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Course Title:	Fantasy Writing Workshop
Instructor:	Andrea Stanet
Curriculum:	5 units, plus Syllabus and Final Exam
Time Required:	4-6 weeks
Textbooks:	None.
Prerequisites:	None. All students may enroll in this class
CEU Eligibility:	Students who pass an exam will earn 2 CEUs
Course Fee:	$20.00
Start Date:	No waiting...Enroll now and start learning today!

What does Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Wizard of Oz all have in common? Many of our most beloved and best-selling novels are Fantasy Literature. KSURF's new "Fantasy Writing Workshop" will help you unleash your own literary artistry. By the end of this course, you will have the skills necessary to create an enchanting tale that will leave your readers spellbound!

Fantasy author Andrea Stanet invites you to join her in this hands-on writing workshop where you will learn the basic steps to writing a short fantasy story. The course covers the unique issues confronting writers who work in this genre such as creating worlds, creatures, or magic systems. It begins with a brief overview of the different sub-categories of Fantasy genre and ends with the student completing a short fantasy story. The final lesson covers the publication process and breaks down some of the writers markets students may want to explore. This is a learn-by-doing workshop and participants will be asked to submit their short stories for critiques.

When you have completed this course, you should be able to:

• Identify, understand and research examples of the various sub-classifications of Fantasy genre including: Heroic Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Comic Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, and Fairy Tale.
• Understand two of the most important aspects of writing a genre fantasy story: world and character creation.
• Explore the differences between a fantasy setting and other fictional settings
• Fine-tune your skills in describing details about the period, place, and inhabitants of your fantasy world.
• Research and learn about the different ways fantasy characters are treated in other cultures and tales.
• Learn how to compose and practice writing vivid and believable fantasy settings.
• Explore archetypes and discover how to populate your magical world with unforgettable characters.
• Prepare a preliminary character sketch and setting for your fantasy story.
• Gain insights into narrative structure, point of view, conflict and literary devices that will help you create a rich and engaging tale.
• Examine the different Points of View available to the fiction writer and understand the benefits and challenges each presents.
• Understand the basic mechanics of structuring plots and scenes.
• Understand the importance of conflict in your fantasy story and gain a knack for how to create it.
• Unleash your literary artistry and write your first draft!
• Learn practical and effective approaches to self-editing.
• Research markets and find the right publisher for your work.
• Know what publishers, editors, and agents are looking for in the submission process.
• Consider the pros and cons of self-publishing your fantasy story.

Andrea Stanet is a talented fantasy author with five novels and several short stories completed. She wrote as a small-print journalist before completing a Masters degree in Creative Writing at City College of New York. She taught high school in New York City before shifting her focus to raising her two children, one with special needs. She currently tutors English and Essay Writing while taking on freelance writing assignments, blogging and editing. She plans to launch a fantasy e-zine in the near future. Andrea lives in upstate New York with her husband, children and cat.

Syllabus: Getting Started (Course Syllabus)

Unit 1: Introduction to Fantasy Writing Genre

Unit 2: Creating Your Fantasy World and Characters

Unit 3: The Basics of Narrative

Unit 4: Critiquing and Self-Editing

Unit 5: Markets and Publishing

Unit 6: Final Exam

Enroll and start learning today! All course materials will be available when you start the class, so you don't have to wait for weekly lessons and you can truly learn at your own pace. You don't have to be online at any set time; study at your leisure from the comfort or your home or office.

The course curriculum will include tutorial lessons, suggested readings, and optional homework activities. If you are taking the class for enjoyment or self-enrichment, homework is optional but participation is encouraged. Students who approach online learning as an adventure and actively participate will derive the most benefit and enjoyment from online learning. Homework projects, if completed satisfactorily, will earn Extra Credit points which will be added to your Final Exam score and may increase the overall grade you earn in the course.

The Student Handbook provides useful information on how to make the most of your online learning experience at KSURF's Virtual University. Refer to this guide for helpful tips on how to access classrooms, post homework, and answers to most frequently asked questions.