Our online classes are offered throughout the year. We occasionally also offer retreats and in-person workshops. See a class you’d like to take but registration isn’t open? Subscribe to our announcement mailing list to get notifications of new classes.
When fat characters are included in narratives they’re often either negative portrayals (villains or others with moral failings) or faux “positive” portrayals that still center the Thin Gaze. In this Master Class authors Marianne Kirby and Meg Elison will help you move beyond these kinds of tropes and create characters with big bodies that constitute good representation.
[...]
Asian dramas have become incredibly popular, K-dramas in particular. They hook viewers and create a voracious fan base. Why? The plots, characters, and settings have a fresh feel – just enough commonality to give readers an anchor while they’re introduced to elements that are new and different from what they’ve previously experienced.
[...]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer of fiction will, in the course of their career, screw up. A truth not universally acknowledged is that authors can recover from a screw up, even a highly public one, by avoiding specific behaviors that do nothing but escalate and make the situation worse. Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford will break down what authors should not do and advise on what they should do, instead.
[...]
Western storytelling traditions decree that a linear structure (along with the three act structure, the hero’s journey, and a rising self-esteem arc) are mandatory features of any satisfying story. This is Western-centric silliness. In this webinar, author Henry Lien will explore non-linear structures, specifically cyclic and nested structures, using examples from non-Western stories and films.
[...]
Join author Piper J. Drake for an exploration into the relationships between principal characters and how those relationship arcs can be developed into dynamic and evolving connections to engage readers and drive plot forward.
[...]
In this workshop, authors Piper J. Drake and Alethea Kontis 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.
[...]
Gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2022? Before you put words to page, get to know your main character/s better in this Preptober workshop with authors Piper J. Drake and Alethea Kontis.
[...]
Worldbuilding for speculative fiction and SFF games can be a daunting task, even moreso for writers who want to create inclusive cultures filled with diverse characters. This class offers writers a deep dive into key aspects of building inclusive worlds.
[...]
Whether you’re a writer who creates whole new worlds or futures, a writer who uses historical settings or events, or a writer crafting characters whose identities or cultures are very different from your own, you need to learn effective research skills.
[...]
