The course consists of 32 online evening sessions (Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8.30pm). Times are either in AEST or AEDT depending on dates. Please convert if you live outside of these time zones.
2026 Schedule
Stage One: Finding the Way In
Session 1: Wednesday, 22 July
Introduction: Genre and the Workshop Process
In this opening session, we will define the broad spectrum of speculative fiction, from magic realism to hard sci-fi and everything in between, and establish how our workshop process supports the unique needs of the novel you are here to write.
Session 2: Wednesday, 29 July
Needful Things: Establishing Your Writing Practice
All novel writing requires immense mental stamina and organisation. This session focuses on building a sustainable routine and managing the complex research and timelines necessary to maintain your novel’s internal logic and consistency.
Session 3: Wednesday, 5 August
Plot: Let’s Get this Story Started!
Every novel needs an immediate, immersive hook. We will analyse how to launch your narrative effectively, balancing the inciting incident with the subtle world-induction required to ground readers in your unique setting from the very first page. The second hour of this class sees the first of our peer/instructor workshops. A maximum of two students will submit work for constructive feedback from the group. Your instructor will guide the discussion.
Session 4: Wednesday, 12 August
Voice & Character: Look Who’s Talking
Whether your protagonist is human, alien, or supernatural, their voice must feel authentic and grounded. We explore how a character’s unique perspective shapes the reader’s understanding of your speculative reality and the rules that govern it. The second hour of this class sees the second of our peer/instructor workshops.
Session 5: Wednesday, 19 August
Setting: Where Worlds Collide
Speculative settings are dynamic forces, not just backdrops. We will investigate how to build immersive environments where the physical (and non-physical) laws and social structures directly drive the story’s core conflict. The second hour of this class sees the third of our peer/instructor workshops.
Session 6: Wednesday, 26 August
Plot: Inspiration and How to Find It
Discover how to harvest “What If?” questions from science, history, and folklore. We will discuss techniques for generating fresh ideas that reinvigorate the speculative fiction genres and keep your narrative moving forward. The second hour of this class sees the fourth of our peer/instructor workshops.
Session 7: Wednesday, 2 September
Research: Curiosity, Fact-Checking, and Ethics
A guest author joins us to discuss accuracy as the foundation of reader trust, especially in imaginative worlds. We look at how to follow your curiosity and verify facts whilst ethically navigating the representation of cultures, technologies, and sensitive themes in your fiction. The second hour of this class sees the fifth of our peer/instructor workshops.
Session 8: Wednesday, 9 September
Project Review: What’s the Big Idea?
Before the break, we pause to evaluate your core premise. We will refine your central “Big Idea” to ensure it has the structural integrity to support a full novel. The second hour of this class sees our sixth and final peer/instructor workshop for this first stage of the course.
Stage Two: Craft and Texture
Session 9: Wednesday, 14 October
Prose Style and the Sentence
This session focuses on sentence-level craft, exploring syntax, rhythm, and restraint. Learn how to make the prose choices do the heavy lifting in your novel.
Session 10: Wednesday, 21 October
Narrative Time
Speculative fiction often plays with the perception of time. We will explore how to manage forward movement, flashbacks, and time-dilation whilst keeping the reader grounded in the emotional arc and the logical progression of your story’s timeline.
Session 11: Wednesday, 28 October
Plot: Staging Scenes
We will break down the mechanics of scene construction, focusing on how to enter a scene at the right moment, manage dialogue, and ensure every beat serves a narrative purpose. The second hour of this class sees the first of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
Session 12: Wednesday, 4 November
Character: In the Before—Developing Backstory
Every character has a life before the story begins. We explore how to develop rich backstories and, more importantly, how to weave that history into the present narrative effectively. The second hour of this class sees the second of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
Session 13: Wednesday, 11 November
Character: Point of View, Tense and Other Special Effects
We dive into technical choices like perspective and tense. You will learn how shifting these “special effects” can radically change the reader’s emotional proximity to the characters and the plot. The second hour of this class sees the third of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
Session 14: Wednesday, 18 November
Character: Guest Author
An award-winning author joins the workshop to discuss how to bring your characters to life. The second hour of this class sees the fourth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
Session 15: Wednesday, 25 November
Character Arcs: How to Chart Your Characters’ Journeys Over Time
We will map the emotional and psychological transformation of your protagonist. This session ensures that your characters are fundamentally changed by the events of the plot in a satisfying way. The second hour of this class sees the fifth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
Session 16: Wednesday, 2 December
Project Review and Questions
We conclude the year by checking in on your progress. We will discuss where you are feeling stuck and re-examine what your story is actually about at this stage. The second hour of this class sees the sixth and final of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Two of the course.
