Keen to dive into worldbuilding and characterization with one of the most successful writers in speculative fiction? Here's my unfiltered NK Jemisin MasterClass review, where I'll share my honest opinions about the course—and whether I think it will help you with your own science fiction and fantasy writing.
I’d just like to start by saying that some of the links below are affiliate links. However, this has not influenced any of my opinions of the class.
Who is N. K. Jemisin?
The New York Times calls her “The most celebrated science fiction and fantasy writer of her generation,” and for good reason. N. K Jemisin is a five-time Hugo award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer, and the author of the Inheritance and Broken Earth trilogies.
She was the first Black author to win a Hugo Award for Best Novel (for The Fifth Season), and she followed this historic achievement with four more wins. N. K. Jemisin also made history by being the first person to win a Hugo award for each of the three novels in a trilogy.
N. K. Jemisin’s background is in psychology and education, which she uses to create fascinating new worlds and characters in her books. In this MasterClass, N. K. Jemisin discusses her writing process, how to build immersive science fiction and fantasy worlds, as well as how to develop compelling characters.
What is MasterClass?
MasterClass is an online learning platform that offers short video classes on a variety of different topics. Each class has a different instructor, and all are masters in their field.
A MasterClass membership gives you access to all the classes on the platform, with courses on everything from business, to music, to science, to—of course—writing. New classes are added every month, so you’ll never be without an interesting new skill to learn.
There are three annual membership plans you can choose from: Standard, which comes to $10/month; Plus, which comes to $15/month; and Premium, which comes to $25/month.
Plus membership is a great middle ground of the three plans: With this membership, two devices can watch MasterClasses at the same time, and you can download lessons for offline viewing, which makes watching your courses even more convenient.
It's important to note, however, that MasterClass bills annually, so while Plus membership may have an advertised “monthly price” of $15, you'll receive an annual subscription and will be billed for the entire year at once.
MasterClass offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, though, so if you're not happy with the classes, you can cancel your plan within this timeframe.
What does the N. K. Jemisin MasterClass cover? (And what do you get?)
N. K. Jemisin's MasterClass is one of the many creative writing courses that MasterClass offers. While not exactly an entry-level writing course (you won't learn the mechanics of how to write here), these are still beginner-friendly lessons, perfect for those just starting out with worldbuilding and characterization.
Her class is not just for beginners, though: Jemisin's tips and helpful advice will also benefit intermediate-level learners and even experienced writers who wish to develop their writing skills further.
What will you learn?
There are sixteen lessons in this 4-hour writing course, coming in at about 10-20 minutes per lesson. Primarily about worldbuilding and creating believable characters, these lessons include:
- Meet Your Instructor: N. K. Jemisin.
- Elements of Worldbuilding.
- Macro-Worldbuilding Exercise: Build Your World.
- Micro-Worldbuilding: Conceiving the Culture and People.
- Micro-Worldbuilding: Power Dynamics and Cultural Appropriation.
- Worldbuilding: Inventing Science and Magic.
- Worldbuilding: Research.
- Immersing Your Reader: Choosing a POV.
- The Psychology of Characters.
- Forget the Rugged Individual Archetype.
- The Hierarchy of Characterization: Demographics, Outer Life and Inner Life.
- The Hierarchy of Characterization: The Character Arc.
- How to Publish Your Book: Publication Options.
- How to Find a Literary Agent.
- Surviving the Literary Marketplace.
- Writing While Marginalised.
The classes are delivered through video lessons, but there's a 34-page supplemental PDF workbook that you can download and refer to as well.
Want to look at the full course? Check out N. K. Jemisin's MasterClass here.
What I loved about the N. K. Jemisin MasterClass
As a speculative fiction writer myself, currently working on my first full-length fantasy novel, I was so excited to watch this MasterClass—and I was not disappointed.
N. K. Jemisin is a master of her craft, and I couldn’t wait to incorporate her worldbuilding and characterization tips into my own writing. I was particularly keen to look into the psychology of characters, and how to use psychology to create truly compelling characters. I also hoped to make my fantasy world feel more “real” and immersive.
