WRITE
ATTEND
READ
SUPPORT
Meet THe Team
Speculative Fiction as a term was coined in 1947 but many cultures around the world have been displaying these non real elements that can make a narrative special. This four-week course for fiction writers, nonfiction writers and even poets will be a journey through histories of different cultures and their folk tales. We’ll explore the work of P. Djeli Clark, Suyi Davies, Álvaro Enrigue, Nuzo Onoh. Through historical lectures, readings, videos, and writing exercises: we’ll focus on how to apply these tactics to contemporary work, displaying the unique magic of our heritages and imagining worlds in which we’re a part of. By the end of the course, participants will understand the different subgenres of speculative fiction, will be able to identify the elements of, and will be able to craft deeply connected narratives of who they are based on the generational narratives that have been passed down.
• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium
• Homework: None
• Workshopping Drafts: Optional
Silk Jazmyne is a student of life who loves the artistically strange and narrative in all its forms. She’s a book reviewer and essayist. She’s also a Speculative fiction writer and teaching artist. Her work has appeared both online and in print at Black Girl Nerds, Straylight Magazine, The Gateway Review, Serendipity Literary Magazine, Midnight & Indigo, African Writer Magazine, and Ekphrastic Exhibition in Tandem: Back | Forth. She was born in New York and grew up all over as a Navy brat. She holds a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Tampa and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Florida International University.
"Silk Jazmyne did an excellent job of not just teaching us the strict definitions of the genre but also showing how far sci-fi, magical realism, and fantasy can go beyond 'escapism.' Silk Jazmyne's syllabus focused on speculative work of contemporary writers of color who are not only masters of these genres but are also thoughtfully and methodically pushing the boundaries on what these genres mean and what they can do. Her focus on how writing and reading actually felt has helped me reorient the way I think about my fiction. I would take another Porch class from her in a heartbeat."
"Silk Jazmyne is incredibly informed on the diversity within the realm of speculative fiction. I had never written much in the genre, but Silk has inspired me to get out of my creative comfort zone. She also ensured all students felt safe and welcomed to share their writing with their peers. I was introduced to authors and writing styles I otherwise may never have found on my own thanks to the supplemental material Silk provided."
"Silk was very accommodating, knowledgable, and supportive!"