2027 Schedule: Wednesdays (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Stage Three: Structure & Revision
Session 17: Wednesday, 3 February
Taking Stock: What Actually Happens in Your Book
We pause to assess the progress on the page and diagnose narrative gaps. This session focuses on identifying where your speculative rules might be sagging and ensuring the story’s internal logic remains consistent.
Session 18: Wednesday, 10 February
Needful Things: Outlines, Character Cards, and Software
Organisation is vital for complex speculative storytelling. We explore tools for tracking “magic systems”, and intricate timelines to keep your revision process structured, manageable, and free from continuity errors as you draft.
Session 19: Wednesday, 17 February
Plot 1: Pace, Beats and More
Pacing is the heartbeat of any novel. We will map out turning points, escalating action, keeping the tension rising to ensure your world-building details and descriptions never overwhelm the emotional weight of your story. The second hour of this class sees the first of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Session 20: Wednesday, 24 February
Setting: Mystery, Atmosphere and Tension
Use your environment to heighten the stakes. We will discuss how to use the unlocked potential of a speculative world to build dread, wonder, and sustained narrative tension that keeps your readers deeply immersed in the story. The second hour of this class sees the second of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Session 21: Wednesday, 3 March
Plot 2
We examine storytelling techniques at the granular level, specifically how to drive the tension and microtension within scenes in the critical second part of your novel. The second hour of this class sees the third of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Session 22: Wednesday, 10 March
Theme, Imagery, and Symbolism
Speculative fiction uses the impossible to reflect real-world truths. We will explore how your recurring images and symbols can emphasise the deeper thematic concerns of your novel. The second hour of this class sees the fourth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Session 23: Wednesday, 17 March
Structural Editing
This session focuses on big-picture revision. We will look at “macro” issues like the consistency of your world-building, the clarity of your narrative logic, and the effective reshaping of material across the entire span of your speculative manuscript. The second hour of this class sees the fifth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Session 24: Wednesday, 24 March
The Ending: Are You There Yet?
Master the art of conclusion. Whether your ending involves a grand cosmic battle or a quiet, haunting revelation, it must provide thematic closure and respect the rules you have established for your world. The second hour of this class sees the sixth and final of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Three of the course.
Stage Four: Polishing and Meeting the Outside World
Session 25: Wednesday, 28 April
Editing Your Work: Guest Editor
A professional editor specialising in genre fiction joins us to discuss industry standards. You will gain insight into how editors approach speculative texts and what they look for in professional submissions to major publishing houses.
Session 26: Wednesday, 5 May
The Line Edit
We turn to sentence-level revision and precision. This session ensures your prose is “submission-ready,” maintaining your unique voice whilst sharpening the clarity of your language. The second hour of this class sees the first of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 27: Wednesday, 12 May
Needful Things: Synopses, Blurbs, Titles, and Pitches
Learn to distil your novel into a punchy pitch. With the help of a guest author/instructor, we will work on query letters, synopses and blurbs that highlight your story’s unique “hook” and marketability for agents who represent authors of speculative fiction. The second hour of this class sees the second of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 28: Wednesday, 19 May
It Takes a Village
How to balance the need for solitude with the joys of community. How to apply for conventions, writers groups, residencies, grants and more. We will also discuss how to talk about your novel confidently during interviews, book launches, or panel discussions. The second hour of this class sees the third of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 29: Wednesday, 26 May
Literary Agents
We host a literary agent to discuss their role in the publishing industry. They will provide insight into the current global market for speculative fiction and how to build a successful, sustainable career as a genre writer in the modern landscape. The second hour of this class sees the fourth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 30: Wednesday, 2 June
Publishers
A guest publisher will join us to hear your formal pitches. Each student presents their work and receives direct, constructive feedback on their project’s marketability and potential within the diverse and competitive speculative fiction landscape. The second hour of this class sees the fifth of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 31: Wednesday, 9 June
Promoting Your Work
Social media, websites, headshots, and more. We will tackle these questions and discuss the specific promotion expectations for speculative fiction authors, publicists, and publishers in 2027 and beyond. The second hour of this class sees the sixth and final of our peer/instructor workshops for Stage Four of the course.
Session 32: Wednesday, 16 June
Final Readings and What Comes Next
In our final session, writers will share excerpts from their work and reflect on the progress they’ve made. We’ll discuss sustaining writing practice beyond the course, next-draft strategies, and possible pathways forward for your speculative novel.
All sessions are held online on Zoom and Wet Ink. Zoom classes are not recorded. The exact course content could be adjusted according to the experience and concerns of the group and the availability of guest writers. The details of the course are at the discretion of the tutor and Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin.
