August 20 @ 7:00 pm - August 22 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Join editor Emma D. Dryden for an intensive look at world-building from the inside, out. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, and loads of information.
- Tuesday, August 20 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, August 22 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- Recordings available until September 30, 2024
Why This Workshop?
All stories—fantasy or reality, picture book or novel—need to exist within a consistent context.
This short course explores the physical, psychological, and emotional contexts for our stories and our characters, so that we may bring them to life for our readers.
Join editor and author Emma D. Dryden to learn and discuss:
- Internal World-Building Tips
- External World-Building Tips
- Hands-on writing exercises
- and more!
Additionally, Emma will provide writing exercises for you to try on your own, applicable to your work(s)-in-progress.
Feedback Expected
- None is included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You have a completed draft of a picture book or middle grade or young adult novel and are looking for ways to deepen the internal and external themes in the book.
- You have taken your manuscript through at least one or two rounds of revision. This course is best for intermediate to advanced writers who are willing to add complexity to their stories.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop; they are short sessions meant to build your understanding of world-building in stories for kids and teens.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through September 30, 2024.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time. Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Tuesday, August 20 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- What is story world building and why is it important?
- Different methods of world building
- Determining and interviewing our story world
- Mapping our story world (with a drawing exercise)
- Defining the “rules” of our story world (with a writing exercise)
- Q & A
Part Two: Thursday, August 22 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- What is internal world building and why is it important?
- Determining and interviewing our characters
- Mapping our main character’s emotional world (with a writing exercise)
- Defining the “rules” of our character’s world (with a writing exercise)
- Q & A
How It Impacts Kids
Readers connect to your story through their senses and the setting you craft. Emma D. Dryden’s tips will help you shape the world of your story to be its very best!
Testimonials from Our Community
“Emma Dryden is organized and easy to listen to. She was generous with time in answering questions.”
“Emma Dryden is a superb presenter. I particularly appreciated the specific examples, handouts, and exercises. I’m normally averse to writing exercises, but the exercises Emma provided were interesting and gave me different perspectives.”
“Emma Dryden was a wonderful teacher. I’m stoked to revisit my novel with the “tools” she has offered.”
