Learn how to craft living worlds for your stories in this practical course with author David Hartley.

Whether we’re embarking upon an epic fantastical journey, or planning an intensive domestic drama, the creation of a story’s ‘world’ can be an intimidating task. Just how much does the reader need to know? How can we make the setting feel alive without being overwhelming? And where do we even begin?

In this six-part in-person workshop series, writer and tutor David Hartley takes you on a step-by-step Worldbuilding process where you’ll go from a blank page to a fully realised island realm bursting with tales and poetry, legends and histories. We’ll consider how landscape informs social mythmaking while taking a macro-view at setting as an engine of storytelling.

We’ll use drawing and map-making as a method of imaginative play, then funnel all that energy back into prose writing via creation myths, jaunty ballads, heroic legends, and whatever else your creative mind summons up. You’ll produce an abundance of tales inspired by your personal worlds, and then work towards the writing of a story for publication in a Comma Press eBook.

We’ll also take a look at how others have reflected on the process of worldbuilding, including thoughts from JRR Tolkien, Ursula Le Guin, Cal Flyn, Jen Williams, and many others. This is a hands-on, craft-focused workshop with lots of opportunities for interaction, collaborative creation, and playful surprises.

Let’s build worlds together.

Classes will be held on Fridays from 6-8pm on:

August 28
September 25
October 23
November 20
December 18
January 15

Tickets are priced at £180

We have a limited number of discounted bursary places available for underrepresented writers and those on low income. Please email george.forster@commapress.co.uk to apply for a bursary place or to order without Eventbrite fees.

DISCLAIMER: In the event that the course has to be cancelled or postponed, attendees will be offered a choice of either a full refund of the ticket price, or for their order to be carried over to the rescheduled date or another course of the same cost.