Online Science Fiction Writing Classes
Web and Email-based Classes for Genre Writers
Writing Science Fiction 101 isn’t in many college catalogs. Fortunately, several online schools for writers have sprung up to fill the niche. Most offer instruction on the nuts-and-bolts of writing as well as genre-specific classes.
Gotham Writers’ Workshop
Gotham Writers’ Workshop offers several ten-week science fiction classes, each taught by established authors. Rated Best of the Web by Forbes Magazine, the Gotham Writers Workshop offers classes in New York city as well as on the internet. Classes include web-based lecture, exercises, chat, and story critiques.
Science Fiction I is geared toward short stories. Class size is limited to 16 people. Advanced Science Fiction (Science Fiction II) is geared more toward novels but students can still workshop short stories. Class size is limited to 14. Students can repeat classes to continue working on projects. Instructors for Science Fiction I and II include authors Michaela Roessner, Daniel Marcus, and Marta Randall.
The Master Class is devoted almost exclusively to workshopping. Students can have up to 150 pages of a novel critiqued by a published novelist and their class peers. Class size is limited to 6 people. Students must have completed Science Fiction I and II, done substantial work on a science fiction novel, and submitted a writing sample in order to enroll. (However, students may not be selected for the class due to demand.) Marta Randall teaches the Master Class.
Gotham recently earned International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) certification, enabling it to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for successful completion of ten-week and some six-week courses.
Science Fiction I and II cost $395 ($365 for returning students). The Master Class is $545. Registration fee is $25 per term.
Writers’ Digest Writers Online Workshops
Writers Online Workshops (WOW) offers a six-week “Essentials of Science Fiction Writing” course developed by John DeChancie. Class format includes web-based lecture, exercises, and feedback.
WOW offers Continuing Education Units for most classes. The “Essentials” class costs $199.
Writers on the Net
Writers on the Net lists a few genre courses in its catalog, including a ten-week “Imaginative Fiction” class taught by John Shirley.
Class format is primarily email-based. Most ten-week classes cost $310; most eight-week classes are $260.
Not every class in the catalog is continuously taught. Check the site for class availability.
Other Worlds Writers' Workshop
Other Worlds Writers' Workshop offers a six-week structured program for beginning science fiction and fantasy writers called the Six Keys. You must be a workshop member in order to take the class. Joining is free, but the class is $100.
Free Lessons
If you’re not quite ready to plunk down several hundred dollars for one of the above classes, you may want to check out some free lessons that a couple of noted authors have posted online:
- Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy -- a self-paced writing course developed by writer Jeffrey Carver
- Uncle Orson’s Writing Class - lessons posted by Orson Scott Card on his Hatrack River web site.
Also, Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop offers podcasts of many of its guest lectures through iTunes.
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