Introduction to Writing YA Speculative Fiction with Diana Ma

Have you ever wondered what makes a YA novel…well, YA? How do you write teen characters who just happen to be fighting dystopian regimes or riding dragons? This workshop will answer these questions and provide tips, examples, and writing exercises to help you start your journey to writing speculative YA!

Attendees will be asked to participate via chat, voice, and/or video.

This class meets online for a single 90-minute session.

About the Instructor: 

Diana Ma is a Chinese American author who writes Middle Grade and Young Adult books. Her debut novel Heiress Apparently was a 2021 Washington State Book Award finalist in Young Adult Literature. She was also a 2019 We Need Diverse Books mentee and a Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers Fellow. Diana teaches at a community college in Seattle and believes that it’s important for all kids to recognize themselves as the heroes of the books they read. Her belief that diverse books help us create a better world is what drives her writing and teaching. 

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This event will be held in Zoom. By registering for this class, you agree to follow the Clarion West Code of Conduct and Zoom policies. 

Limited Free Seating: 

We offer a percentage of seats in every class to People of the Global Majority (Asian, Black, African, Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities') for free, regardless of financial need. 

Eligible folks should complete this form to enter the lottery for free seats.  If a seat is available, we will email you 7-10 days before the class begins. For more information, see our equity and inclusion policies.

Sliding Scale Pricing:

The Supporting Tuition rate is shown for each class or workshop for folks who can pay it. Paying the Supporting Tuition rate enables us to continue to pay our staff and instructors equitably, as well as support access to classes for others who may be in a different situation. 

The Helping Hands rate is available to folks under more limited economic circumstances, no matter your background.

For more information, see our financial aid policies.

Our Refund Policy:

Clarion West will refund all class fees if the request is made 30 days before the class date. Refund requests made within 30 days of the class will be honored if we can fill the seat.

Any exceptions are subject to approval by our workshop staff.