MASTERCLASSES
Introducing our online masterclasses…
Our online masterclasses are designed specially for fantasy and science fiction writers. They feature a wide range of expert speakers and useful topics covering the craft, publication, and marketing of speculative fiction. We run one masterclass every month, with each one lasting 90 minutes and including a mix of presentation and Q&A, with an optional writing burst, discussion session, or exercises at the end. All of our masterclasses take place live and online via Zoom, with recordings available afterwards. Masterclasses are exclusively available to members of Fabled Planet.
Our next masterclass:
The Five Pillars of HIghly Addictive Characters, With Andy Peloquin
Friday 6th June 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Your tutor
Andy Peloquin
Andy Peloquin is a sci-fi and fantasy writer who loves exploring the darker side of human nature through the filter of heroes, villains, and everything in between. His work includes the Queen of Thieves series (grimdark fantasy), the Cerberus series (cyberpunk sci-fi), and the Heirs of Destiny series (YA fantasy).
Andy believes that “speculative fiction provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible.” Outside of writing, Andy is a freelance writer and die-hard reader.
Key topics
Make your characters unique and compelling
Every character needs something to make the reader want to root for them them. Determining a unique skill, ability, or belief is crucial for establishing the first layer of a compelling character. In this masterclass, you’ll dig deep into this psychological layer of the character and help create a deeper connection with the reader.
Make your characters believably human
Real humans are flawed, and characters should be, too. But a flaw can be used as both a weakness and a strength when done correctly! In this part of the masterclass we’ll explore how to maximise the impact of a flaw to make your characters even more relatable, and analyse the emotional complexities that help readers identify with the characters on the page.
Heighten your characters’ personal agency
A character without agency is flat and boring. Give them agency, and they drive the story forward with maximum impact. In this part of the class, we’ll explore what agency really is and how even seemingly “weak” or “helpless” characters can still have agency enough to shape a story.
Structure and schedule
The masterclass will take place on Friday 6th June 2025. All times are given in British Summer Time (BST) and US Eastern Time (ET).
6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
The masterclass begins. The tutor will welcome all participants and deliver a talk covering the key topics. There will be opportunities for you to ask questions during the talk, allowing plenty of time for interaction.
7:30pm BST / 3:30pm ET
The final half hour will consist of an exercise, write-in, or discussion, where you can have a go at practising the skills you’ve just learnt.
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All our masterclasses are delivered live and online via Zoom. You must have access to a computer or smart device capable of supporting Zoom and a reliable internet connection in order to participate.
Join this masterclass!
Original price was: $30.00 USD.$18.00 USDCurrent price is: $18.00 USD. per month
Membership
As a member, you’ll be able to enjoy this masterclass, and subsequent masterclasses, all included in the price of your membership. You’ll get indefinite access to the recordings of masterclasses that take place while you’re a member, as long as your membership remains active. You can cancel at any time.
Future masterclasses
Wednesday 2 July 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
How to land your ideal literary agent, with Ciara Finan
Thursday 7 August 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
The 10 key components of a compelling fantasy series, with C S Lakin
Frequently asked questions
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How can I participate in the masterclasses?
Masterclasses are exclusively available to members of Fabled Planet, so you’ll need to join as a member. The masterclasses are included in the price of your membership – there is no additional fee.
We will email you a link the day before each masterclass, and you’ll use this to join the event on the day. We’ll also send you a reminder about an hour before the masterclass begins.
All our masterclasses take place live and online via Zoom. You must have access to a computer or a smart device capable of supporting Zoom, and you must have access to a reliable internet connection to take part.
Are the masterclasses recorded?
Yes, our masterclasses are recorded. You’ll get indefinite access to the recordings of masterclasses that take place while you’re a member, as long as your membership remains active.
Which masterclass recordings will I have access to?
You will only have access to recordings of masterclasses that take place while you are a member.
Which countries do you accept members from?
We welcome members who are resident in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and any EU country. If you are not resident in one of these countries, unfortunately we won’t be able to accept you as a member at this time.
Please note the stipulation about time zones below.
If I become a member, when will my membership fee be taken?
We take membership fees monthly. Your first payment will be taken when you join, and it will renew automatically every month on the same date.
Can I cancel my membership at any time?
Yes! You can cancel whenever you like. Members aren’t locked in for a minimum period, so you can join for as little as one month if you like.
If you want to cancel, just go to your account here, then go to the subscription section, and use the button there to cancel. Alternatively, you can email us at membership@fabledplanet.com, and we’ll cancel your membership subscription for you.
How interactive are the masterclasses? Can I ask questions?
There is lots of scope for interaction during our masterclasses. You will be able to ask questions during the Q&A section, and afterwards there is always an optional session involving a group writing burst, exercises, or discussion.
Equally, if you’d prefer not to interact, you don’t have to. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the talk. You don’t have to participate in the optional interactive session at the end if you don’t want to.
How does the optional interactive session at the end work?
At the end of the talk and Q&A, we will invite you to join a short session at the end, which will normally consist of a writing burst, exercises, or discussion.
If you wish to watch the session but not directly participate, you’re very welcome to do so.
Do you accommodate different time zones?
Our masterclasses are live events, and we schedule them to align well with time zones in North America and Europe. If you are outside of these locations, you can still participate, but it may not align well with your local time zone. You also have the option of watching the recordings instead.
What accessibility options do you provide?
We use live AI captions for the masterclasses, and these are also included in the recordings. Please note, these captions won’t be 100% accurate and may be delivered with a short delay, but they should help people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate.
How do I pay?
You can sign up for a membership subscription with a credit or debit card. Future payments will then be taken on the same day each month until you cancel your membership.
Which payment currencies do you accept?
We accept three payment currencies: USD, GBP, and EUR. The currency you pay in will depend on your country of residence. People resident in the UK will pay in GBP, people resident in the EU will pay in EUR, and people resident in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa will pay in USD.
What are the full terms and conditions?
You can view our full terms and conditions here.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at enquiries@fabledplanet.com.