Exploring Speculative Forms: Writing Futures Beyond Genre with Phoenix Kai

Take a three-week journey through speculative writing that challenges the boundaries of traditional storytelling. The class will explore speculative writing in 3 different forms in 3 sessions: prose, multimedia, and serial writing, with exercises that encourage participants to experiment with that week’s theme. 

In this workshop, you’ll:

• Explore the conventions and possibilities of each form with weekly recommended readings.

• Engage in discussions about speculative writing’s role in imagining equitable futures.

• Experiment with in-class generative exercises tailored to each form.

• Build a writing community with peers and collaborate on a final digital zine project (optional).

The class culminates in a choice: refine one of your weekly experiments into a polished piece or co-create a digital zine with your classmates. Participants can also schedule one-on-one feedback with the instructor after the course.

Though these sessions are lecture-based, attendees will be asked to participate via chat, voice, and/or video.

This class meets online for three, two-hour sessions: May 13, 20 and 27 from 4-6 pm Pacific

About the Instructor: 

phoenix kai (they/them) is a queer poet, writer, and multimedia artist located on the unceded Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish peoples in Seattle, WA. their work has appeared in the Henry Art Gallery Interpretive Guide, Silly Goose Press, Beyond Queer Words, and elsewhere. phoenix was one of the 2024 Husky 100 and received their MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics from UW Bothell. they are currently fascinated by speculative futures, quantum physics, queer belonging, and mythological retellings.

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This event will be held in Zoom. By registering for this class, you agree to follow the Clarion West Code of Conduct and Zoom policies. 

Limited Free Seating: 

We offer a percentage of seats in every class to People of the Global Majority (Asian, Black, African, Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities') for free, regardless of financial need. 

Eligible folks should complete this form to enter the lottery for free seats.  If a seat is available, we will email you 7-10 days before the class begins. For more information, see our equity and inclusion policies.

Sliding Scale Pricing:

The Supporting Tuition rate is shown for each class or workshop for folks who can pay it. Paying the Supporting Tuition rate enables us to continue to pay our staff and instructors equitably, as well as support access to classes for others who may be in a different situation. 

The Helping Hands rate is available to folks under more limited economic circumstances, no matter your background.

For more information, see our financial aid policies.

Our Refund Policy:

Clarion West will refund all class fees if the request is made 30 days before the class date. Refund requests made within 30 days of the class will be honored if we can fill the seat.

Any exceptions are subject to approval by our workshop staff.