December 2012

      An organically growing collection of blog posts, journals and interviews by people who have attended Clarion. To be included the posts must be specifically about the Clarion experience.

      Please let me know if you have (or know of) a link that should be added. If you add a comment with links and it does not appear within a day please e-mail me, it may have set off the spam filter.

      This a lot of information, so you may wish to start with Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers’ Workshop written by Clarion co-founder Kate Wilhelm.

      Direct links to journal entries (or tagged collections of entries)

      NEW Andy Romine and John Remy  – Clarion West 2010

      • Andy and John collaboratively write about their experience

      NEW Linda J Dunn – Clarion 2000

      • Linda blogged frequently and frankly. She wrote 20 stories while at Clarion. The 19 Clarionites in her year wrote 126 stories between them!

      Leonard Pung Remembered – Clarion ’09

      • Leonard Pung Memorial Scholarship
      • I wrote about Leonard, and collected other posts written in his memory

      Excerpts from Story Teller at Small Beer Press

      • Snippets of memory and lessons learned from Gordon Van Gelder, Jeff Ford, Kit Reed, Jim Sallis, Cory Doctorow, Gregory Frost and Nancy Kress

      5 Things I Learned at Clarion/Clarion West

      • Andy Romine writes a full journal entry for each thing he learned.
      • Part 1 - Grá Linnaea, Jim Kelly, Ken Schneyer, Megan Kurashige, Paul M Berger
      • Part 2 – Adam Israel, Damien Walter, Dana Huber,Ferrett Steinmetz, Kat Howard, Liz Argall, Stefani Nellen, Tim Pratt
      • Part 3 – Collin Piprell, Edd Vick, John Walters,Nicole Taylor, Philip Brewer, Sue Burke
      • Part 4 – Emily Jiang, Matt London, Monica Byrne

      Adventures in SciFi Publishing – Clarion 2008

      • A series of interviews with instructors and graduates.
      • Nalo Hopkinson talks about creating a good culture during your workshop around 20 mins into this interview

      Alumni Interviews on Tor.com, by Matt London

      • Kenneth Schneyer
      • Shauna Roberts
      • Grady Hendrix

      Tiffani Angus – Clarion 2009

      • Week 1
      • Week 2
      • Week 3
      • Week 4
      • Week 5
      • Week 6
      • And a general Clarion tag, for pre-Clarion and post-Clarion briefings

      Frank Ard – Clarion West 2010

      • Interview from University of South Alabama – warning, it is a facebook link

      Liz Argall –  Clarion 2009

      • Congratulations and advice to the Class of 2010
      • Post Clarion and moving to the USA reflections – We do it because it is hard

      Mishell Baker – Clarion 2009

      • Fantasy Magazine article on pregnantly preparing for Clarion

      Lee Batersby hosts guest blogs and other juicy Clarion things – Clarion South 2009

      • Clarion tagged thingies on Lee Battersby’s Blog

      Gregory Norman Bossert – Clarion 2010

      • Blog post … and a link to pretty pictures

      Alessio Bresciani – Clarion South

      • http://www.storiesofthefuture.com/category/clarion-south/

      Keyan Bowes – Clarion 2007

      • Keyan Bowes has created a lovely index page chronicling her Clarion experiences

      Philip Brewer – Clarion 2001

      • Launchpad for journals, essays (including one on the costs) and linkage love for the class of ’01
      • What if you can’t go to Clarion? How to be your own writer’s workshop

      Michael A. Burstein – Clarion 1994

      • The Clarion Call

      John Chu – Clarion 2010

      • His Clarion Blog Post

      Aidan Doyle – Clarion South

      • What I Learned From Clarion South
      • Aidan’s article in the Internet Review of Science Fiction

      The Ferret – Clarion

      • Collected Journal entries about Clarion (updated to a new and improved launchpad 1 April 09, thanks Mr Ferret)

      Eugene Fischer – Clarion 2008

      • Advice for those who didn’t get in, congratulations to the Class of 2009, reflections and links to Kathleen Howard‘s Clarion survival advice

      Peta Freestone – Clarion 2011

      • Excellent advice for anyone preparing for Clarion or an intensive residential writers workshop

       

      Neile Graham – Clarion West 1996

      • Neile shows us her journey by sharing e-mails she sent to a friend

      Gavin J Grant – Clarion 2000

      • On readings by the instructors

      Kat Howard – Clarion

      • http://strangeink.blogspot.com/search/label/Clarion

      Random Jane – Clarion West 2005

      • Short and sweet with some unusual metrics (I wonder how the yoga mat is)

      Artemis Jones – Clarion West 2002

      • Artemis’ journey starts here

      James Wallace Harris – Clarion West 2002

      • Satori Stories

      Babel Krieg – Clarion West 2008

      • A series of blog posts

      Jordan Lapp – Clarion West 2009

      • His tagged posts are here

      Geoffrey A. Landis - Clarion 1985

      • Survival tips (still relevant today), a few thoughts looking back, and where are they now statistics

      David Levine – Clarion West 2000

      • Journal entries plus lots of linkage love to other Clarion things

      Rochita Loenen-Ruiz – Clarion West 2009

      • In Fantasy Magazine she writes of her anticipation
      • She wrote many blog posts in her Livejournal, this is when she arrives at Clarion and you can trace her steps from there

      Maura McHugh – Clarion West 2006

      • Maura’s posts tagged Clarion – go back a few pages if you want to read stuff written in the moment (though often reflections afterwards have interesting digestions).

