Tag: Nisi Shawl

Creating Diverse Characters

Next Class: Deep Dive Intensive on Creating Diverse Characters

By:  TempestClasses

It’s Writing the Other core class time again! I’m excited for this next one as it’s my favorite: Creating Diverse Characters. I teach this one with Nisi and Piper J. Drake, so you’ll get three deep perspectives on how to write characters different from yourself.

This year we’re doing a new class structure that’s shorter and less expensive. We wanted to make it more financially accessible to folks who may still be struggling to deal with pandemic-related budget issues. And if the price is still out of reach, we have scholarships.

When: June 12 – 20, 2021
Where: Online via Zoom or Asynchronous classroom, accessible at your own pace
Price: $200 – $300

There are two course options:

Option 1: Asynchronous ($200) — Writers who cannot join us for the live Weekend Intensive can chose this option. Starting June 12 you’ll have access to the private WordPress classroom where we will post lectures in text form and the recordings of the sessions. Starting on the 14th we’ll post readings, discussions, and more writing exercises (some of which instructors will offer feedback on). For this option you can log in at any time and participate on your schedule.

The time commitment for the Asynchronous portion of the class will depend on your level of participation. Discussions based on lectures, short readings, and writing exercises will take place during the week. Discussion threads tend to be wide-ranging, so students should try to check in at least once a day or every other day. You may manage your time as needed based on your own schedule.

Option 2: Weekend Intensive Plus ($300) — On Saturday and Sunday June 12 & 13 students will gather virtually on Zoom (see detailed schedule below) for lectures, Q&A, discussion, and writing exercises with live feedback. From Monday June 14 through Friday the 18th students can log in to a private WordPress forum for further discussions based on readings and more writing exercises. This section of the class is asynchronous, meaning you can log in at any time and participate on your schedule.

This option is limited to 25 students.

See all the details, schedule, and scholarship app info at WritingTheOther.com.

Ignyte 2021 Header

I Am An IGNYTE Award Nominee!

By:  TempestScience Fiction & Fantasy

Best birthday week news! FIYAHcon announced the IGNYTE Awards shortlist and I am a double nominee. WOOOOOOT

Writing the Other got a second Community Award nomination, an honor I’m sharing with the amazing Nisi Shawl. I’m also nominated for the Ember Award for unsung contributions to genre. EEEEEE

I’m so thrilled and humbled by this. Especially as I’m in categories with so many people and entities I admire and love. How can I deal with being in the same category as Michi Trota or Tananarive Due or Diana M. Pho or L.L. McKinney & Tochi Onyebuchi or or or? Just… this is 100% wonderful.

Beyond that, the entire ballot is fire and I don’t care if that’s an overused pun! hee. So much thoughtfulness went into all the categories so that they celebrate a myriad of important contributions to the genre. Fiction AND non-fiction AND thoughtful criticism/reviews AND media AND community.

Voting is now open to all. I highly suggest you go down the ballot and read, watch, or listen to the things you haven’t already. There’s stuff on here I haven’t gotten to yet. Once I do, I’m going to share what I intend to vote for.

And finally: thanks to the FIYAH team and folks on the selection committee for this honor. ??????????

Should Authors Write Characters Different From Themselves

New Webinar: Should Authors Write Characters Different From Themselves?

By:  TempestClasses

I get asked a version of this question all the time. So does anyone who is outspoken in the diverse literature space. It usually comes in the form of:

Should white creators write characters of color?

or

Should abled creators write characters with disabilities?

or

Should heterosexual creators write LGBTQIA+ characters?

and so on.

Truth is, the answer is simple (yes) and also complex (yes, but…), thus some people need guidance in answering the question for themselves. Lucky for y’all, Nisi Shawl and I are willing to offer that guidance.

Our next webinar is on this topic, it costs $20 – $30 or whatever you can afford, and will happen on March 6th. If you cannot make the live webinar you can register to get the video after. Details and registration are on Writing the Other.com. Hope to see you there.

Novelette and Novella Writing Workshop with Nisi Shawl

Class Coming Up This Summer: Novelette & Novella Writing Workshop

By:  TempestClasses

Nisi and I are giving a writing workshop class focusing on novelettes and novellas since there are quite a few more avenues for publishing them these days. The majority of the workshop will be about critiquing student manuscripts, though there will be some discussion of the long short story/short novel form as well as other elements of craft. It happens in June and July, so you have time to get a manuscript ready!

If you’re interested in this workshop and you’re a past student of ours or a writer of color/Native writer, ping me via email for a discount code.

When: June 1 – July 29, 2018
Where: Online — Available everywhere, no set meeting times
Price: $350

Continue reading “Class Coming Up This Summer: Novelette & Novella Writing Workshop” →

Podcast logo for Originality which has a 7 pointed star in pink and yellow with a dark pink and black background and the words Originality exploring the roots of creative genius

New Podcast: ORIGINality

By:  TempestPodcast

Today is launch day for the new podcast project1 I’m involved in: ORIGINality, where we explore the roots of creative genius. I’m doing this podcast with Aleen Simms, who you may recognize from the JEMcast (oh man, I really miss it) or her amazing podcast Less Than Or Equal. Aleen came up with the idea for ORIGINality and asked me to join her, and I said yes.

Each episode we’ll explore some aspect of creativity, and not just writerly creatives or even those most folks would put in the category of Artist. Most episodes will feature an interview with a creative genius that sparks our conversation, like episode 1: Steampunk Mermaids with Nisi Shawl. In this I asked Nisi about the reason she wrote Everfair — ahem, excuse me, that is Nebula and Locus award nominated Everfair — and Aleen and I talk about how annoyance with what you see in art can inspire you to create better versions of said art. Go listen!

ORIGINality will have a new episode every other week. If you subscribe it’ll show up in your podcast player automagically. And if you become a member of Relay/the show, you’ll get access to members only Episode 0 and other members only episodes in the future. Plus, you support the hosts (me! Aleen!) directly.

I’m very excited about where this podcast is gonna take us and I hope you love it, too :)

Footnotes

  1. Hey Tempest, I hear you saying, what about your OTHER podcast? The Write Gear? Well, dear listener, I am very much hoping to get back to that, but I am in need of someone to help me edit the show. That’s the big sticking point. Know anyone who wants to edit a podcast for free? [⇧]
Nisi and Tempest writing the other

New Class! Writing the Other – Weekend Intensive Summer 2016

By:  TempestClasses

Nisi and I are teaching another Writing the Other Weekend Intensive! These classes take place from Friday night to Sunday night and are a super concentrated version of our longer classes. They’re designed for folks who can’t do a full 6 weeks or can’t come to a retreat but can carve out one weekend.

This class is appropriate for all writers, not just novelists or speculative fiction authors. The topics we cover will benefit comic writers, playwrights, screenwriters, YA writers, litfic writers, and more.

Also, writing inclusive fiction isn’t just about race or cultural appropriation (we do of course cover that), it’s also about writing people who come from any identity different from yours, including gender, class, physical ability, religious or spiritual background.

If you want tools to help you write characters different from you in significant ways sensitively and convincingly, this class is for you.

Writing the Other – Weekend Intensive Details

When: June 10 – 12, 2016 (detailed schedule on the ticketing page)
Where: ONLINE via Google Hangout
Price: $250 + service fee
Registration Begins: April 30

If you want a reminder when registration opens, join our announcement list. And if you missed this class, that’s also the place to go to get notifications when we do it again.