2024 Write-a-thon FAQ
Interested in participating, but still have questions? Here are some answers to basic Write-a-thon Questions!
General Questions
What is the Write-a-thon?
How does the Write-a-thon work?
Am I too late to join?
Does it cost anything to participate?
I participated last year — where's my page?
Do I have to fundraise to join the Write-a-thon?
Who gets the money donated during the Write-a-thon?
How do Teams work?
How do I sign up for classes and sprints?
Sponsor & Donor Questions
How do I find a specific writer?
How do I sponsor several writers?
Are Write-a-thon donations tax-deductible?
General Write-a-thon Questions
The Write-a-thon is an annual fundraiser and community builder for Clarion West. It all comes down to writing. Participants set writing goals and then work toward them. We offer free classes, writing sessions and a vibrant online community to support your progress.
Friends and family can pledge donations in support, like a walk-a-thon, but with writing. The Write-a-thon supports Clarion West programs year-round, including our online classes and events, free public programs, and writing workshops!
2. How does the Write-a-thon work?
Participating writers sign up beginning May 28.
Once you have registered, you will get access to Write-a-thon events and the community Discord channel. You can also choose to create a Write-a-thon page from within your dashboard to show the world and share with supporters at any time — or you can simply participate without creating a Write-a-thon page.
Use your page to list your writing goals, post excerpts of your work, and share your page on social media to let people know that you're writing for a good cause. There are all kinds of writing goals—from the manageable “write for five minutes a day” to the ambitious “finish a novel” or “finish six short stories.” Every writer in the Write-a-thon chooses a goal that works for them.
You can see a report of who has donated to your page in support of Clarion West on your Fundraising Dashboard. Many writers send their supporters updates on their progress or show off their completed work at the end of the Write-a-thon, but it’s not required.
You can also participate in the Flash Fiction Workshop, an opportunity to write flash fiction short stories and provide feedback on the work of your peers in small groups. Read more about the Flash Fiction Workshop here [link].
If you have more questions about how the Write-a-thon works, let us know at writeathon@clarionwest.org.
The 2024 Clarion West Write-a-thon runs from June 16 to July 27. But no worries if you get here midway through; there’s no last day to sign up as a participant, and donations are open until August 25th. If you are looking to get to know the community, make friends, and find critique partners, then earlier is better.
Flash Fiction Registration Deadline:
If you want to join the Flash Fiction Groups, you must register between May 28 and June 10. The Flash Fiction Groups are a commitment to write and critique flash fiction stories within a small group of writers for all six weeks.
4. Does it cost anything to participate?
No! All you need to do is set your goals and write or read your way to a productive summer.
Flash Fiction Registration Fee:
There is a $25 fee to participate in the Flash Fiction Groups, but you must sign up between May 28 and June 10 to participate. Participation in the Flash Fiction Groups is optional and only available to Write-a-thon participants. Financial aid discounts are available as well as a limited number of free BIPOC Access seats.
5. I participated last year — where's my page?
If you participated in the Write-a-thon in 2023, you will find your 2023 fundraising page in your dashboard. You will want to start a new page for 2024, however, you will be able to review, copy, and paste whatever you want from your old page.
If you participated in 2021 or 2022, but missed last year, we have migrated to a new database and registration system. It will look a little different, but many of the same principles apply.
6. Do I have to fundraise to join the Write-a-thon?
The Write-a-thon is a fundraiser for Clarion West, but it’s about the writing first.
Whether you want a public-facing page that encourages donations, focuses on your writing, or no public page at all — you create the Write-a-thon experience that works for you! We know you’re a writer, not a fundraiser, so we try to make fundraising as easy as possible — and perhaps even fun — with tools, tips, and ideas. You can find these, and links to classes, sprints, and other related events on the Write-a-thon schedule and in the community Discord.
If you choose to have a public page and help out with fundraising, you will have access to a personal fundraising dashboard!
7. Who gets the money donated during the Write-a-thon?
All donations support Clarion West and its workshops. Clarion West uses the money to run classes, workshops, panels, and other programs for emerging writers, including our Six-Week Summer Workshop. We also hold events, offer scholarships, raise awareness, and promote diverse speculative fiction in Seattle and all over the world. Clarion West is a nonprofit literary organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal EIN 91-1352168).
8. What should I write? Can I write screenplays or poems or essays or other non-speculative fiction work?
We welcome any form of written work for the Write-a-thon. Many choose to work on novels or short stories, but you can also develop screenplays, essays, poems, songs, or any other type of writing. Editing and revision is also welcome!
9. How do Teams work?
If your alumni class or writing group would like to fundraise as a team, you can create a team after registration. Fundraising with a group that you know may be more fun and help you generate ideas. Feeling competitive? Get your class to team up and raise the most funds! Look for the tab for Teams on your fundraising dashboard and join or create a team from there.
10. How do I sign up for Classes & Sprints?
Every week there will be a class or webinar and writing sprints for you to join. There are also local events, public readings, and online social events. The full schedule and all the links and information are on your dashboard.
Sponsor & Donor Questions
1. How do I find a specific writer?
You can find them using the search feature on the "Sponsor a Writer" page. Writers are listed in alphabetical order by first name. You may want to confirm with your writer to find out if they are using their public name, a nickname, or a pseudonym.
2. How do I sponsor several writers?
You can do this in two ways:
a) Choose “Sponsor Multiple Writers” from the list of writers on the “Sponsor a Writer” page. In the “Comment” field list each writer you wish to sponsor and the total amount per writer. Your sponsor split should add up to your total donation and will tell us how to distribute your donation acknowledgments. There is no limit to the number of characters on this form.
b) Click any of the “Donate” buttons on the Write-a-thon site and complete the donation form. In the “Comment” field list each writer you wish to sponsor and the total amount per writer. Your sponsor split should add up to your total donation and will tell us how to distribute your donation acknowledgments.
Can I send a check instead?
Of course! You can send a check with a note by post to Clarion West:
P.O. Box 31264, Seattle, WA 98103-1264
3. Are Write-a-thon donations tax-deductible?
Yes! Clarion West is a nonprofit educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal EIN 91-1352168). Clarion West mails a thank-you letter that can be used as a tax receipt in the U.S. For donations up to $100, or for donors who do not provide a postal mailing address, we send the thank-you letter via email.