If you're applying for, or considering applying for, Clarion or Clarion West, you may wish to check out this essay written by Howard Waldrop, who has occasionally read for the admissions committee for Clarion West:

http://www.electricstory.com/reviews/cry_me_a_9.asp

I will also confess to you that I am now on the Clarion West board (although I am not part of the admissions committee), and I have a couple of additional tips regarding submissions to the program:

1) The submissions need to be received by April 1st, not postmarked by April 1st. If you want it to arrive by April 1st, you can safely use the US Postal Service's 1st class or Priority Mail for another week or so. If, like me, you tend to rub right up against the deadline, do yourself and everyone else a favor and expedite the shipping. When they say manuscripts must be received by April 1st, they mean it.

2) There is a firm limit on the number of pages for your submission, as stated in the application instructions. Follow it. Don't ask if you can submit an extra ten pages. Don't submit an extra ten pages without asking. Just stick to the limit. Going over the limit pisses off the readers. You don't want to piss off the readers. The readers are your friend. The page limit includes all material for consideration, even your synopsis, so don't figure you can go up to the limit for a first chapter and then include a ten page synopsis. Just don't do it. The limit = the limit.

2.5) And changing the margins to make the limit is a no-no. Follow standard manuscript guidelines. (Courier or Courier New font, 12 point, one-inch margins all the way around.)

3) The application instructions tell you to send in four copies. Send in four copies.

These tips are not me speaking officially on behalf of Clarion West. I'm just saying that, based upon what I've observed, following the application instructions has benefits. For example, it improves your chances of getting in. And, in general, making the readers unhappy with you is *not* going to improve your odds.

For those of you who are not interested in Clarion or Clarion West in any way, well... I'll post something more meaningful here soon. I promise.

No, really!