Writing the Fantastic (Online)
October 4 - December 6
Fee: $525
This course expands the study of science fiction and fantasy writing to include both short and novel-length fiction. Infusing a narrative with originality and fantastic literature's much-discussed 'Sense of Wonder'--while at the same time preserving its clarity and heart--is a juggling act that can test a writer's skills to the utmost.
In Writing the Fantastic, emphasis is placed on meeting this challenge by merging the otherworldly content of speculative fiction with humane, emotionally powerful storytelling. Through exercises and readings, students continue to deepen their understanding of the speculative subgenres:
- alternate history,
time-travel,
horror,
dark fantasy,
sword and sorcery,
urban fantasy,
sociological science fiction,
and hard science fiction.
The course goal is to submit a short story or novel fragment to the class for review, then to utilize this workshop feedback to form and execute a revision plan.
Prerequisite: Creating Universes, Building Worlds, or a previous speculative fiction workshop, or some experience in submitting and selling in the field. Enrollment limited to 15 students.
Alyx Dellamonica, author of "A Slow Day at the Gallery," a Year's Best Science Fiction pick in 2002, as well as numerous other science fiction and fantasy stories. Ms. Dellamonica has published fiction in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, SciFi.Com, and Realms of Fantasy, as well as a host of anthologies, including most recently, Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge and Passing for Human. Ms. Dellamonica is a staff writer at Science Fiction Weekly and contributes book reviews to the Internet Review of SF and Strange Horizons.
“…I help you unleash your imagination, carving unique tales out of raw ideas, then refining them into finished works that speak eloquently for themselves.â€
Visit www.uclaextension.edu/writers or call 310-825-0107.