Frank Herbert, author of the immensely popular “Dune” saga, once wrote: “Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.”
If the creation of impossible worlds interests you, you might be a science fiction writer in the making.
Here’s how you can take a deep dive into the sci-fi genre around Indy, from book clubs to workshops and beyond.
Science fiction writing classes
If you’re ready to put pen to paper but want tailored, one-on-one help crafting your masterpiece, consider these classes and workshops.
Indiana Writers Center
This local group periodically offers sci-fi workshops and multiweek courses. At larger events like The Gathering of Writers — taking place Saturday, Sept. 19 — you can learn more about general topics to improve your craft, like how to achieve brevity in your word selection or how to get your work ready for publication.
Butler MFA Community Workshop series
Led by alumni of Butler’s Creative Writing MFA program, these free, single-day workshops help writers of all experience levels get fresh inspiration and learn new ways to approach their work.
Keep an eye out for the announcement of their fall and winter classes. Previously, sci-fi offerings included “Dystopia 101: Learning to Write the Future,” which drew references from the work of Octavia Butler and similar writers.
From Her Corner
IU Indianapolis grad Emily Mellentine has hosted over 100 writing sessions around Indy over the last few years. She offers custom writing workshops for teams, students and individuals that you can tailor to your sci-fi specific needs.
IU Indianapolis
Already an IU student, or thinking about going back to school? The English department offers a course that studies British and American sci-fi authors all the way from Isaac Asimov to Michael Moorcock.
Science fiction book clubs and gatherings
To be a good writer, one must be a good reader, too. Book it to one of these local book clubs and events that focus on science fiction titles to chat with and learn from other fans of the genre.
Sci-Fi Syndicate
The Whispering Shelf hosts this popular monthly book club, with past reads including “Project Hail Mary.” Plan ahead for October, when the group will cover book three of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and keep an eye on its events calendar for author talks with masters of the genre.
Ad Astra
Join the Central Library’s sci-fi book club once a month to chat through titles like “This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone and “Hole in the Sky” by Daniel H. Wilson.
Adult Horror and Sci-fi Book Club
This book club meets at Yujo Ramen and Bubble Tea, so settle in with a steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen to discuss books selected by the Indianapolis Public Library.
Festival 451indy
The Ray Bradbury Center’s fifth annual festival celebrates “The Illustrated Man,” Bradbury’s popular collection of sci-fi short stories. Join a free author talk with Sheree Renée Thomas, prolific writer and editor of “The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction,” on Thursday, Sept. 17, to explore the stories’ connecting themes.
Bonus: You can be part of a citywide reading of “The Illustrated Man” that will bring sci-fi readers together for a special public program on Nov. 10.
If you have an interest in the intersection of sci-fi and the stage, catch the world premiere of “The Autumn Country,” an adaptation of Bradbury’s stories, at The District Theatre in October.
After the festival goes on hiatus, you can still get some world-class inspiration by visiting The Ray Bradbury Museum, based at IU Indianapolis. It’s one of the largest single author collections in the world with hundreds of thousands of manuscript pages, letters, books and other artifacts carefully filed by Bradbury himself. Tours are by appointment only.
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Shea Stapley is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach her at sheajuliestapley@gmail.com.
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