When: May 31st - June 1st, 2025 - 1 PM - 3:30 PM 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!)

Fiction has a tendency to prefer the "active" protagonist - the hero, the Chosen One, who goes out there and takes his destiny in his hands. This default isn't one that marginalised protagonists can always participate in, and often agency for marginalised protagonists will look different. "Inactive," even.

Based on her excellent essay in Fantasy Magazine, "We Are the Mountain: A Look at the Inactive Protagonist," Vida Cruz-Borja has created this workshop to begin examining the inactive protagonist, the dynamic between the inactive protagonist and their setting, and how conflict is employed in writing SFF. This class will include breaks for guided journalling and a Q&A session, and at the end of it students will:

Widen the definition of character agency in fiction other than “active” and “inactive” protagonist
Discover other ways “inactive protagonists” can express their agency
Explore perspectives and approaches other than conflict and competition in fiction
Get plenty of suggested and recommended media to continue exploring the inactive protagonist after the class

Who Should Take This Workshop?

This class is for BIPOC writers in any stage in their writing career and in any medium.

About the Instructor

Vida Cruz-Borja is a fantasy and science fiction writer and editor. Her short fiction and essays have been published in F&SF, Fantasy, Strange Horizons, PodCastle, Expanded Horizons, and various anthologies. She won the 2022 IGNYTE Award for Best Creative Nonfiction for “We are the Mountain: A Look at the Inactive Protagonist” and the National Book Award for Best Fiction in English for her illustrated short story collection Song of the Mango and Other New Myths (2022). Other award nominations, longlistings, and recommendations include the Hugo Award, the British Science Fiction Award, and the James Tiptree Jr. (now Otherwise) Award.

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 May 10th 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!

Intro to the Inactive Protagonist - A Weekend Workshop with Vida Cruz-Borja

Choose your tickets

Live Webinar Registration ticket

Video Only Registration ticket

Donations

Donate to the Carl Brandon Society (optional)