Class

6-Week Workshop: Worldbuilding in Speculative Fiction

In this workshop, we will develop complex living worlds for sci-fi, fantasy, horror and other genres under the Speculative Fiction umbrella. Both new and seasoned speculative fiction writers are welcome. Come ready to connect, experiment, play, and learn! Through world-building activities and craft lessons, we will discover new plotlines and characterization, hone our points of view, craft magic and technology systems, make maps, and experiment with writing non-human characters.

We will read Adult and Young Adult short and long Fiction by Rachael K. Jones, River Solomon, Jeff Vandermeer, N.K. Jemisin, Aidan Thomas, Haley Chewins, and more. Whenever possible, reading materials will be provided in both audio and text formats. Our goal is to generate at least one new short story, begin a novel and/or develop a work in progress. We will share our successes and challenges with in-class creative exercises and optional take-home prompts. Participants can submit up to 1,000 words for written and verbal workshop feedback from the instructor and other participants. We will co-create an inclusive and positive workshop experience. Please note that in addition to completing assigned readings ahead of discussions, everyone will be expected to provide in-line comments and a short feedback letter to each of their peers.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.