The Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed with a simple yet inspiring mission: to help developing writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror improve their work.
If you’re a writer of fantastic fiction, Odyssey’s programs and resources are designed to help you take your writing to the next level. Odyssey is based on the principle that the journey to become the best writer one can be is lifelong. If writers want to reach their full potential, to have their work live and grow along with them, they need to constantly strive to improve. Because of this, the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust offers feedback and guidance to writers at all levels, from beginners to successful professionals. Become the writer you’ve always known you could be!
Worldbuilding in Fantastic Fiction
Course Meets:
Thursdays
March 5 – April 2, 2026
Instructor:
Melissa Scott
Application Deadline:
January 18, 2026
All the World’s a Page:
Adapting Acting Techniques to Strengthen Your Fiction
Course Meets:
Tuesdays
February 24 – March 24, 2026
Instructor:
Barbara A. Barnett
Application Deadline:
January 18, 2026
One Brick at a Time:
Crafting Compelling Scenes
Course Meets:
Tuesdays
March 3 – March 31, 2026
Instructor:
Barbara Ashford
Application Deadline:
January 18, 2026
Story Openings That Engage
Live Webinar:
Sunday, April 12, 2026
2pm-5pm EDT
Instructor:
Scott H. Andrews
Registration Deadline:
April 1, 2026, or when spaces are filled
My experiences over Odyssey's twenty-five previous years have been incredible. Talented writers of all ages, some already published, have come from all across the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, Israel, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and embarked on this epic journey of discovery with me. I've watched students make major breakthroughs during the six weeks, and I've followed their progress after the workshop as they've submitted their work, piled up the rejection slips, made sales, and built wonderful writing careers for themselves.
—Jeanne Cavelos
Odyssey’s online classes will provide you with valuable tools and techniques and will guide you as you practice using them.
Odyssey Writing Workshops provides writers of all levels, from beginners to successful pros, in-depth, insightful, professional-level critiques on their work, coaching, and consultations.
Odyssey makes available podcasts of workshop lectures, as well as writing and publishing tips. You can also gather once a month at our Salon to talk writing, sign up for our newsletter, or check out the latest posts from our blog.
Shay Kauwe is a Your Personal Odyssey graduate and a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) author from Hawaiʻi. She grew up on the Homestead in Waimānalo but moved to Russia because she fell in love with Read more
Jeanne Cavelos is the director of the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust. She was a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she worked for eight years, editing the fantasy/science fiction program, the Abyss horror Read more
Barbara Ashford was a 2025 guest lecturer for the Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop. Barbara has been praised by reviewers and readers alike for her compelling characters and her “emotional, heartfelt” storytelling. Her background as a Read more