Worldbuilding for Any Story
Thursdays, October 23-November 13
Anya Johanna DeNiro
7-9pm ET
Craft Course
$275
$250
The world that a story inhabits—everything from food, to weather, to magic—can inform the way characters themselves live and breathe. Much of this information doesn’t appear on the page but lives in the imagination of the writer, and is intuited by the reader through choice details in the text.
This is generally called “worldbuilding” and these contextual cues (and clues) can either be implicit or very explicit. We will read writers such as Ursula LeGuin, Kelly Link, Jorge Luis Borges and Anna Kaval to explore how they create a sense of spatiality in their stories with just a few phrases and sentences.
The class pays particular and close attention to works of speculative fiction which tend to utilize worldbuilding techniques more fully (with future societies and otherworldly magic), but any fiction writer can use worldbuilding to give their stories more texture and make the tone more resonant.
The course will also delve into pitfalls with worldbuilding (e.g., having an expectation for encyclopedic knowledge of an imaginary place) that can prove to be a trap both for the reader and writer. (We want to make sure we are writing stories and not D&D manuals!)
After this class, writers will have a fuller grasp of different techniques for worldbuilding, and have collaborated with one another to find the most effective ways to use them in their own writing.
This is a craft course. Our craft courses analyze fiction from a craft perspective and include generative writing exercises. Class will meet once a week for a live Zoom lecture based on the assigned reading. There will also be writing prompts and discussion prompts.
About Anya Johanna DeNiro:
Anya Johanna DeNiro is a writer living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her novel OKPsyche appeared from Small Beer Press in 2023. Her fiction has also appeared in Fence, One Story, Catapult, and DIAGRAM. Her fiction has been a finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Award.
Schedule
All sessions will take place on Zoom.
Session 1: Thursday, October 23, 7-9pm ET
Session 2: Thursday, October 30, 7-9pm ET
Session 3: Thursday, November 6, 7-9pm ET
Session 4: Thursday, November 13, 7-9pm ET
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration will open soon and close when the class reaches its cap.
Will class sessions be recorded?
Yes. Recordings will be made available the day after each session.
How does the class work?
This class meets weekly for live Zoom discussions for the duration of the course. Reading and writing assignments will be distributed in Thinkific, our online learning platform. That is also where students will share responses to the assignments for feedback from their fellow students.
Is participation on the discussion board required?
We encourage all students to share work and to participate in discussions to get the most out of the experience.
Is there homework?
The class will include reading assignments, writing exercises, and discussion questions.
How much time will the class take?
Live lessons run for two hours. Plan to spend about 2 hours a week on reading and writing assignments, plus however long you decide to spend on the discussion boards.
How many students are in the class?
This class is capped at 25 students.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes, we will be offering a limited number of partial scholarships for this class (50% off), which will be selected by lottery. The window to request a scholarship is open through October 8. To request one, please go here.
Discounts & Policies
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Patron Discount: In order to qualify for our patron discount, you must be a member of our patron circle at the time of registration. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in our non-profit organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers or supporters are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.
Refund Policy: Students can receive full refunds prior to one week before the class start date, and 50% refunds from in the week leading up to the class. Class payment is non-refundable on or after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
