Welcome Clarion 2016!

Hi all!

Welcome to the Clarion 2016 Blog. Please take a moment to explore the information and links here -- this will be our place to share updates and information before and during the workshop, as well as to get to know one another in advance of the summer.

My name is Patrick Coleman. I'm the new Program Manager of the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination, and I'll be helping coordinate your Clarion experience this year. 

A little about me: I'm originally from north San Diego County, and after living other places for about ten years I came back to the area about five years ago. I used to like hiking and surfing, but with small kids I mostly enjoy picnics and the playground in my off-time these days. My reading life is equally scattered and eclectic -- I like stylistically innovative fiction, satire, contemporary poetry, and science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels with a strong point of view, and I love finding a well-narrated audio book (suggestions welcome!). I'm recovering from a phase of being fixated, in a strange way, with Raymond Chandler (see his grave while you're here!). I come to the Clarke Center after working in freelance art book editing (and for the San Diego Museum of Art before that). I'm a writer, too, with an MFA from Indiana University and a couple books in the works, so I'll be helping you with your Clarion experience with a mixture of envy and empathy! I'm looking forward to making it a memorable experience, in the tradition of this program, and getting to know you while you're here.

More importantly, I'm sure everyone is looking forward to getting to know one another. In the next few weeks, please create a post on the blog and fill out a little information about yourself:

Do you have a nickname?

What do you like to read?

What kind of stories do you write?

How would you describe your personality?

What would you do this summer if you hadn't been accepted to Clarion?

Who will miss you most while you're in San Diego (cats, kids, partner, boss, coworkers)?

Have you participated in an intensive writing workshop before?

What scares you most about Clarion?

What do you do to relax or for recreation?

What 1-2 essential things will you bring to Clarion besides your laptop, watergun, and espresso maker?

What is your ideal career?

What else do you want us to know about you?

Add a picture or two if you like!