In turbulent times, hope is an act of courage. Two exciting new movements—soilpunk and queer ecologies—are stirring up the literary world. Genre-smashing, inspired by scientific innovations, and subversive to the core, they ask: what if our brightest hope wasn’t in the stars but in the earth beneath our feet? How can writers engage with plants, animals and landscapes in all their messy glory? This masterclass takes a playful, trope-busting approach to sci fi, dystopian/utopian fiction and eco-writing, and will get your writerly sap rising with a burst of soilpunk energy.
Take-aways:
About Tractor Beam
Tractor Beam is a speculative and science fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk: radical visions of hopeful futures on Earth. We explore provocative, optimistic ideas around farming, food, soil, and beyond that reimagine how humans can live more harmoniously with nature.
Claire Gustavson & Lana Z Porter
Claire and Lana are the co-founders and editors of Tractor Beam, a Brooklyn-based speculative fiction publication exploring anti-apocalyptic futures rooted in soil, food, and farming—what they call soilpunk. The work draws on their backgrounds in design, cultural anthropology, climate tech, and journalism, and on a shared conviction: that fiction shapes the future, and our future is on Earth.
You need to be a Writers’ HQ gold star member to get your eyes on this glorious stuff.
But that’s okay because joining is super easy. Just click the button and do the thing.
(Or login if you’re already a member)
The widget that lets you sign into the forum with your WHQ login has given up.
We are trying to coax it back into existence. So far neither bribery, begging or crying has worked. We are currently trying shaking our fists at the sky and going ‘grrrr’.
You can still get to the forum though! Do this:
IMPORTANT: This means you will have TWO (2) passwords/logins. One for the WHQ main site and one for the forum. It’s a pain in the arse. We’re sorry. It is temporary, but at least you can dick about on the forum again. OKAY BYE.
Once you hit the button, you’ll get a confirmation email, and we’ll send you the Zoom link an hour before the event.
Check your inbox for details.
If you don’t get an email, check your spam fist and then wang us a line on he**@**********co.uk and we’ll leap into action with keenness and speed.
FREE ONLINE EVENTS
Online Writers’ Retreats
Spend a whole day writing with us!
Flash Face Off
Prompts every week, live reading every month
Get your free account to join the fun
GOLD STAR MEMBER EVENTS
Bag your Gold Star Membership now and write your heart out
