{"product_id":"speculative-fiction-novel-writing-workshop-online-september-2026","title":"Building Your Speculative Fiction Novel: A 4-Week Zoom Workshop with Alex Temblador starts on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"block-0c22edf6c5f4ee9d89a4\" data-block-type=\"2\" class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"sqs-block-content\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuilding Your Speculative Fiction Novel: A 4-Week Workshop with Alex Temblador\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Wednesday, September 9, 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM ET\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e🌍 \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Times by Time Zone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Los Angeles (PDT): 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM \/ Chicago (CDT): 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM \/ New York (EDT): 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eNow Enrolling! Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInstructor Alex Temblador is the award-winning author of a writing craft book, \u003cem\u003eWriting An Identity Not Your Own\u003c\/em\u003e, and two magical realism novels, \u003cem\u003eHalf Outlaw\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSecrets of the Casa Rosada\u003c\/em\u003e. In addition to receiving her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma, Alex's creative work has been published in literary outlets like PALABRITAS, D Magazine, Colorado Review, as well as two anthologies — \u003cem\u003eLiving Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSpeculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology\u003c\/em\u003e. Alex has taught creative writing seminars, workshops, and classes with WritingWorkshops.com, the Women's Fiction Writers Association, the Writer's League of Texas, StoryStudio Chicago, WorldShift: The Speculative Fiction Writer's Summit, Texas Book Festival, Macmillan Publishers, Abydos Learning Conference, and more. When she's not writing her next book, Alex is working as an award-winning journalist, traveling, gardening, or exploring her home base of Dallas with friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is this class for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis introductory online writing class is for writers drawn to speculative fiction, fantasy, dystopian, science fiction, or subgenres like romantasy or science fantasy. (Writers focused on magical realism or surrealism should take a different class.) All writing backgrounds are welcome — whether you're building a speculative novel from the ground up or returning to a draft you've already started, this creative writing workshop will give you fresh tools to write, revise, and finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to expect:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInternationally known speculative fiction author Salman Rushdie once said, \"Speculative fiction has always been a good vehicle for the novel ideas. If you have ideas that you want to set in motion, interrogate, or argue about, science fiction and fantasy fiction has always done that and done it very, very well.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWhether you want to use Fae, robots, vampires, AI, alternate worlds, or dystopian landscapes to examine novel ideas, this 4-week online writing workshop is for you. Award-winning speculative fiction author Alex Temblador will teach writers how to build futuristic and fantastical worlds, craft dynamic storylines, and create memorable characters. Everything from pacing and tone to dialogue, magical and technical systems, and how to approach writing identities not your own in speculative stories will be covered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAlex begins with an overview of the speculative fiction umbrella — fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, and speculative fiction — and what sets the genre apart. From there, she'll dive into world-building and how it shapes setting, character, and plot. Writers will learn to construct intersectional characters and ground them in their speculative worlds. Through exercises, excerpts, writing and editing challenges, and discussions of required readings, you'll build confidence and concrete craft skills you can apply for the rest of your novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the writing goals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this course, students will produce a world guide for their fantastical, futuristic, or speculative setting and a dossier on their main character. They'll also build an outline for their speculative fiction novel and write or edit at least the first chapter. Each student may volunteer to submit up to 10 pages (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman) of speculative fiction and receive written feedback from the instructor within one week. Students will be split into two groups with scheduled submission deadlines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReadings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eReadings may include excerpts from \"The Weight of Your Own Ashes\" by Carlie St. George, \"Valedictorian\" by N.K. Jemisin, \u003cem\u003eWhen the Moon Hatched\u003c\/em\u003e by Sarah A. Parker, \u003cem\u003eThe Handmaid's Tale\u003c\/em\u003e by Margaret Atwood, \u003cem\u003eBridge\u003c\/em\u003e by Lauren Beukes, and \u003cem\u003eThe Ministry of Time\u003c\/em\u003e by Kaliane Bradley, among others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE OUTLINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeek 1 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026): \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eThe Speculative Fiction Umbrella and Worldbuilding — in-class presentation with exercises and examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeek 2 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026): \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eThe Intersection of Characters and Worldbuilding — in-class presentation with exercises and examples and discussion of the required reading; students draft the first chapter of their novel for the next class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeek 3 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026): \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ePlot and Character Arc — in-class presentation with exercises and examples and discussion of the required reading; students craft an outline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeek 4 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026): \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eHow to Write Identities Not Your Own and Edit Speculative Stories — in-class presentation with exercises and examples and discussion of the required reading; students are provided with an editing checklist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE TAKEAWAYS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBuild a complete world guide for your speculative fiction setting, including geography, society, history, and magical or technological systems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDevelop a detailed character dossier for an intersectional protagonist grounded in your speculative world\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eConstruct a chapter-by-chapter outline of your speculative fiction novel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDraft or revise the first chapter of your novel with instructor-supplied editing tools\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLearn how to authentically and responsibly write identities not your own within the speculative genre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eIdentify and avoid common tropes, stereotypes, and pacing pitfalls in fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian fiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTESTIMONIALS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"I will look for Alex Temblador's workshops again because I found a unique connection and synchronicity with her methods, writing experience, and knowledge, and my own needs at this point in my writing journey. I'm a published author, yet I'm writing, for the first time, about race and ethnicity from my personal experience in South Africa in a fictional context. I'm drawn to speculative fiction for its ability to portray complex socio-political worlds and resistance to oppression in an adventurous, yet true way. I know I'll learn more valuable insights from Alex.\" — Former Student, Speculative Fiction Toolbox Seminar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"I enjoyed Alex Temblador's Speculative Fiction Toolbox seminar, especially the discussions warning us about mirroring, world dumping, and unconscious bias, as well as emphasis on doing real research, even when we're inventing a world.\" — Former Student, Speculative Fiction Toolbox Seminar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAYMENT OPTIONS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eTuition is $330 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInstructor: Alex Temblador\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBegins Wednesday, September 9, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM ET\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $330 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48298302046456,"sku":null,"price":5876.0,"currency_code":"MXN","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/AlexTembladorHeadshot2026_6f807aaa-cc34-4a75-a44c-89ab2652ca4c.png?v=1773419331","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/en-mx\/products\/speculative-fiction-novel-writing-workshop-online-september-2026","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}