Speculative Fiction Series: Retellings, Allegory, and Inspiration - Remote!

Class Description

Speculative stories often start with a question, specifically, “What if…?” Sometimes these questions come from science. (What if the rich implanted computer in their brains?) Sometimes they come from fairy tales. (What if the little mermaid were in space?) And sometimes we take inspiration from history. (What if aliens invaded Ireland instead of the British?) In this session we’ll brainstorm new ways of finding inspiration, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of allegory, and discover the magic of “Mooreeffoc.” We’ll read from writers like Naomi Novik, Isabel Yap, Nnedi Okorafor, Annalee Newitz, and Tomi Adeyemi to explore how speculative fictions handle their implicit and explicit relationships with our world. Then, students will have a chance to develop new or existing work through prompts and exercises. Whether your inspiration came from an article in National Geographic, a folktale, or a historical factoid, you’ll leave with a few new ideas and a better understanding of how to grow an original story from real-world events, legends, and innovations.

This class is a part of the Speculative Fiction Series taught by Stephanie Brownell. The series also includes:

Speculative Fiction Series: Establishing Your World

Speculative Fiction Series: Gender and Queerness in Imaginative Worlds

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.