Decolonial Worldbuilding in Science-Fiction and Fantasy
NEW DATE: Saturday, September 21st, 2024 @ 4PM – 10 PM UTC (click here to convert to your timezone)
Can’t make the live webinar? Register to get the recording after!
Where: Online over Zoom
Price: 50 – 125 USD (Scholarships available!)
Genre fiction, like sci-fi and fantasy, are often places where we expect to find escapism; but assumptions around race, the status quo, and colonialism regularly leak into these fictional worlds. Annoyingly, this can happen even when the creator themselves doesn’t want it to!
This one-day workshop with instructor Helen Gould will help writers to identify and challenge the common tropes they might automatically be relying on when creating fictional worlds. In the first half, you’ll explore foundational literary theories about colonisation and its impact on culture; in the second half, you’ll look at how decolonial thinking can apply to the creative process and inspire different kinds of worlds.
Please note that this class will be recorded.
Who Should Take This Workshop?
This class is for BIPOC writers in any stage in their writing career and in any medium, so long as worldbuilding is a part of their work.
And don’t worry – you don’t need any previous knowledge of decolonisation as a theory, as Helen will be covering the basics with you in the workshop.
Schedule
This webinar will run from 4PM – 10PM UTC (click here to convert to your timezone) with a 45-minute break halfway and a 30-minute debrief and Q&A at the end.
About the Instructor
Helen Gould (she/he/they) is a writer, editor, sensitivity consultant, and speaker.
They have worked as a sensitivity consultant since 2016, with clients including major international publishers, editorial agencies, and independent authors.
She has appeared on panels and delivered talks about sociopolitical topics and writing at many conventions and events, including Nine Worlds, Eastercon, Chillercon, Dragonmeet, and the London Podcast Festival. They are also the Head of Inclusion for Rusty Quill Ltd.
Registration Options & Scholarships
To register, please click here.
This Live Webinar option costs 125 USD, and consists of participating in the live discussion and Q&A, as well as getting the recording after.
If you cannot attend the class live, you can also purchase the Video-Only option. While you won’t be able to participate in the Q&A session, you’ll get a recording of the lecture and answers to the questions asked during the live class, plus any other materials such as slides or handouts. This option costs 50 USD, and you will receive the materials two weeks after the class concludes.
If you cannot pay for all or part of this class, don’t fret! We have a number of full and partial scholarships available. Please fill out this form indicating what kind of scholarship you’re aiming for, and tell us a little bit about your project or how you feel this class will help your writing journey.
The scholarship deadline is September 7th by midnight UTC, and we’ll get back to you by September 12th. Please don’t self-reject!
Refund Policy
If you can no longer participate in the class, you can request a refund through Humanitix up to 14 days before the class starts and will receive a full refund, minus 10%. After that, the class will not be refunded, but we will send you the recording.
Technical Requirements
This workshop will take place over Zoom, so please ensure that your device is compatible with Zoom beforehand.
A microphone or working camera are not necessary to participate. We’ll be monitoring the chat and relaying any questions you type to the instructor.
Accessibility
This class will have Zoom’s auto-generated closed-captions available. For more of Zoom’s accessibility features, please click here. Discussions will be via voice or Zoom’s chat feature.
If you have any questions, contact our class coordinator Yasmine at classes@carlbrandon.org and we’ll get back to you ASAP!