      Suzy McKee Charnas – A tutor’s perspective

      • Clarion, Teaching the best fiction writers’ workshop for fantasy and science fiction

      Sam J Miller – Clarion 2012

      • Sam has collected an epic number of quotes. Writing advice, industry advice, shenanigan advice. These quotes came from the following brilliant writers:

      Ted Chiang, John Scalzi, Delia Sherman, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Vernor Vinge,Walter Jon Williams, Jeffrey Ford, Greg Van Eekhout, Doselle Young, Karen Jay Fowler, Shelley Streeby, Cindy Pon,Carmen Machado, Chris Kammerud, Lisa Bolekaja, Ruby Obeyeskere, E.G. Cosh, Eliza Blair, Sadie Mattox, Joseph Kim, Sarah Mack, Deborah Bailey, Daniel McMinn, Jonathan Fortin, Lara Donnelly, Danica Cummins, Luke Pebler, Pierre Liebenberg, Eric Esser, and Sam J. Miller.

      Steve Mitchell, Clarion South 2009

      • With pretty pictures and everything

      Cathy Morrison – Clarion 2003

      • Clarion Journal. Nicely structured so you can see which instructor her brain-meats are about to be inspired by.

      Val Nolan – Clarion ’09

      • What Clarion meant to Val, and why you should go

      Kari O’Connor – Clarion 2007

      • Many and varied blog posts about Clarion

      John Remy – Clarion West 2010

      • Week 0
      • Framing the Clarion West Narrative
      • My Clarion West Experience: No Conflict, No Story

      Pamela Rentz – Clarion West 2008

      • Overview
      • Week 1
      • Week 2
      • Week 3
      • Week 4 part 1 and? Week 4 part 2
      • Week 5
      • Week 6

      Shauna Roberts – Clarion 2009

      • Shauna reflects on the process on her personal blog
      • Shauna writes about it in Novel Spaces

      Andy Romine – Clarion West 2010

      • Things learned and other stuff in his Clarion West tag.

      Ben Rosenbaum – Clarion West

      • http://www.benjaminrosenbaum.com/journal/2001_06_20.html
      • http://www.benjaminrosenbaum.com/journal/2001_07_12.html
      • http://www.benjaminrosenbaum.com/journal/2001_08_17.html

      Allan Rousselle – Clarion West 2001

      • Allan’s journey starts here

      Rudy Rucker – Clarion West 2009

      • Some sage words from an instructor How to write

      Ken Schneyer – Clarion 2009

      • Ken’s congratulations and advice to the Class of 2010
      • Index of posts relating to Clarion (some of his posts even have pretty pictures!)

      John Schoffstall – Clarion West 2004

      • http://st-at-clarion.livejournal.com/

      Wendy A. Shaffer – Clarion West 2002

      • Read the whole shebang here

      William Shunn – Clarion 1985

      • Clarion My Wayward Son

      Angela Slatter – Clarion South

      • Overview of the full 6 weeks

      Clarion South on Tor.com – an overview

      • A lovely overview and interview with the administrators of Clarion South

      Clarion South on WordPress, including interviews with tutors on the process.

      • http://en.wordpress.com/tag/clarion-south-writers-workshop/

      Clarion South Collective of 2007

      • What comes first the successful writer or the workshop part one
      • What comes first the successful writer or the workshop part two
      • Getting creative part 1
      • Getting creative aka the physics of unicorn horns part 2
      • Quantity versus quality part one
      • Quality over quantity part two
      • Everything I need to know I learned at clarion south by laura e goodin
      • Working-with-the-big-bad-bold-tutors

      and the achievements of the 2007 class over the last two years

      Clarion South Two years on

      Jasmine Stairs – Clarion 2011

      • All of her Clarion experiences tagged together. Full of pretty pictures and entertaining quotes.

      Dallas Taylor – Clarion 2010

      • Looking back at Clarion 2010 – and why you should apply for 2011
      • Process, application and who knows what else under his Clarion tag

      Tom Undeberg – Clarion 2010

      • Tom keeps it short and sweet.

      Michael Underwood – Clarion West ’07

      • A collection of posts organized by tag

      Jeff VanderMeer, Clarion South 2009

      • A teacher’s perspective

      Tracie Welser (Clarion West 2010)

      • Things tagged Clarion on her blog (including her Clarion Tattoo)

      Alex Wilson – Clarion 2006

      • On preparing himself for Clarion

      Caroline M. Yoachim – Clarion West 2006

      • Tagged collection of Clarion entries

       

      Clarion related and more alumni

      Tina Connolly maintains a lot of knowledge love and linkage love for Clarion West, her year and other years

      General blogs and linkage love for Clarion class of 2006

      Blog links for Clarion West class of 2006

      David Barr Kirtley – After Clarion

      The Clarion Actual

      The Clarion Foundation, & Clarion (San Diego, USA)

      Clarion West (Seattle, USA)

      Clarion South (????, Australia) – on hiatus indefinitely until they find an affordable venue. If you know somewhere that might be suitable for hosting a 6 week residential workshop please contact the organizers.

