Courses and Workshops
Introducing SLF Courses and workshops! Our virtual classes and sessions are focused on helping writers master different writing methods and sharpen their understanding and use of the various elements of speculative fiction. These classes will range in duration from single weekend workshops to 6-8 week courses, covering a wide range of topics including screenwriting, writing the SFF novelette, writing about mental health, and more.
The SLF decided to create these courses to continue fulfilling our goal of offering masters-level creative writing education through accessible online programming. To see this dream through, we’ve reached out to some truly experienced and passionate instructors in the field, including writers, editors, and more.
Check out the courses and workshops we have on offer down below.
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Writing Your Identity: Creating Deep & Rich Characters With Mary Anne Mohanraj
$60 • October 7 • Workshop
In this workshop, you’ll be encouraged to write your identities through the lens of fiction, poetry and/or creative nonfiction.
Plot Considered as a Four-Dimensional Array of Brightly Colored Beads With David Levine
$60 • October 15 • Workshop
In this class, students will consider story as a collection of related events, each of which occurs at a point in space and time, like a four-dimensional array of brightly colored beads.
$60 • October 21 • Workshop
This workshop will focus on idea generation, structure, and editing with an emphasis on the novelette, as well as elements of craft that can be applied to fiction of any length.
$300 • October 25 – November 29 • Course
If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at writing speculative fiction but didn’t know where to begin, this class is for you!
$60 • (Rescheduling for October) • Workshop
We’ll look at some of the best current writing on mental health and do a series of writing exercises.
The Writer’s Life: Structures that Support Your Writing With Mary Anne Mohanraj
$60 • November 11 • Workshop
In this workshop, we’ll explore some structures that you can put in place to better support your writing practice.
Maram Makerspace Courses
In 2020, the SLF expanded its mission to arts and literature; as part of that, we partnered with the nascent Maram Makerspace, which is currently offering a variety of in-person arts classes in the Oak Park, IL area. We’d hoped to open a physical space, but the pandemic intervened; we may pick that venture up again in the future. The courses listed on this page are Maram Makerspace projects. You can learn about Maram Makerspace here: http://marammakerspace.com
Intro to Flower Pressing
Curious about flower pressing? In this 90-minute workshop, you will learn the basics of the ancient craft of flower pressing and create your own flower card. Local pressed flower artist Ana Constantinescu will review the equipment and basic steps to preserve your favorite blooms. She will share a variety of pressed flowers from her own garden to design unique 8×6” cards.
Materials provided: Pressed flowers, 8×6” handmade cotton paper cards, archival glue and brushes
1.5 Hour Session
September 24, 2022
Saturday, 4 – 5:30 PM CST
Age: Adults and Children 10+
Location: Oak Park, IL (Address given upon registration)
Price: $35 + $5 for materials (discounted rates for certain tiers of SLF membership)
Ana was inspired by her grandmother’s flower garden to create Bloom & Make, one of Chicagoland’s very few flower preservation studios. Most of the flowers she uses in her work come from her own front yard cutting garden. Her specialty is fine art and jewelry, as well as wedding and special occasion flower preservation. See how Ana uses flowers in her work on her Instagram handle, @bloom.and.make.
