Class Description
Are you a fan of science fiction and fantasy, or any form of speculative fiction? Are you ready to invent a new world or develop one you’re already inventing? You’ve come to the right place! In this class, we’ll learn the principles of world-building alongside elements of craft. We’ll concentrate on story elements that are unique to speculative genres, such as believability and consistency in world-building, the ""hero"" arc of the protagonist, magic and technology, and fantastic environments and details. Each week, we'll go over a specific aspect of world-building, read examples of published work that illustrate craft (including authors such as Octavia Butler, Kelly Link, Margaret Atwood, Ursula LeGuin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Nnedi Okorafor, and others) and test out the lesson's concepts in a writing exercise. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your work weekly and get feedback from your classmates. You’ll leave class with new scenes, a fleshed-out concept for a world, and lots of new writing tools.
Short story writers and novelists alike are welcome, as are students new to the genres; however, writers should come to class either with an existing project or a concrete idea to develop.
*NOTE that while our handy dandy "Schedule" tab states a 6-7pm class time, there are actually no live meetings for this class! Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink, our online class platform, before 5pm on the first day of class.
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.
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 detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.