Building Blocks of Speculative Fiction with Alaya Dawn Johnson (Zoom)

This is a 6-week Zoom class that meets Saturdays, 12:00-2:00 p.m., on November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5 and 12.

“Speculative fiction” is the umbrella term for any work that incorporates elements beyond what we consider part of the real and mundane world. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror are all speculative genres, as are magical realism, surrealism, and others. This class will explore the fundamental tools of speculative fiction with an eye to generating your own speculative work. This class will be aimed at speculative newbies, but old hands are also welcome. Over the course of six weeks, we will cover: literalizing metaphor, worldbuilding, conveying information, language and tone and a few miscellaneous tips from my own decades in the genre. We will read short stories and novel excerpts from the masters of the genre and analyze their techniques. And we will generate our own work through targeted exercises.