This week we talked with Marnee Chua who is the executive director of the speculative fiction writers’ workshop Clarion West. We talk about the history and goals of Clarion West, but move onto topics including the challenges in adapting books into movies, how it is easy to get a simplified view of other cultures in America, and why books should have different versions. We hope you enjoy!
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:
00:30 - History of Clarion West
03:51 - Clarion West’s Mission
04:30 - Structure of the Standard Six Week Writers’ Workshop
05:44 - Pros and Cons of the Milford Model
07:51 - Why Clarion West has moved away from the Milford Model
15:25 - To what extent can you separate the Art from the Artist?
17:37 - The many possible interpretations of art, and the challenge of creating a single film from a book.
18:50 - Examples of successful adaptations in The Expanse and The Lord of the Rings
20:17 - Non-superficial differences between cultures
27:53 - Experiencing other cultures within the White-American cultural framework
30:37 - Cultural Tags on Books
32:45 - Versioning Books
34:32 - Can cowriting be successful?
35:46 - Jobs specifically tailored for couples
38:36 - The relationship between art and capitalism
44:36 - The lack of cultural communication between business and the arts
46:47 - What causes the success of an artistic venture?
50:29 - Conclusion and final short story recommendation
Share this post