“Writing Speculative Fiction” with Erin Roberts
May 16 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
$59.00 – $119.00
- This event has passed.
This Event is for Members only.
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$59 for Members
$119 for Non-Members
PLEASE NOTE: This class recording is now only available for purchase by our members from now until Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT. The class recording will be made available to watch (and rewatch) until July 31, 2026. Become a member here.
Whether you are writing science fiction, fantasy, horror, or anything in between, speculative fiction gives you the opportunity to stretch your imagination, bring something new to your craft, and add a few more tools to your writer’s toolbox.
As with any form of prose writing, in speculative fiction you’ll want to have compelling characters, a well-drawn setting, and an intriguing story. However, this form adds a few additional craft challenges – creating a new world, conveying speculative elements without overwhelming your reader, utilizing that to build tension, and more. In this class, we’ll cover how characters, plot, setting, and pacing work within speculative fiction, from basic considerations to keep in mind to more advanced techniques and tools.
All levels of experience with speculative fiction are welcome, but come to class with a science fiction, fantasy, horror, or weird (whatever that means to you) idea or story in mind – we’ll be doing a few exercises during class to help you build on what you have and send you off with new ideas and approaches that you can bring back to your writing.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
- You enjoy bringing new worlds to life.
- You want to create believable characters and stories, even in worlds far from reality.
- You’ve ever wanted to add something out of the ordinary into your writing.
The deadline to buy this class recording is Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT.
CONTINUING YOUR WRITING JOURNEY
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The WLT is committed to making our online classes accessible to all writers including writers who do not have the financial means to pay for programming. Five (5) seats in this class have been set aside for scholarship recipients to attend free of charge. Please fill out this application no later than 2 days prior to the class to be considered for one of the scholarship seats. We do not ask for any corroborating documents; we only ask that you help us understand your situation. If you are selected for one of the available seats you will be notified via email (from wlt@writersleague.org) no later than 24 hours before the start of the class. Please note, each writer is limited to no more than four (4) total scholarship seats per catalog season.
Instructor
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Erin Roberts tells stories across formats. Her short stories and interactive fiction have appeared in venues including Asimov’s, Clarkesworld, The Dark, and Strange Horizons; she’s given characters a voice in scripts for projects including Forge Your Quest and Zombies Run; and she’s written for more than 40 tabletop roleplaying game projects, including Nebula finalist Journeys through the Radiant Citadel. Along the way, she’s proud to have been named a Diana Jones Emerging Game Designer, attended the Hedgebrook and Storyknife writing residencies, and served as Toastmaster of the 2025 Nebula Awards, among other honors. When not writing, she enjoys talking about the craft, and is one of the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses.
Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Accessibility and Policies page.
If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click here for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it. If you prefer this option, please email wlt@writersleague.org with a copy of the form as well to ensure we add you to the class roster as soon as possible.
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Class & Event Registration Policy
Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.
Newsletter Opt In
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Anti-Harassment Policy
The Writers’ League of Texas is dedicated to providing harassment-free spaces for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Violating these rules may result in expulsion from WLT programs without a refund at the discretion of the WLT staff.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion);
- Sexual images not appropriate for the specific subject of the public discussion;
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking;
- Harassing photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of discussions or other events;
- Unwelcome sexual attention;
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules during all events and event-related social activities.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reports can also be made via email at wlt@writersleague.org. We’ll handle any and all reports as respectfully as possible. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Accessibility Policy
Closed captioning is available for all online classes and special events.
The WLT is committed to making its programs & services accessible to all writers. Please contact us at wlt@writersleague.org or at 512-499-8914 for more information or to discuss accommodations you may need.
Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy
All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.