This class is an excellent fit for students who love the Avengers, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and any other work of science fiction or fantasy. Appropriate for all skill levels aged 8+.

Students will learn the mechanics, tropes, and reader expectations of popular genres and how to leverage them in their own writing. They will learn plot patterns such as the three-act structure and the Hero’s Journey that will help them outline stories, avoid plot holes, and produce satisfying work faster. Students will develop a greater appreciation for the works of fiction they love by understanding the careful craft that goes into worldbuilding and character creation and will emerge empowered to release their imagination onto the page.

Each week will focus on a different craft skill as it pertains to the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Classes will include lectures, discussions, and examples from popular media. Every session will close with time for students to write either a new story idea based on a prompt, a story from a previous class, or a writing exercise based on the craft skill.

Week 1: What is genre?
Week 2: What’s the difference between sci-fi and fantasy?
Week 3: Where do ideas come from?
Week 4: Genre elements of science fiction & fantasy
Week 5: Worldbuilding
Week 6: Patterns and Tropes in Science Fiction & Fantasy
Week 7: Character building
Week 8: Setting
Week 9: Conflict
Week 10: Plot — The Three Act Structure
Week 11: Plot — The Hero’s Journey
Week 12: Crafting Vivid Descriptions — Showing and Telling
Week 13: Pacing — Scene and Summary
Week 14: The Second Draft — Skills for Revising and Editing