Worldbuilding and characterization
The class is primarily for science fiction and fantasy writers, getting into the nitty-gritty of creating a world from the ground up at a micro and macro level. N. K. Jemisin also digs deep into believable characterization.
However, she does so in a practical—and approachable—way. Even absolute beginners, just starting out with worldbuilding, would find these tips accessible and easy to apply.
Jemisin also talks about common mistakes writers make when it comes to worldbuilding, such as not doing enough research, replicating what’s already been done (and badly), and reinforcing harmful stereotypes and cliches.
The bottom line? Don't be lazy and treat people and cultures like props. This is incredibly important for all writers, but especially for science fiction and fantasy authors who often draw inspiration from the people and world around them.
These two aspects of writing can be extremely challenging, but N.K. Jemisin simplifies the process and sets you up for success. I gained so much from these lessons and was really excited to incorporate Jemisin's tips into my work-in-progress. I immediately felt like my world was more immersive and complete, thanks to her practical advice.
Exercises and workbooks
As part of the lessons, N. K. Jemisin leads a couple of exercises to put her advice into immediate practice (which, as you probably know, we at The Write Practice love!).
For example, Jemisin speaks about character creation, and how she uses a pyramid model based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in her development of characters. (You might recognize Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as the basis of the story types we talk about.)
In one exercise, we used her pyramid model to develop a new character from scratch, thinking about everything from their demographics to their outer and inner life. These assignments were so helpful to see Jemisin's tips in action.
There is also a beautifully-presented 34-page workbook, which for a visual learner like myself, was the perfect supplemental material to the video lessons.
The practicalities of being a writer
As a Black writer, N. K. Jemisin discusses her experiences and gives advice for writing while marginalised. And though this lesson may not directly apply to everyone, it’s still important for everyone to hear.
Jemisin also shares some practical tips to keep yourself safe if you become a successful fantasy or science fiction writer. Though nobody wants to think of the dark side of fame or notoriety, this was another important piece of career advice.
What didn’t work as well for me
Although N. K. Jemisin does touch on both the pros and cons of self-publishing, as a traditionally published author, she focuses mainly on the traditional publishing industry. This includes a lesson on how to find a literary agent and another on surviving the literary marketplace.
While these lessons are very interesting, independent and self-published authors are unlikely to find them as useful as earlier ones.
MasterClass has also apparently recently removed its community forums, which means there’s no longer any peer discussion about the lessons. This is a real shame, as it would have been great to chat with other students and be part of a community of learners, especially for the lessons with exercises.
Key takeaways
I thoroughly enjoyed N. K. Jemisin’s MasterClass, and learnt a lot about characterization and how to create a more immersive world for my fantasy characters.
Whether you're a beginner or have more experience in writing, Jemisin's practical advice and exercises will help you take your fantasy and science fiction writing to the next level.The course's insightful lessons strike a great balance between being long enough to dig deep into the material, while also short enough to be able to do one (or a few) in a single sitting.
I would definitely recommend this class for anyone interested in fantasy and science fiction writing, especially those who would like to develop their worldbuilding and characterization skills.
Ready to take N. K. Jemisin's MasterClass? Sign up here.
Have you taken N. K. Jemisin's MasterClass? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments!
PRACTICE
N. K. Jemisin says, “Children have a weird, unique way of perceiving the world. They notice things we've learned to tune out.”
Think back to one of your favorite childhood memories. Set the timer for fifteen minutes, then write a scene about this memory, making sure to include all your wonderful childlike perceptions at the time.
When you're finished, share your writing in the Pro Practice Workshop. If you post, please remember to leave feedback for at least three other writers!
Not a member yet? Join us here.
Happy writing!
Elizabeth Nettleton is an author and editor currently based in Oxfordshire, England. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she was once so engrossed in her book that she ran into a lamppost.
There is nothing Elizabeth loves more than magic and getting lost in other worlds (except for her family, friends, and pets, of course!), so she primarily writes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her playing with her kids, daydreaming, or trying not to die in a video game.
You can learn more about Elizabeth's projects on her website, or say hello to her on X here.
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