Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
$80.00
Description
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write science fiction and fantasy | 4 lessons | Self-paced
In this class, you’ll learn the basics of writing science fiction and fantasy novels.
The class covers:
- conventions of the genres and subgenres (reader expectations)—and why they’re important
- why the “what if?” matters
- 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
- making sure your story isn’t overly reliant on common tropes (prophecy, chosen one, special sword)
- working with characters, including creating a believable protagonist and avoiding uninspired, cliched characters; dealing with too many viewpoint characters
- breaking free of predictable plots (peasant who becomes king; farm boy who saves the solar system)
- creating a consistent story world and defining its parameters for readers
- ensuring believability/plausibility in speculative stories
- problems (and solutions) in writing SFF series
- and more!
The class is entirely online and asynchronous (you don’t have to be in any particular place at any particular time to participate).
