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21 Best Science Fiction Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Showing writing courses curated by Reedsy.

Location

This directory of creative writing courses will help you find the right class for you. Simply filter by genre, price, and location to find the writing class that best fits your needs.

Best of luck! If you run a writing course and would like to get in touch with us about your class, contact us here.


Clarion offers an intensive six-week summer program specifically tailored to the writing of science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories. Recognized as a leading training ground for aspiring writers in these genres, the program focuses on fundamental aspects unique to speculative fiction. Students benefit from the guidance of highly respected and experienced writers and editors active in the field.

Prerequisites: Application fee, application, and two short stories.

Location: San Diego

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Class size: 18

Price: $5,150.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Viable Paradise

Viable Paradise


This one-week residential workshop, running from October 8th to October 13th, 2023, focuses on writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. It offers intensive interaction with best-selling authors and editors, emphasizing the creation of engaging fiction. The workshop combines manuscript critiques, new writing, lectures, and Q&As in an informal, supportive setting on Martha’s Vineyard, fostering a unique learning environment​​.

Prerequisites: Application with cover letter and 8,000 word manuscript.

Location: Boston

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Advanced

Class size: 24

Price: $2,450.00

Start date: August, 2023

Website: https://viableparadise.com/


Scheduled for March 7-10, 2024, this virtual workshop focuses on the first 3,500 words of participants' novels in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres. Led by award-winning faculty like Fran Wilde, it offers a 7:1 student-faculty ratio with feedback on manuscripts, query letters, and first pages. Applications open on November 27, 2023, with scholarships and tuition plans available​​​​​​​​.

Prerequisites: You may submit any original written work for your application.

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $540.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://futurescapes.ink/

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Instructor Nick Almeida leads this workshop on December 2, focusing on flash writing across all genres. The workshop, priced at $45-$70 depending on membership status, aims to empower writers to craft character depth within restricted spaces. It takes place at Writespace in Houston, TX, and is open to all levels with a cap of 15 participants​​.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Houston

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: 15

Price: $60.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://www.writespacehouston.org/creative-writing.html


This workshop, led by playwright and actor Kira Rockwell, focuses on embodied writing techniques across various genres. Participants will learn how to connect deeply with characters, settings, and conflict, utilizing all senses to create a vivid reading or viewing experience. The workshop includes craft discussions, skill-based exercises, and generative writing prompts​​​​.

Prerequisites: For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY.

Location: Boston

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: 25

Price: $75.00

Start date: December, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/write-vividly-in-...


Enhance your writing with a sensory experience in "The Fab Five: Writing With the Senses" by Kimberly Lee. This workshop invites participants to use the five basic senses, plus proprioception and interoception, for creative writing. It includes the SoulCollage® method for intuitive, sensory-driven writing, promising a rich, multi-dimensional writing experience​​.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Minneapolis

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $55.00

Start date: December, 2023

Website: https://loft.org/classes/fab-five-writing-senses


Learn to convert settings into atmospheric, immersive experiences using Jane K. Cleland’s strategies, creating captivating backdrops for your stories, from gritty urban landscapes to charming coastal towns.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $89.00

Start date: December, 2023

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/set-the-st...


Part of The Nuts and Bolts of Novel Planning series, this lecture-driven seminar focuses on story structure models and the concept of "setup and payoff." It is beneficial for those who have attended previous novel planning courses or as a standalone class. The seminar aims to help students create satisfying and inevitable plot twists in their novels, enhancing their storytelling and plot development skills.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Boston

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Class size: 12

Price: $75.00

Start date: December, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/the-nuts-and-bolt...


This 8-week Zoom workshop, led by Pingmei Lan, teaches fiction writers to build effective timelines and structures for their stories. It covers scene creation, pacing, and story structure, providing writing prompts and revision guidelines. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of structural elements and incorporate these techniques into their work, based on examples from award-winning authors​​​​​​​​​​.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: 10

Price: $495.00

Start date: January, 2024

Website: https://writingworkshops.com/collections/the-best-online-...


This immersive six-week program is designed for emerging writers, offering a chance to learn in a close-knit community environment. Each week, participants are guided by a different esteemed author or editor, focusing on critiques, writing techniques, and professional concerns. The workshop, held in a vibrant Seattle setting, includes community gatherings, readings, and opportunities to connect with authors and alumni​​.

Prerequisites: A sample of your work is required.

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Class size: 15

Price: $3,200.00

Start date: June, 2024

Website: https://www.clarionwest.org/programs/summerworkshop/

Three-Day Critique Workshop

Cascade Writers


This workshop offers a unique opportunity for writers to submit up to 4000 words of their work for critique in a group setting, led by industry professionals including Arley Sorg and Cat Rambo. The program includes pitch sessions to an agent, one-hour workshops, and panel presentations on various writing and publishing topics. It's a chance to polish the first pages and chapters of your project, with optional casual gatherings to network with other writers, editors, and agents​​​​.

Prerequisites: 4000 words of your novel, short story, or whatever project you are working on.

Location: Seattle

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: Limited

Price: $275.00

Start date: July, 2024

Website: https://cascadewriters.com/2024-three-day-critique-workshop/

Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop

Odyssey Writing Workshops


Odyssey is a respected workshop for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. It offers an intensive, personalized, one-on-one online workshop experience. The program includes lectures, readings, critiques, and individualized assignments, with options for six, twelve, or eighteen-week sessions. Each session accepts only four writers, ensuring deep mentoring.

Prerequisites: A writing sample no more than 4,000 words long.

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Private

Price: $2,600.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.odysseyworkshop.org/about-the-workshop/

How to choose a science fiction creative writing class

Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that sci-fi book you’ve been working on? You’re in the right place. That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses.

However, creative writing classes aren’t one size fit all. If you’re planning to join a science fiction creative writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about the sci-fi genre.

So make sure to consider the following questions when you’re researching sci-fi writing courses:

  • Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in writing science fiction?
  • Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about writing science fiction? Does this course include it?
  • How long is the course, and where is it taught?
  • How much does the sci-fi writing course cost? Does it fit into your budget?

More science fiction creative writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on writing sci-fi. 

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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Learning | Free Week Fantasy | 2023-09

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