I’m one of many participating writers in the Clarion West write-a-thon. My personal page for the write-a-thon lists my goals. I usually sponsor writers, but don’t actually participate. This year Nisi Shawl asked me so nicely I agreed. This is good: external goals always push me.
Here’s what I hope to accomplish: I start out the Clarion season by heading back to Wisconsin to a workshop where a number of professional writers will be critiquing each others novels. So just like the students will get feedback on their work, I will too. Then I’ll spend about four weeks getting my second draft done of the novel, a YA near-future post-collapse novel set mostly in Portland, Oregon. I’ll post about the experience and what I hear, and how it is to get and use feedback as a working professional. I also want to get two short stories done, and two poems. If you sponsor me – even a little – you’ll get emails that include short excerpts of the work. You’ll even get the poems, which I’m afraid will be bad since I haven’t written much poetry lately, even though my first published work was poetry (that’s my extra push for the write-a-thon – digging out my poetry skills, which have rusted a bit).
I will also sponsor some writers.
And…I think you all should too. I hope you sponsor me, but no matter what, sponsor at least one of your favorite writers there! Clarion West does a great job of producing a fabulous experience for the students, and it’s expensive.  These sponsorships help. Donations can be made by PayPal and even $5.00 helps – it all adds up.