Help send Su J to Viable Paradise!

Hi! For those who don't know me, my name is Su J Sokol and I'm a writer of speculative and interstitial fiction as well as a social rights advocate and activist. I have learned that I was accepted into the renowned Viable Paradise workshop. I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been selected. Attending Viable Paradise, from what I have heard and read, could be truly significant to me as a way to take my craft to a new level while forging important bonds with my co-participants and the staff, including the incredibly talented instructors. However, I need financial help to pay for it.

A little about me: originally from Brooklyn, I immigrated to Canada twenty years ago and am a Montréal resident. I am the author of three published novels and short stories. Words used to describe my work include hopepunk, socio-political sci-fi, queer fiction, and slipstream. The workshop is to focus on my novel-in-progress, 7/7 Time, which is my first full dive into cli-fi/ecological fiction. It is also the first time I am leaning heavily both on my background in philosophy and my love of cooking and urban agriculture. In addition, I intend for my story to pay homage to Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."

Though I knew I could probably not afford to go to Viable Paradise, I could not resist applying. I figured that being accepted was a long shot, but I applied for a grant, just in case, but that grant did not materialize. This is why I am appealing to you now. Below are my anticipated expenses, not including food. Please note that they are in U.S. dollars, but because I live in Canada, I have to raise money in Canadian dollars, so the numbers will seem larger.

TUITION: $2450 USD

LODGING: $550 USD

TRAVEL : $280 USD

This adds up to $3280 USD, which is currently around $4480 CAN.

The travel is based on the cheapest means of getting from Montréal to Oaks Bluff, which is by bus, bus, and ferry. The lodging is based on sharing a space with two others and sleeping in a partitioned area in the common space.

I worked in the community sector all my life. I finally left my job in September of 2023 after doing what was rewarding but very stressful work for just about forty years and suffering from burnout. I had anticipated being able to access a pension that was denied to me, basically because I am writer and considered self-employed and therefore not retired, even though I make very little money. Please feel free to contact me if you want more details.

Anything at all that you are willing to donate to me so that I can afford this amazing opportunity will be gratefully accepted.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!