Are you sick of seeing the same Black women characters in literature and cinema Frustrated by the tired tropes and shallow portrayals? Do you crave stories with dynamic, complex Black women villains with intricate backgrounds who resonate with depth and authenticity?

We’ve got you covered!

In What a B*tch! How to Create Complex Black Women Villains, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of storytelling to reimagine what’s possible. This class is designed to empower you to craft villains who are intricate, compelling, and unforgettable—characters who make readers think, feel, and question everything they thought they knew.

Through an engaging mix of discussion, powerful readings, and hands-on exercises, you’ll:

• Unpack the tropes: Explore the literary stereotypes that have long plagued Black women and learn how write Black women villains with rich, layered backgrounds 
• Flip the script: Discover how to turn those tired tropes on their heads to create villains who are dynamic, relatable, and full of complexity.
• Deepen your craft: Use storytelling techniques to bring depth, nuance, and authenticity to your characters.
  

But this isn’t just about writing villains—it’s about breaking barriers. It’s about understanding the richness of Black womanhood and channeling that knowledge into stories that matter. You’ll leave this class not only with a stronger grasp of character development but also with a deeper appreciation for the diversity and depth of Black women’s experiences.

This class will give you the tools, techniques, and inspiration to create villains that leap off the page and leave a lasting impression.

Open to beginner writers and those interested in exploring character development.

All class meetings will be held via Zoom. The link to join your Zoom classroom will be provided on the morning of your class. Please check spam folders if you do not receive an email confirmation upon registration. For more information on how to download or use Zoom, please click here.

Meet Your Instructor:
Zin E. Rocklyn 

Of Trinidadian descent, Zin E. Rocklyn (she/her) is a horror and dark fantasy author hailing from Jersey City NJ. A contributor to several anthologies, including a non-fiction essay in the Hugo Award-winning Uncanny Magazine’s Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction, the Joseph Pulver Award-winning writer is a graduate of 2017 VONA and 2018 Viable Paradise workshops. Her Nebula and IGNYTE-nominated, Shirley Jackson award-winning debut novella Flowers for the Sea was published by tor.com in October 2021. You can follow her on Bluesky at ZinRock.

Course Expectations

• Students will receive two short stories to read between weeks and writing exercises woven into the lesson
• Students will explore writing exercise between week with the goal of writing a scene with a Black woman villain
• Sharing of work will be encouraged 

We offer full refunds for cancellation with written notice up until 7 days before your class start date. From 6 days to more than 24 hours before class begins, we offer a 50% refund. If you drop a class less than 24 hours before the class begins or after it has started, you are ineligible for a refund.