World Building: Construct Real and Fantastical Worlds, a Two-Day Intensive May 2021

TYPE:

Online (Facilitated)

COVID Reschedule/Refund Policy
What’s the difference between Highlights Foundation workshop types?

LENGTH:

2 afternoons (90 minute sessions)
Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7 at 1 pm Eastern

PARTICIPANT CAP:

30

WHY THIS WORKSHOP?

A well-developed world is an essential component to every story–short fiction through novels. Join Tracey Baptiste as she showcases rich mentor texts like THE SERPENT’S SECRET, DREAD NATION, THE BELLES, and more for a two-day intensive in world-building.

In small groups, participants will read and reflect on texts centered on time, people, landscape, culture, and power. Each of the two sessions will last approximately 90 minutes and are broken into reading time, group discussions, Q & A, and mini-lecture.

HOW IT IMPACTS KIDS:

Books are a gateway to imagination and exploration, especially when the author works to spark curiosity while rooting the reader in the crafted world. This workshop will help authors explore ways to root the reader in the world of their story.

Why do we mention this? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.

IT’S A GREAT FIT FOR:

• Middle grade or young adult novelists who are revising or beginning a new novel.
• Picture book or chapter book authors who would like to make their imaginary world as believable as possible.
• Writers of fantasy or speculative fiction; world building is especially vital when depicting unknown worlds.

COMMITMENT REQUIRED FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE:

This course’s 2 90-minute sessions will be held Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7 at 1 pm Eastern (Note: If your schedule does not allow you to attend the live sessions, that’s ok! You’ll have access to the recordings. They’re usually posted the day after the session, and they’ll be available through June 15, 2021.)

Trying to figure out how this course fits into your schedule? Read some ideas about planning for the right level of commitment.

AGENDA:

Day 1, May 6, 1 pm Eastern
Session 1: Time
Readings:
THE SERPENT’S SECRET by Sayantani DasGupta, chapter 1
THE RED PENCIL by Andrea Davis Pinkney, pages 2-3 “Wheat”
THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Charlie Jane Anders, pages 19-20
Breakout into groups: Nonstandard time

Session 2: People
Readings:
DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland, chapter 1
THE PRINCESS IN BLACK by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeYuen Pham, chapter 1
LIBRARY LION by Mikki Knudsen
PIECING ME TOGETHER by Renee Watson, chapter 2

Breakout into groups: Characters building worlds

Session 3: Landscape, Flora, and Fauna
Readings:
WESLANDIA by Paul Fleishman
THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola, pages 26-27
THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton, chapter 2

Individual assignment: Landscape drawing activity

Q&A (10 mins)

Day 2, May 7, 1 pm Eastern

Session 1: Culture (15 mins)
Readings:
SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE by Carlos Hernandez, chapter 2
DRAWN TOGETHER by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat

Individual assignment: Culture list

Session 2: Power (20 mins)
This session is entirely whole group discussion using the chat feature

Q&A (10 mins)

RELATED RESOURCES:

Tracey Baptiste’s website
Secrets of Kidlit: Worldbuilding, from the Kidliterati website
5 Foundations of World Building, from author Malinda Lo