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 essential components of a compelling fantasy series, with C S Lakin
Thursday 7 August 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Your tutor
C.S. Lakin
C. S. Lakin is an award-winning author of more than thirty books, fiction and nonfiction, writing instructor, and professional copyeditor who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lakin’s award-winning blog for writers, Live Write Thrive, provides deep writing instruction and posts on industry trends.
Her seven-book fantasy series, The Gates of Heaven, is available in print and ebook, allegorical fairy tales drawing from classic tales we all read in our childhood.
She also has an award-winning historical Western romance series under the pen name Charlene Whitman.
In addition to the novels she’s written, Lakin also publishes writing craft books in the series The Writer’s Toolbox, which help novelists learn how to write great books.
Key topics
What makes a series worth writing?
Explore what defines a great series and why you might choose to write one. We’ll break down the key differences between series and standalones, and examine what a multi-book format can accomplish that a single novel can’t.
Plan a multi-book story that holds together
Learn how to assess whether your story idea has the scope to carry multiple instalments. We’ll guide you through plotting a series-wide arc, deciding how many books you need, and keeping readers hooked from first book to last.
Build character arcs that evolve across books
Discover how to craft character journeys that develop over time. We’ll explore how to write compelling long-form arcs, manage ensemble casts, and make sure your characters grow in ways that keep readers emotionally invested.
End strong – and know where to go next
Whether you’re writing a tight duology or a sprawling saga, we’ll look at how to end your series in a satisfying way. We’ll also discuss open versus closed endings and how to spin off side characters into fresh new series.
Structure and schedule
The masterclass will take place on Thursday 7 August 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET. 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!
Future masterclasses
Friday 5th September 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Building fantasy worlds with real-world foundations, with J W Elliot
$30.00 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.
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.