Speculative Series: Worldbuilding Workshop (2-part) - Remote!

For speculative writers, our worlds are the richly painted canvases upon which our stories play out. But worldbuilding is too often a complicated and solitary process. In this two-part class, we'll work to create a solid foundational understanding of our worlds through a workshop just for this essential element.

During our first session together you'll work to create and deepen your world through a series of exercises and discussion with other participants. We'll touch on topics from climate and geography to history and culture to magic, technology, and more. Then, you'll have a chance to revise your Worldbuilding Worksheet over the next week before rejoining the group for day two, the workshop session. During this second session you'll get to share the world you've developed with the group for initial feedback. These quick reactions and questions will help you spotlight what's working well in your world and illuminate areas for further development, enabling you to create an engaging, fully-fleshed backdrop for your story that avoids cliches and contradictions and adds depth to your characters and their journeys.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.