Editing Science Fiction and Fantasy (Sept 19 – Oct 16, 2022)

Description

$250. How to edit science fiction and fantasy. In this instructor-led, four-lesson class, we’ll discuss the basics of the developmental editing of science fiction and fantasy novels.

The class covers:

• basic conventions of the genre (reader expectations)—what to do when authors violate these and how to tell when they have
• why the “what if?” matters and how to encourage the author to ask (and answer) it
• what we mean by “speculative fiction”’; differences among various subgenres (contemporary fantasy, historical fantasy, space opera, time travel, urban fantasy, dystopian, and more)
• refining a “kitchen sink” story to focus on an overall central conflict and goal
• guiding authors who are overly reliant on common tropes (prophecy, chosen one, special sword)
• working with characters, including helping the author create a believable protagonist and avoid uninspired, cliched characters; dealing with too many viewpoint characters
• helping authors break free of predictable plots (peasant who becomes king; farm boy who saves the solar system)
• showing the author how to create a consistent story world and to define its parameters for readers
• providing guidance for authors who are letting the world-building overshadow the story
• ensuring believability/plausibility in speculative stories
• how to help authors avoid dating their stories (as technology changes quickly)
• problems (and solutions) in editing SFF series
• and more!

The class is meant for editors who have either some experience editing fiction or who have taken a general developmental editing of fiction class. Each week includes an assignment for you to do to practice your editing skills, with personal feedback from the instructor. We’ll have a forum for discussing the lessons and issues.

Though assignments are due at specific times, the class is entirely online and asynchronous: post to the forums when you have time, ask questions when they occur to you, etc. There are no specific meeting times.