World-Building: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing for 15 - 17 Year Olds

Level(s) of Study: Short course
Course Fee:
£545
Start Date(s): 3 August 2026
Duration: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
Study Mode(s): Part-time
Campus: City Campus
Entry Requirements: More information

Introduction:

Course dates:

3 - 7 August 2026, Monday to Friday, 10 am - 4 pm

Imaginary worlds have never been more popular, in books, comics, film and computer games. So, writers in these media often need to invent their own fictional locations. For fantasy, it might be another Narnia, Middle-earth or Earthsea. Science-fiction could be visiting planets like Tatooine, Ringworld or Gallifrey. What could be more enjoyable than inventing an imaginary land? You make the rules.

But it is easy to get overwhelmed. World-building can be a daunting feat of the imagination. There are pitfalls to avoid, such as info-dumping and inconsistency. At the same time, there are tools and tips that make the job easier.

This course offers a guided step-by-step structure to designing your own imaginary land. You will cover the world-building basics with time set aside for writing a guided story set in your world.

Whether you write for a hobby or aim to be published, this course will help, with resources and information about the creative writing industry shared.

By the end of the course, you will have the beginnings of your own imaginary world and a short story set there. You will build skills and knowledge about the creative writing industry.

You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas.
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work.
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance from a well respected University.

Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award?

This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential Award and is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and memories. It will be fun and gently challenging, allowing you to follow your passion and discover talents you never knew you had.

DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.

You must also attend the social events that are planned on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and you must plan and attend your own social activities with other participants on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

What you’ll study

On this course you’ll learn about the origins of world-building as a concept, landscapes, legends and lore, cultures and civilisations, magic and technology, monsters and mythical beasts, narrative structure, character arcs, maps and timelines, info-dumping and ways to avoid it.

You’ll join in brainstorms, do group work and pair-work practice, complete world-building templates, and have time to write your own short story. You’ll receive feedback on your world-building and story writing and find out more about the creative writing industry.

During this course, you will:

become familiar with narrative structure and character development
practice foundations of world-building, such as fabula, history and consistency
practice good prose style, dialogue, metaphor, indirect exposition
become familiar with tools and resources for writing fiction
understand the importance of info-dumping and strategies to minimise its use
develop your confidence in sharing work and peer feedback
understand editing techniques
learn about some routes to publication and careers in writing
increase your familiarity with established genre writers.

Social events

We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.

Day 1:

Introductions. Meet the tutor and peers.

What is world-building? Why make up your own world?

Invent your own landscapes, legends, and lore.

Day 2:

Making up imaginary creatures and peoples for your world.

Magic or technology? How to design either a magic system or a science system for your world.

Day 3:

Maps for imaginary worlds.

Narrative structure: How to shape a plot.

Heroes, superheroes, and the hero’s journey.

Thinking time. Tips on creating a story in your world.

Day 4:

Timelines in world-building.

World-building fine details: money, transport, religion, families, politics in your world.

Writing time. A rough story draft

Day 5:

Tips and tools. Online free resources. Writing organisations local and national.

Q&A with the tutor about publication.

Writing time: Peer editing session and a writing a second draft.

How you’re taught

This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University.

You will practice designing fictional lands and worlds in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. This will involve Powerpoint presentations, pair work exercises, group brainstorms, quizzes, and dedicated writing time. The tutor will offer professional feedback, problem solving and support. You will get an introduction to peer editing /critiquing as well as doing rewrites. You will learn basics of creative writing, such as narrative structure, character arcs and info-dumping. You will have an opportunity to invent your own imaginary world and write a short story.

Contact hours

You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.

Tutor Profile:

Ian C Douglas is a Nottingham writer known for his science-fiction books, the Zeke Hailey series. He has a MA in Creative Writing (Distinction). As a prolific short story writer, around 50 of his short stories have been published, mostly fantasy or science-fiction.

His graphic story was included in To End All Wars, an anthology nominated for two Eisner Awards. Ian won the Gravity Award in 2021 for The Haunting of the Jabberwocky, and the Eyelands Best Novel Award in 2020 for The Infinity Trap.

In 2019, Ian was guest of honour at Malta’s Festival of Literary Stars. Ian runs creative writing workshops, mentors emerging writers and visits schools. He is a co-editor with Left Lion, Nottingham’s flagship cultural magazine and co-founderof both the Nottingham Writers Studio and the East Midlands Society of Authors branch. Ian has served as Nottingham’s Literacy Ambassador for charity and was a regular guest on Notts TV.

Prior to becoming a published writer, Ian taught English language at a university level for ten years.

Find out more about Ian at www.iancdouglas.com and sample his novels for free at www.zekehailey.com

Careers and employability

The course is designed to give you a real experience of university life, make new friends who share similar interests and develop your portfolio so that ultimately, you can make an informed decision about your future.

On this course, you will study under a MA-qualified, practicing freelance writer. A Q&A is scheduled to allow you to ask any questions about the creative writing industry and careers. You will also gain knowledge about the art of writing which will help if you apply for further courses or jobs. The tutor will give feedback to help improve your writing to a more professional level. You will leave with a greater knowledge of resources within the Nottingham writing community.

On successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.

Campus and facilities

You will be studying creative writing in a UNESCO City of Literature, and be based in the School of Social Sciences on the City Campus.

You will find modern teaching spaces and quiet study environments to develop your ideas and writing.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

Entry requirements

Entry requirement: You should have an enthusiasm for reading and writing in general and in particular an interest in the genres of fantasy and science fiction.

You must be 15, 16 or 17 years old at the time of the course in order to attend.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £545

Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you:

Notebook and pen, or your own laptop or electronic device to write in.
Those already working on their own imaginary worlds as a hobby are very welcome to bring in their own writing to develop further.

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.

Need accommodation?

Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £266 per week, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.

These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation.

If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian (to support safeguarding, all guests aged 16 and 17 will be accommodated together in the same halls of residence and there is a dedicated Warden available).

If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian (you must book two separate rooms and let us know so we can place you in rooms next to each other).

This option is particularly popular with students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award.

Find out more and book your accommodation here.