Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer's Toolbox
There are four primary building blocks to writing a breakout novel, regardless of genre. Bradley P. Beaulieu will walk you through them in this four-week workshop.
Writing a breakout novel requires mastery of many key skills
In this four-week workshop, Bradley P. Beaulieu dives into some of the most important: the initial concept, brainstorming, plot development, creating scenes for maximum benefit, and maximizing tension to create the page-turning effect breakout novels are known for.
Special attention will be paid not only to the creative side of writing, but also the industry itself: how books are bought and sold, what agents and publishers are looking for, and how to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
The class is structured so that the four lectures and four assignments build on one another, allowing you to leverage what you've learned in previous weeks and end up with a stronger sense of how to create strong story ideas and build upon that foundation to create fiction that’s compelling, vibrant, and keeps readers coming back for more.
Each week’s lecture is presented in both essay form and via video, so that students can absorb the maximum amount of content for each week’s lecture. The content is presented in such a way that any writer can benefit, regardless of genre, but there is special attention paid to science fiction and fantasy in particular. The workshop includes four written assignments, each of which will be critiqued by me.
Course curriculum
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Week 1: Brainstorm Your Way to a Breakout Novel
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Week 2: Plotting Techniques of the Professional Writer
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Week 3: The Structure of Scenes
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Week 4: Tension on Every Page
Benefits
- Learn the four key building blocks to writing a breakout novel
- Learn about the industry side: how books are bought and sold, what agents and publishers are looking for, and how to make yourself stand out from the crowd
- Step up your writing game with assignments that build off each other
- Build a foundation to create fiction that’s compelling, vibrant, and keeps readers coming back for more
- Get your work critiqued by an acclaimed author
How it works
When you sign up for the course via one of the options below, you'll create a class login if you don't already have one and gain immediate access to the first lecture and assignment.
From there, you'll watch the first lecture and complete the assignment at your own pace. When the assignment is uploaded, I'll be notified and will critique it via the same class interface.
The subsequent lessons will follow the same pattern and have staggered start dates. One week from the start date, you'll gain access to the 2nd lecture and assignment. Two weeks from the start date, you'll gain access to the 3rd lecture and assignment. And three weeks from the start date, you'll gain access to the 4th and final lecture and assignment.
What people are saying
"Brad Beaulieu has a great eye for what works and doesn't work on your page. Take his class to tap into these insights. And if you, like me, are big fans of historical fantasy, read his books for some great world-building that appears to be built on real cultural detail that then spins you away to a different place entirely."
— Jane W.
"I can see big improvements in my writing after taking Bradley P. Beaulieu's classes. His lectures have given me vital tools to use from conception through revision, and his feedback is always on point, enlightening, and constructive. If you want to write better fiction, especially fantasy or sci-fi, do yourself a HUGE favor and take Brad's class. Your writing will improve, and you'll have a lot of fun in the process."
— Geek
"If you want to learn how to write better fiction, and particularly sci-fi or fantasy, from a successful and skilled author...take Brad Beaulieu’s classes! He has a great understanding of process, and helps you to understand many of the qualities that go into writing a great piece of fiction. And if that's not enough, he's also encouraging and gives great feedback on your work. Highly recommended!"
