Diverse Worldbuilding for Novelists

About This Event
A character’s world shapes who they become. But building complex worlds that can hold diverse characters and perspectives presents challenges. This workshop will discuss worldbuilding techniques for any project with large and layered worlds, whether they exist in science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, intergenerational novels, or a mystery novel. Considering writers such as Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and Margaret Atwood, we will be inspired to write stories that immerse readers in worlds that illuminate today’s conversations. We will spend the first session defining your world’s details and rules, and the second session incorporating diverse characters into these world settings. Start a novel, strengthen one already begun, or even finish a short story during our exploration of worldbuilding techniques.

Open to fiction writers of all levels and genres. This is a 2-week workshop, with a 2-hour session each week. Please prepare for approximately 1-2 hours of work between sessions.

This 2-week workshop meets on Saturdays from 1-3pm at LitArts RI on the following dates:

Sat, March 8

Sat, March 15

About Your Teaching Artist

Melissa Michal Slocum’s (she/her) work focuses on her community’s experiences. She is of Seneca, Welsh, and English descent and is a fiction writer, essayist, and a DEI Consultant. She resides on Narragansett territory. Melissa has work appearing in The Florida Review, Yellow Medicine Review, and other spaces. Her short story collection, Living Along the Borderlines (2019), out with Feminist Press, was a finalist for the Louise Meriwether first book prize. She also writes Indigenous futurism novels.

Health Safety Guidelines

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within a few days of attending an event at LitArts RI, please contact Staff so we can let others know of possible exposure. We ask that you wait 14 days or until testing negative to return to the Center.

Accessibility

LitArts RI is wheelchair accessible. The organization is actively committed to cultivating a community that values and reflects diversity, equity and inclusivity and to providing programming that is accessible to all attendees. Please let us know about any accommodations we can make to allow you to participate fully in this event.

Host or Publisher LitArts RI