Level Up Your Writing: High-Quality, Free Resources — Part 1 — CREATE
Part 1 – Create: Build Better Stories with Conventions, Workshops & More
Part 2 – Critique: Sharpen Your Inner Editor with Critique Groups and Slush Reading
Part 3 – Connect: Forge Friendships and Community with Professional Orgs, Social Media & More
If you’re starting the new year looking to improve your writing, but you’re short on time, money or the ability to travel to far-off workshops, I feel you. I’ve been wanting to go to an in-person convention for years now and for Reasons, it just hasn’t happened.
I hope to change that later this year, but in the meantime, I’ve tried to make do. One silver lining of the pandemic is there are a lot of online resources now, it’s just a matter of sorting the good from the meh. So here’s a three-part post of my favorite high quality, free-to-low-cost resources for improving your craft. It’s geared toward those of you who are already in the writing habit but either: a) haven’t gotten published (yet), or b) have been published but feel like you’ve got more room to grow. In other words, Old Me from a few years ago and Current Me making lists to calm my own anxiety 😛
My suggestions are tailored to creators of speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, horror or literary fiction because those are my jam, but many teach skills that can be applied to any genre or narrative pursuit. None of these recommendations are sponsored.
Online Writing Conventions
Flights of Foundry
This all-online Speculative Fiction convention is almost too good to be true. It’s free to attend (although if you can donate, it’s highly encouraged), run by a welcoming community of artists (part of the non-profit Dream Foundry) and features interesting panels of creators talking about craft, industry news, marketing, and research tips.
Both beginning writers and those further into their careers will find plenty to love. Past talks include: Making Monsters, Nonlinear Storytelling, How to Stand Out from the Submission Pile, Novella Writing, Author Branding, Decolonizing our Narrative Traditions, Disability Representation, Game Writing, and International SFF. There’s opportunity to build community by participating in a Discord channel and hang-out sessions outside of the more formal panels.
Sessions are held during various time zones, so if you’re outside of the United States, there are options for you. In 2024, the convention was held in September. This year’s dates haven’t been announced, but to tide you over, check out this sample of past Flights of Foundry programming on YouTube.
TBRCon
This is another all online SFF convention I recently discovered. This year’s panels include discussions on Artificial Intelligence in SciFi; Romantasy vs Fantasy Romance; What Makes a Great Prologue; Writing a Successful Inciting Incident; How to Kill Off a Character Well; Scifi Tropes that Need an Update and more.
I’m excited to see that past years’ programming remains online on YouTube. So even if you missed the live sessions, it’s all there waiting for you when you’re ready.
Writing Courses and Workshops
Cat Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers
There are online writing classes popping up all over right now. Some are great but pricey. Some are cheap but unimpressive. Cat Rambo, a Hugo-award winning writer and editor, has a reputation for quality instruction for a reasonable price. The academy offers a “virtual campus” for $2-$5 a month that includes access to co-writing sessions, writing games, a short story discussion group, clean and chat sessions, and other weekly virtual events. They also offer on-demand classes for about $19-$39 each.
Writing the Other
This organization helps authors write characters outside their own lived experience sensitively and convincingly. Upcoming online classes include Cultural Appropriation, Writing Fat Characters, and Writing Bisexual/Pansexual Characters. Past classes include Dialogue, Dialect and Narrative Voice; Diverse Narrative Structure; the Heroine’s Journey; and Characters who Practice Non-Standard Religions.
On demand classes start at $40. If you’re looking for free tips on writing diverse, inclusive fiction, they have a long list of essays, recommended books, YouTube playlists, and podcasts under their “Resources” tab.
DIY MFA
Don’t have a spare $65,000 for an MFA? Check out this site for learning to write with focus, read with purpose and build your community. DIY MFA offers writing advice, a podcast and a free “starter kit” to motivate you. There is an intensive, guided 10-week program, but that will cost you more ($499). The free stuff should keep you busy for a while.
MasterClass
Looking for inspiration from Big Name Authors? For $10 a month, MasterClass gives you access to Margaret Atwood, N.K. Jemisin, Roxane Gay, Shodna Rhimes, Salman Rushdie, Issa Rae, David Sedaris, Judy Blume, Aaron Sorkin, Amy Tan, James Patterson, Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Brown. On one hand, some sessions devote more time than I’d like to the author’s personal story or generalized words of encouragement. But others offered practical advice, smart insider info and refreshing ways of approaching the artistic process. Rhimes’ class was my favorite, followed by Jemisin’s.
Writing Podcasts
I spend a lot of time driving three kids to and from school and their 2,398 practices, games and playdates. So podcasts keep me sane. Check out these articles I’ve written on my favorites.
This article focuses on Writing and Craft Podcasts.
This article focuses on Publishing Industry and Editorial Feedback podcasts.
Writing Craft Books
One thing I love about books is that they last. Workshops can feel fleeting, but a book on writing can be referred to time and time again at your own speed. The best ones even seem to grow with you, as you pick up on different points when you’re ready or in need of a specific technique. Your local library may have a lot of these (if not physical copies than digital ones on apps like Libby) so you don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to.
Here’s a list of my favorite books on creating compelling fiction.