Unfortunately, Writing Science Fiction 101 isn’t in many college catalogs. Several online schools for writers have sprung up to fill the niche, though. Most offer instruction on the nuts-and-bolts of writing as well as genre-specific classes.
Gotham Writers’ Workshop
Gotham Writers’ Workshop (http://www.writingclasses.com/) 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 online. Classes include web-based lecture, exercises, chat, and story critiques.
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) (http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/) offers a six-week “Essentials of Science Fiction Writing” course developed by John DeChancie. Class format includes web-based lecture, exercises, and feedback. The “Essentials” class costs $199.
Writers on the Net
Writers on the Net (http://www.writers.com/) 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.)
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 (http://www.writesf.com/) — a self-paced writing course developed by writer Jeffrey Carver. Free.
- Uncle Orson’s Writing Class (http://www.hatrack.com/writingclass/index.shtml) – lessons posted by Orson Scott Card on his Hatrack River web site.
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