      And down below, that’s my Clarion – 2009, San Diego

      Clarion, San Diego, 2009

       


      by Liz
    • Feb 17thTaken to Twitter!

      I have now joined the twitterers. I blame Stephen Fry, he’s so intelligent and lovely and his love for it has infused me. It had been tempting me for sometime, given that lovely smart people like Liz Gorinsky and Mary Robinette Kowal Twitter. I have read enough about twitter and seen enough evidence that I know it can be a meaningful part of my day… I don’t like grabbing a social networking tool just to play the who’s got the most friends game. I am, very imaginatively http://twitter.com/lizargall

      Here’s the lowdown on how I use my various social networks:
      Myspace – I call it radio myspace, I don’t like the interface, I don’t like the ads, but it is the best place to collect musicians! I am hopeless at remembering the names of musicians I love, so this serves as a useful way of capturing them. By looking at who musicians I love friend I also expand my acoustic horizons and find new and interesting bands.

      Facebook: A great all-rounder. My website (this post right now) is syndicated on it, my twitter account posts to it. I like the clean look, it feels nice checking in folks, gives me a good sense of connection and has an open airy feel.

      Linkedin – Really helps me put my business head on, makes me think in a business-like manner and is a different sharing environment. There are interesting posts from the groups I’m in and I get to see how other people frame themselves. I don’t hang out regularly (perhaps I should), but I get stuff out of it every time I do.

      LiveJournal – this website is syndicated on LJ and I have another LJ account that has been going for over nine years. It’s not a secret account, but I don’t publicise it as it is my most intimate space on the internet.


      by Liz
    • Feb 16thComics Workshop now on 24 February

      My Comics workshop planned for 17 February will now be held on the 24th – we have encountered some logistical difficulties.

      Making Comics – writing, drawing and scheming!

      When: 2.30 – 5.30 Tuesday 24 February

      For: People aged 12-25

      Where: U-Turn
      Corner Chandler Street and Swanson Court
      Belconnen ACT 2616

      This workshop is free, thanks to the great folks at U-Turn who are all about:

      Supporting young people aged 12 to 25 years, through recreational, educational, and health promotional activities, programs and community-based projects.

      U-Turn organise a whole range of activites for young people in the Belconnen region – http://www.bcsact.com.au/


      by Liz
    • Feb 9thComic creation drop in workshop in Canberra

      Making Comics – writing, drawing and scheming!

      Serious, silly, gritty, funny, bizarre or poignant. One panel to 300 page sagas and beyond. Stick figures, photo realism or crazy collage. The world of comics is an amazing place.

      An informal comics creation session for experienced hands and those who’ve never tried it before. Liz Argall will tailor the drop in session to what you want to learn and where you’d like to take the craft – draw, doodle, write and where to after that? Lets make some awesome comics.

      When: 2.30 – 5.30 Tuesday 17 February

      For: People aged 12-25

      Where: U-Turn
      Corner Chandler Street and Swanson Court
      Belconnen ACT 2616

      This workshop is free, thanks to the great folks at U-Turn who are all about:

      Supporting young people aged 12 to 25 years, through recreational, educational, and health promotional activities, programs and community-based projects.

      U-Turn organise a whole range of activites for young people in the Belconnen region – http://www.bcsact.com.au/


      by Liz
    • Jan 23rdPost Workshops

      Well I’ve finished all my booked in workshops. Wow, what a ride, what a rush. I’ve been delighted by the artwork that has been produced by my students, and how they have learned a lot more about telling stories with their art.

      It’s been rewarding to challenge confident students to new levels and have shy students develop confidence and skills.

      I’ve learned a lot as well and my teacherly folder of handouts has more than tripled in size over the past few weeks (first teaching every day at the Young Music Society and then at the Australian National Museum).

      If you would like me to bring a workshop on comics, storytelling, writing, the art of collaboration or being a funky creative humanbeing/funky creative workplace please drop me a line. I love tailoring workshops to specific groups and happy to travel (please note, I am currently based in Canberra, Australia).


      by Liz
    • Sep 29thConflux time of year

      Conflux is almost upon us, Canberra’s annual Science Fiction Convention.

      I’m really excited about the panels this year, lots of interesting, juicy subject matter, with some strong social/cultural analysis elements that makes my inner anthropologist squee with joy. I’m not sure how much I’ll get to experience much however, I’m co-mcing the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the open mic night, I’m runnning a three hour workshop on the Business of Comics, chairing two panels and on another.

      I’m so glad I’m mcing with Richard Harland, as the responsibility of opening and closing feels quite large and Richard seems quite lovely.

      Wish me luck!


      by Liz

      Good Old Fashioned Hand Written Code by Eric J. Schwarz

        Liz ArgallPoetry prose comics & song

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