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:
Building fantasy worlds with real-world foundations, with J.W. Elliott
Friday 5 September 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Your tutor
J.W. Elliott
J.W. Elliot is a #1 bestselling and award-winning author of young adult and teen fantasy, science fiction, and historical novels. He has published over 23 works of fiction and 7 works of non-fiction. He is a college professor with considerable experience in teaching writing, and he actively teaches short courses on story and scene structure and world building.
He loves to paddle his canoe, shoot his handmade longbows in the woods, make knives, study martial arts, and generally enjoys challenging himself. When not teaching or writing about the real past, he is imagining worlds and histories that might have been, should have been, or may yet be.
Key topics
Build immersive worlds with depth and wonder
Discover how to design fantasy and sci-fi settings that captivate readers and shape your characters. Learn the key principles of creative worldbuilding – how to develop settings that feel alive, immersive, and emotionally impactful.
Avoid the common pitfalls of worldbuilding
Learn about the most frequent worldbuilding mistakes – and how to avoid them. You’ll learn to balance originality with clarity and create worlds that enhance your story rather than overwhelm it.
Introduce your world through story, not exposition
Master techniques to weave your world into the narrative through character, dialogue, and action. We’ll explore how to reveal setting in a way that feels organic, intriguing, and deeply tied to plot and emotion.
Structure and schedule
The masterclass will take place on Friday 5 September 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
Monday 6th October 2025, 7:30pm BST / 2:30pm ET
Fundamentals of structuring multiple POV novels, with Nyssa Baschel
Thursday 6th November 2025, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
Writing paranormal fantasy, with E.E Holmes
Tuesday 2nd December 2025, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Publishing pathways: indie vs. traditional publishing, with MJ Porter
$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.