Fantasy is an increasingly popular genre of fiction, and now is a great time to become a fantasy fiction writer! This course is perfect whether you have an idea for a book or even if you don't know where to start.
First off, you'll learn what separates fantasy fiction from other types of fiction. You'll also try out an in-depth world-building exercise, which will help you create a system of magic as well as the different species that will live the world you're developing. We'll also talk about creating characters, and you'll learn how to populate your world with unique, compelling, and interesting people.
We'll spend some time talking about the nuts and bolts of writing a fantasy novel, too. You'll learn how to outline your book (if you even decide to outline!), come up with a theme, and then sit down and actually write. We'll look at examples from other authors to show that writing is as individual as each person, and that there is no right way to write your book.
We'll talk about how to revise and edit so that when you complete it, your book will be essentially a finished product. You'll also learn a little bit about publishing your book, including the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing, and you'll decide which type will work better for you. Finally, I'll share some tips about how to stay motivated and actually complete your novel—because, after all, writing is hard work! But with the tools you'll gain in this course, you'll be ready to tackle your first fantasy novel.
Laura K. Anderson picked up her first science fiction book when she was in first grade and she's been in love with speculative fiction ever since. She particularly enjoys writing fantasy fiction and is the editorial director for Sojourn: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction. Laura has a Master of Arts degree in literature and creative writing and is currently working on a Master of Arts in special education.