Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
Is your head brimming with aliens, superheroes, and robots? Do you dream of epic magical quests, filled with witches and monsters? The Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Bundle is your opportunity to learn the wisdom of successful Sci-Fi and Fantasy authors, for 90% off. This bundle includes a collection of five historical Writer's Digest editions featuring articles from legends like Stan Lee, Ray Bradbury, and Terry Brooks, as well as eight OnDemand webinars with published Sci-Fi and Fantasy authors, and our November/December 2021 Writer's Digest issue on magical writing. Writers and fans alike won't want to miss this exciting collection of Sci-Fi and Fantasy resources!
The Murky Middle: How to Plot Your Way Out of Any Story (OnDemand Webinar): You're writing merrily along and then all of a sudden... You find yourself in the Swamps of Sadness, halfway to Mordor, or marooned on an alien planet with a broken dial-home device, and you don't know which way to go. You're in the murky middle of your novel. In this OnDemand Webinar, author Sarah Beth Durst discusses tips, tricks, and techniques for finding your way out of the morass of the middle and making your plot compelling from start to finish. ($79.99 value)
A Hero, an Anti-hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar… (OnDemand Webinar): The main cast of characters in your science fiction or fantasy novel should be well-developed and multi-faceted. Each one has a journey and a backstory. This OnDemand Webinar breaks down character archetypes, and explores ways to bring depth and complexity to these fictional personalities. It discusses character arcs, goals, and motivation, and effective ways to incorporate characters' backstories into your tale. Even in plot-driven narratives, readers need to connect with our characters; take a deep dive into all things character-related! ($79.99 value)
How to Give Your Sci-Fi or Fantasy Universe a Lived-In Feel (OnDemand Webinar): World-building is a special challenge in SFF literature because it’s easy to slide into something that feels artificial and ‛made up.’ But getting that ‛lived-in’ feel is easier than you think. One problem with creating fictional universes is verisimilitude—getting a believable, ‛lived-in’ feeling. But there are a few simple rules to follow that will help. In this OnDemand Webinar, Jeff looks at avoiding shmeeping, revealing imperfections, and more. ($79.99 value)
Controlling Pacing in Your Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel (OnDemand Webinar): Worldbuilding and character arc are key elements in any SFF novel. But what happens when these elements overshadow or bog down your pacing? This OnDemand Webinar explores how to use the 3-Act Structure to create fluid, natural pacing with a familiar scaffolding that still keeps readers hooked at every turn. ($79.99 value)
Speculative Realities for Dystopian Times (OnDemand Webinar): In this OnDemand Webinar, Alexander Weinstein explores ways to use the material of our daily lived reality to create fantastical worlds, otherworldly settings, and futuristic landscapes. He demonstrates writing techniques that will allow you to use your own experiences of love, parenthood, heartbreak, and joy to create the hearts of characters who live in slightly (or vastly) more surreal landscapes than this one. ($79.99 value)
Lessons Learned After a Decade of Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy (OnDemand Webinar): In this OnDemand Webinar, prolific author Michael La Ronn talks about hard (and expensive) lessons he learned after over a decade of publishing 80+ books. As a science fiction & fantasy writer, there are some unwritten rules that, if missed, can hurt your sales. From book cover mistakes, attracting the wrong readers, and critical sci-fi and fantasy genre and trope mistakes, Michael shares some advice that can help you avoid doing things the hard way. ($79.99 value)
Punch Them in the Face: Writing Realistic Martial Arts! (OnDemand Webinar): Most novels have physical conflict in them somewhere. But how do you make a fight scene believable, especially when your character is supposed to know a specific style of martial art? This OnDemand Webinar goes over how to write accurate fight scenes, as well as incorporate existing or imagined martial arts into your story. ($79.99 value)
Writer's Digest Digital Archive Collection: Science Fiction Legends (Vintage Digital Editions): For nearly 100 years, Writer's Digest has been the leading authority for writers of all genres and career levels. And now, for the first time ever, we've digitized decades of issues from our prestigious archives to share with the world. In this archive collection, discover five full vintage issues from our vault, featuring historic interviews and columns from science fiction writing legends including H.G. Wells, Octavia E. Butler, Ray Bradbury, Terry Brooks, and even Stan Lee. Featuring five stunning issues spanning more than 60 years, this collection is perfect for writers, literary enthusiasts, educators and historians. ($19.99 value)
Magical Worlds, Imaginative Realities, and Worldbuilding in Short Fiction (OnDemand Webinar): In this OnDemand Webinar, we explore the craft of worldbuilding. From capturing the hometowns and cities we know, to the wild and magical worlds of speculative worldbuilding, the ability to vividly portray setting is an essential element of storytelling. Instructor Alexander Weinstein discusses strategies for making your settings come alive as well as the pitfalls of worldbuilding. ($79.99 value)
Writer's Digest November/December 2021 (Digital Edition): Sometimes writing contains magic and sometimes the act of putting words on the page itself feels like magic, especially when the words come easily. In this issue, we shine a light on both. From articles that help writers find the technique that will bring their writing to life to articles and interviews with authors who’ve created systems of magic in the worlds they’ve created, this issue aims to give writers of all genres the tools to tap into all of the magic they can create. ($7.99 value)
