Worldbuilding Deep Dive Workshop
Worldbuilding can sometimes seem a giant task, especially at the beginning of a novel or other narrative work. In this workshop, authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford will guide you through short writing exercises that will help you dive into aspects of your world that writers often overlook, but that impact your story and characters in major ways. It’s a great way to get creative juices flowing ahead of starting a new narrative project or to add depth to your world as you work through your revision process.
This workshop is for all narrative writers at any skill level (not just those looking to portray cultures very different to your own!). Anyone looking to understand their world better is welcome to attend.
Two Workshops, One Weekend
Each day of this webinar is a separate workshop. Saturday’s session will be led by Nisi Shawl and Sunday’s session by K. Tempest Bradford. Students may join us for one or both days. All participants will get an extra set of exercises at the end they can use over and over for world/culture building at any time in the writing process.
Saturday: Exercises focusing on drilling down deep into narrow aspects of your world with Nisi.
Sunday: Exercises exploring key aspects of your world through how characters experience it with Tempest.
Both days start at 9:30AM and end at 4PM Pacific. There will be breaks during the day.
Date: October 17th and 18th, 2026
Time: 9:30AM – 4PM Pacific (click here to convert to your time zone)
Where: Online — Zoom Classroom
Price: $100 for one day, or both of them together for $150 Scholarships are available for attendees who need financial assistance.
Registration Deadline: October 11th, 2026
Who Should Take This Webinar?
Writers of speculative fiction or games across all genres — Literary, YA, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Children’s Books, Romance — from all backgrounds and any skill level.
Accessibility
Zoom meetings software is compatible with standard screen readers and has several other accessibility features that make it possible for writers who are Blind or vision impaired to participate in the webinar. Questions will be submitted via the chat function or voice.
Live closed captions will be available, auto-generated by Zoom. Note: the accuracy of these captions varies, and for live webinars we do not edit them.
Technical Requirements
Zoom video conferencing works on computers, tablets, and most smartphones. We suggest you access the live webinar via a computer for the best experience. Before enrolling in class, make sure your computer or mobile device is compatible with Zoom. Before class, load the app on your system and join this test meeting.
A webcam/video camera is not necessary for class because students aren’t required be on video. You can call in via phone if audio isn’t working through your computer.
Scholarship Opportunities
We have full and partial Vonda N. McIntyre Sentient Squid Scholarships available for this webinar. If you do not have the financial means to pay for all or part of the registration cost, we encourage you to apply. We have a broad definition of financial need that ranges from writers who do not have the money at all to writers who have the funds but can’t afford to use them for a writing class.
Wherever you exist on the financial needs spectrum, don’t self reject! (Still not sure whether you should apply? Read this.)
Our scholarships are available to any writer regardless of background or identity. We set aside a portion of scholarships specifically for students who identify under the POC, BIPOC, or BAME umbrellas as well as for Palestinian writers/writers of Palestinian heritage, though we do not limit the number of scholarships we give to marginalized authors.
If you can afford to pay for part but not all of the registration fee, please apply for a partial scholarship. Under this financial aid plan you can let us know the amount you can afford. If you cannot afford to pay at all, please apply for a full scholarship.
To apply, please fill out this form. You’ll be asked to provide:
- A brief (300 or fewer words) statement of financial need
- A brief (500 or fewer words) description of a work or works in progress that you hope the webinar will help you create.
- If you identify as POC, BIPOC, BAME, or Palestinian, you may indicate that if you wish.
Deadline: 11:59PM Pacific October 3rd, 2026. We will notify all applicants of their standing one week before class begins. If you have any questions, please use our contact form to ask!
Refund Policy
If you find that you need to drop the class, you may do so via Humanitix.
If you send a refund request up to 14 days before the class start date, you will receive a full refund.
Beyond that time you will not have your registration fee refunded. However, you will be able to use your payment as credit toward enrollment in a future class.
Register Below
If you have a promo or discount code, please choose your registration option first, click Enter Details, then add it to the Discount Code field on the next screen. If the whole box below gives you trouble, click here to register on our Humanitix page.