UCLA Extension winter holiday closure: December 21 through January 1. Learn More

Writing Climate Fiction

WRITING 714.11

Get an introduction to writing "CliFi," or fiction about climate change, in this workshop covering the opportunities and expectations of the genre.

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What you can learn.

Learn how climate fiction can captivate readers while educating them
Get insight into research, various writing approaches, and developing a vision of the future
Balance the demands of good fiction craft with legitimate, science-based information and speculation
Participate in reading and discussing published works and responding to writing prompts

About this course:

Climate change is the most urgent issue facing the globe. At a time of such dire news and so much uncertainty, what good can fiction do? But Climate Fiction—or Clifi—is a rapidly emerging genre of stories concerned in some way with climate, and it has the power to not only captivate readers but to educate, inform, and change minds. In this course, we will examine the genre and its potential, covering research, studying various writing approaches, and exploring visions for the future. How can you convey urgency without becoming didactic? How can you write hope at such a turbulent time? Through a combination of reading examples, writing prompts, and lectures, you will get an introduction to the genre and head start into writing your own way into a new and better world.

Winter 2025 Schedule

January 18

Saturday 10:00AM - 1:00PM PT

Future Offering (Opens January 04, 2025 12:00:00 AM)

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401296

Live Online

Location: UCLA X Open

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Notes

Enrollment opens two weeks prior to the event. Enrollment limited; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

This course will be led by instructional guest Alison Stine. Alison Stine’s first novel Road ROAD OUT OF WINTER won the 2021 Philip K Dick Award. Her second novel TRASHLANDS was long-listed for the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, and her third novel DUST will be published by Wednesday Books/Macmillan in December 2024.

This course is held via video teleconference. As such, instructors use Zoom to offer a live class meeting at the designated time. Students must be present at the course meeting time to participate in the class.

Course Requirements

Internet access required to access course materials.

Schedule

Type

Date

Time

Location

Online

Sat Jan 18, 2025

10:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT

UCLA X Open