Introduction to Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Fantasy and science fiction writing is rooted in the art of world-building, which involves creating a fictional universe where a story takes place. Award-winning writer Andrea Chapela has unraveled magical worlds of her own in her Vâudïz tetralogy series and other short stories, which earned her international recognition throughout Latin America, Spain, and the United States.

In this course, discover how to build a fictional universe of your own design and bring it to life on paper through a compelling story. Discover the elements of speculative fiction and how to incorporate them into world-building. Explore the golden rules of writing science fiction and fantasy to create a page-turning world that transports your readers to another dimension.

Begin by getting to know Andrea. She shares her journey through the world of science fiction and fantasy writing, and shares the novels, short stories, and essays she’s written as well as the prizes she’s won throughout her career. Hear about the writers, books, and films which have inspired her style.

Dive into creative writing by learning about speculative fiction. Explore different ways to find and develop ideas by keeping your notebook filled with writing prompts, idea maps and stories. Andrea takes you on a journey through her creative process, which explores two paths for developing your ideas to capture your reader’s attention while also allowing yourself to write fearlessly.

Bring your ideas to life by developing a fictional world of your own. Andrea walks you through the different literary devices to incorporate into your writing like setting, atmosphere, as well as mood and tone. Discover how to structure your fictional world so that it is compelling, but also original. Learn about the golden rules of writing sci-fi and fantasy to give your world a structured, coherent shape by following a set of rules throughout the story.

After building your fictional world, give it depth by creating the storyline that holds it together. Andrea shares with you the questions every story should answer to achieve a captivating story. Explore concepts like the three types of writing, point of view, character development, conflict, and how to write a strong ending.