World-Building Essentials: How to Craft Immersive Story Settings—Beth Barany

Open to the Public
NVW Members: $5
Guests: $10
Students: Free with ID

Science fiction and fantasy writers face unique world-building challenges. In this focused 45-minute workshop, you'll learn essential techniques to create compelling story worlds without getting lost in endless details. Whether you're developing alien civilizations, magic systems, or alternate histories, you'll discover how to build rich, convincing settings that enhance your narrative.

What you'll learn:

• How to establish the core rules and limitations of your speculative world
• Techniques for creating consistent magic systems or technological frameworks
• Ways to integrate world-building smoothly into your narrative without info-dumping
• Key Methods to reveal your world through character interaction and conflict

This workshop includes:

• Focused exercises to develop your world's fundamental elements
• Examples from successful science fiction and fantasy works
• Practical worksheets for mapping your world's key features
• Tips for avoiding common speculative fiction world-building pitfalls

Perfect for writers who want to create more convincing and engaging story worlds. Through targeted exercises and concrete examples, you'll learn to build settings that captivate readers while serving your story's needs.

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Beth Barany is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist and certified creativity coach for writers. Through her courses and coaching, she helps writers experience clarity and get writing. She co-wrote Plan Your Novel Like A Pro with her husband, thriller writer Ezra Barany.

Through Barany School of Fiction, she offers comprehensive courses and personalized coaching designed to help fiction writers experience clarity, overcome creative obstacles, and bring their stories to life.
For more information, visit bethbarany.com

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Napa Valley Writers, a non-profit organization, is a branch of the California Writers Club and holds monthly meetings. For more information, contact [napavalleywriters@gmail.com](mailto:napavalleywriters@gmail.com)