Introduction to Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Begin by getting to know Andrea. She shares her journey through the world of science fiction and fantasy writing, and shares the novels, short stories, and essays she’s written as well as the prizes she’s won throughout her career. Hear about the writers, books, and films which have inspired her style.

Dive into creative writing by learning about speculative fiction. Explore different ways to find and develop ideas by keeping your notebook filled with writing prompts, idea maps and stories. Andrea takes you on a journey through her creative process, which explores two paths for developing your ideas to capture your reader’s attention while also allowing yourself to write fearlessly.

Bring your ideas to life by developing a fictional world of your own. Andrea walks you through the different literary devices to incorporate into your writing like setting, atmosphere, as well as mood and tone. Discover how to structure your fictional world so that it is compelling, but also original. Learn about the golden rules of writing sci-fi and fantasy to give your world a structured, coherent shape by following a set of rules throughout the story.

After building your fictional world, give it depth by creating the storyline that holds it together. Andrea shares with you the questions every story should answer to achieve a captivating story. Explore concepts like the three types of writing, point of view, character development, conflict, and how to write a strong ending.

Explore the editing and rewriting elements of creative writing to achieve the best version of your story. Recap your text to ensure your fictional world has a solid foundation, and your storyline is well-structured and compelling to your readers. Wrap up the course by hearing Andrea’s tips on how to keep finding new stories, getting published, or find grants to support your writing.