When: July 19 - 20, 2025 @ 5PM - 9PM UTC (click here to convert to your timezone)
Can't make the live webinar? Register to get the recording after!
Where: Online over Zoom
Price: 50 - 125 USD (Scholarships available!)

Cultural storytelling—the storytelling traditions and structures that arise from one’s cultural background—is a strength of BIPOC writers, yet many feel constrained by traditional “Western” (read: white) storytelling features. While many find validation in rewriting “normative” structures with characters of color, BIPOC+ storytellers have the opportunity to break into the storytelling conventions of our non-dominant backgrounds.

In this weekend workshop, join instructor Naseem Jamnia as we examine how our "non-normative" experiences affect our understanding of “good craft” to shape stories that not only include characters who look like us, but themes, plot and emotional beats, characterization, and overall structures that better reflect the cultural traditions we come from.

You will be provided a reading packet beforehand to prepare for the class, including various craft essays, short story examples, and brainstorming prompts. After, you will walk away with exercises and guided questions, along with examples of non-dominant storytelling featues and recommended readings to encourage your exploration.

Please note that this class will be recorded.

Who Should Take This Workshop?

This class is for BIPOC writers in any stage in their writing career and in any medium. Note that there will be required readings and homework, so please make sure you have the time to devote to this class in order to get the most out of it.

Schedule

This webinar will run from 5PM - 9PM UTC (click here to convert to your timezone) with a short break every 60 - 75 minutes.

About the Instructor

Former neuroscientist, Astounding Award-nominated, and Judith A. Markowitz Award–winning author Naseem Jamnia (they/them) writes inclusive speculative fiction for kids, teens, and adults. Their adult fantasy novella The Bruising of Qilwa was a finalist for the Crawford, Locus, and World Fantasy awards. Their story in the YA horror anthology The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power was called “artful” and “reminiscent of director David Cronenberg’s work” by Kirkus Reviews. Naseem has been a Bitch Media, Lambda Literary, Otherwise, and the inaugural Samuel R. Delany fellow, and their nonfiction has been published in The Washington Post, The Rumpus, Cosmopolitan, New Orleans Review, and other venues. Naseem is the managing editor and book designer for Sword & Kettle Press, a tiny publishing house of inclusive speculative writing. As part of the steering committee of Freedom to Read Nevada and the Nevada chapter co-lead for Authors Against Book Bans, Naseem is proud to fight for public libraries in their community. A Persian-Chicagoan and child of Iranian immigrants, Naseem lives outside Reno, Nevada, with their geologist husband and four furred creatures. The Glade (May 27, 2025, Aladdin, SimonKIDS) is their middle-grade debut. Find out more at NaseemWrites.com, and join their newsletter NaseemWrites.Kit.Com/SignUp.

Registration Options & Scholarships

This Live Webinar option costs 125 USD, and consists of participating in the live discussion and Q&A, as well as getting the recording after.

If you cannot attend the class live, you can also purchase the Video-Only option. While you won’t be able to participate in the Q&A session, you’ll get a recording of the lecture and answers to the questions asked during the live class, plus any other materials such as slides or handouts. This option costs 50 USD, and you will receive the materials two weeks after the class concludes.

If you cannot pay for all or part of this class, don't fret! We have a number of full and partial scholarships available. Please fill out this form indicating what kind of scholarship you’re aiming for, and tell us a little bit about your project or how you feel this class will help your writing journey.

The scholarship deadline is June 30th by midnight UTC, and we’ll get back to you two weeks before class begins. Please don't self-reject!

Refund Policy

If you can no longer participate in the class, you can request a refund through Humanitix up to 14 days before the class starts and will receive a full refund, minus 10%. After that, the class will not be refunded, but we will send you the recording.

Technical Requirements

This workshop will take place over Zoom, so please ensure that your device is compatible with Zoom beforehand.

A microphone or working camera are not necessary to participate. We'll be monitoring the chat and relaying any questions you type to the instructor.

Accessibility

This class will have Zoom's auto-generated closed-captions available. For more of Zoom's accessibility features, please click here. Discussions will be via voice or Zoom's chat feature.

If you have any questions, contact our class coordinator Yasmine at classes@carlbrandon.org and we'll get back to you ASAP!