In the workshop 'Beyond Good Intentions: Building Futurist Families & Inclusive Communities' we will use the principles of fantasy fiction writing to create characters and imagine alternative utopic realities that we can work towards building for a better future for us all.

World-building is a big part of fantasy fiction, but writers like Octavia Butler (known by some as 'the mother of Afrofuturism') demonstrate the importance of community-building too. Creating a more equitable society begins with a dream. Together, in this workshop, we will work with writing prompts to set the foundation for the families and communities we desire and deserve.

"You got to make your own worlds. You got to write yourself in. Whether you were a part of the greater society or not, you got to write yourself in." - Octavia Butler

For this community-building exercise we will develop complex characters and decide how they will move within this new world.

Everyone has a story to tell, but what is it that makes a story compelling? Do we know more about a character based on what the author reveals or conceals? We will create a profile for our new character and then practice dramatic writing by resolving conflict with others.