Hello! I’m Anaïs, a Mexican speculative fiction writer, and I’m hoping to attend the Viable Paradise writers’ workshop this fall. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive a Writer of Color Scholarship as well as additional support from Con or Bust, and I’m now fundraising to cover the remaining costs that would allow me to attend without putting myself under significant financial strain.

Viable Paradise would be an extraordinary opportunity for me to develop my fiction, learn from writers and editors working in speculative literature, and become part of a community of writers I hope to remain connected to long after the workshop itself. As a Mexican writer, I’m especially excited by the possibility of bringing my own literary and cultural perspective into that community while learning from writers whose backgrounds, interests, and approaches to speculative fiction differ from my own.

Alongside my writing, I work freelance for a publishing house in Mexico. Because I earn my income in Mexican pesos, the cost of attending a workshop in the United States becomes considerably higher once tuition, accommodation, travel, and other expenses are converted into dollars. I’ve been doing everything I can to make the trip possible, and the Writer of Color Scholarship and support from Con or Bust have already brought me much closer to being able to attend.

This fundraiser would help me cover the remaining expenses and, most importantly, allow me to participate in Viable Paradise without the financial stress of stretching my freelance income beyond what I can realistically afford. Any contribution, however small, would make a meaningful difference and help turn an opportunity I’m incredibly excited about into something financially sustainable for me.

Thank you so much for considering helping me get to Viable Paradise. I’m deeply grateful for the support I’ve already received and for anyone willing to help me take this final step.

Anaïs