Best Science Fiction Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Learn something new every week! Taught by experienced authors and publishing professionals, Reedsy Learning's free online writing courses and publishing classes have been prepared with your busy life in mind. Over a few minutes each day, you will join thousands of authors in learning how to write better, publish smarter, and sell more books.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/

The six-week speculative fiction workshop can give you time away from everyday distractions and encourage you to experiment and take artistic risks. The critique sessions are the heart of the workshop: you learn not only by receiving critiques, but by reading others’ work and constructing your own critiques. Instructors, who are among the best writers and editors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, work directly with students to present group critiques of newly written stories. Next open for applications in December 2023.

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, 2023

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

Milford is a gathering of authors who write speculative fiction (in its widest sense). It is not a school for beginners; there are no "teachers" or "students". It is not an elitist in-group. Invitations are extended to any SF author - from relative newcomers to those may only dimly recall what rejection slips look like. Please note this residential event takes place in Milford, North Wales.

Prerequisites: You must have made 1 fiction sale to a professional or semiprofessional market.

Location: London

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Course length: 7 (Full day)

Class size: 15

Price: £899.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: http://www.milfordsf.co.uk/about.htm

Clarion is an intensive six-week summer program focused on fundamentals particular to the writing of science fiction and fantasy short stories. It is considered a premier proving and training ground for aspiring writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Instructors are among the most respected writers and editors working in the field today.

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/

Taos Toolbox is a workshop designed to bring your science fiction and fantasy writing to the next level. If you’ve sold a few stories and then stalled out, or if you’ve been to Clarion or Odyssey and want to re-connect with the workshop community, this is the workshop for you!

Prerequisites: Please include a copy of the application form and a sample of writing.

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Advanced

Class size: Limited

Price: $3,900.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: http://www.taostoolbox.com/

Have you ever wished that you could attend your own private writing workshop that would teach you exactly what you need to know, at the right pace for you, and respond to your questions, problems, and needs in extensive one-on-one sessions? That's what Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop is. It's an online, one-on-one intensive workshop experience.

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/

Shared Worlds is an annual summer program designed for teen writers interested in speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, etc.). The students work in groups with an experienced “world-building coordinator” to design and build a world.

Prerequisites: Rising 8th through rising 12th grade students are invited to apply.

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: 60

Price: $2,500.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.sharedworldscamp.com/

Viable Paradise is a unique one-week residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. The workshop is intimate, intense, and features extensive time spent with best-selling and award-winning authors and professional editors currently working in the field.

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/

Futurescapes is an intensive, exclusive workshop, offering writers an unparalleled chance to work with top authors and agents in speculative fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal). Our next workshop will be our “long manuscript” workshop, where students will work with four amazing faculty and workshop the first 3,000 words of their manuscript.

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

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Any

Course length: 5 days (Full day)

Class size: Limited

Price: $540.00

Start date: August, 2023

Website: https://futurescapes.ink/

To write great science fiction or fantasy, you must splice together the skills of a fiction writer with the ability to make the imaginary seem true. Here you will learn the special requirements of these genres, as well as fiction craft and how to market your work.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: New York

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Course length: 10 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: 16

Price: $419.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://wp.writingclasses.com/courses/science-fiction-fan...

Our Three-Day Critique Workshop is an opportunity for you to submit the first 4000 words of your novel, short story, or whatever project you are working on, for critique in a group of up to 8 peers led by an industry professional. This is a great way to polish up those first pages and first chapter.

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

Location: Seattle

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Course length: 3 days (Full day)

Class size: Limited

Price: $275.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: http://cascadewriters.com/2023-three-day-critique-workshop/

In this lively and fun course, author and mentor Steve Alcorn and screenwriter Dani Alcorn, show you how to achieve success. During the past decades they've helped more than 30,000 aspiring writers structure their stories, and many are now in print. You can be next!

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Science Fiction

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 7.5 hours (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $99.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.udemy.com/course/writing-science-fiction-and-...