A Speculative Fiction Workshop
Level: All Levels
World-building is fun, isn't it? All that unfettered creativity, limitless brainstorming, unleashed power of the imagination—it’s a writer’s dream. But it's not the same as storytelling, and sometimes it's hard to see how to get from one to the other.
In this workshop, we'll find some paths from world-building to writing. Some of the topics we will engage, workshopping our way toward answers in a rigorous but supportive group environment:
• What Are the Key Elements of a Compelling Fictional World?; or, You Don’t Have to Draw Maps but You Can If You Want to
• Why Do I Love the Scenery So Much?; or, Stop Rehashing Tolkien
• Whose Story Is This?; or, Not Another Damn Chosen One
• What Do I Leave Out?; or, I Suffered for My Art and Now It’s Your Turn
Come in with a world, and you'll leave with the beginnings of a story. The rest is up to you.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, October 28, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Alex Irvine has written fifty or so books, spanning science fiction, fantasy, baseball, comics, movie novelizations, and interactive fiction, among other things. He has won the Locus, Crawford, International Horror Guild, and Scribe awards, and his fiction has been translated into more than a dozen languages. He has also written a number of games, including Marvel: Avengers Alliance, The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, and the upcoming Space Punks. He has taught English at the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine. A full-time professional writer since 2010, he still has to snap himself out of the world-building daydream sometimes, because those stories aren't going to write themselves.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at hannah@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on October 18 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION