2026 Fall Orion Environmental Writer's Online Graphic Storytelling workshop with Danica Novgorodoff
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Orion magazine hosts regular Online Environmental Writers’ Workshops in poetry and nonfiction. This unique opportunity lets you improve your writing skills and build community from home. Connect with us for six to eight sessions with an experienced instructor and writer. Learn more about environmental writing, and renew, illuminate, and deepen your relationship with nature and place.
Conducted over Zoom (or similar platform) and limited to twelve participants, the workshops will feature a combination of generative exercises, craft talks, readings, special guest appearances, and workshopping of student manuscripts. Please read individual course descriptions for more specifics as each course is different. While individual workshops vary, students can likely expect to spend a few hours a week reading, writing, and commenting on work in and outside of class
We also offer an additional hour-long private group Zoom Q&A session with Orion's editor-in-chief Tajja Isen. This will occur outside your normal class meeting time at a time and date TBD, for no additional charge. It will be a time to peek behind the curtain and ask any general questions you might have about pitching, writing, publishing, and Orion.
The Course: Graphic Storytelling
Through graphic storytelling, we can depict natural and inner landscapes in a language beyond words alone. In this eight-week course, we will use text and images to tell stories about characters’ relationships to place and nature, and to explore the interaction between interior and exterior narratives. Beginning cartoonists, writers who want to branch out into a new medium, and experienced artists are all welcome.
We will begin with a review of the fundamental principles and techniques of cartooning that will benefit creators of all experience levels, look at some different graphic novel styles, and do some in-class writing and drawing exercises. We will then work on developing a script for a short graphic piece (or the beginning of a longer piece) and continue by illustrating that piece in the medium of your choice. Together, we will give feedback on in-progress works and discuss published graphic novels that serve as models and inspiration. Students will have the opportunity for a 30-minute one-on-one consultation with the instructor. Homework will include working on your project and reading other students’ works.
Duration: This online course meets across eight consecutive Wednesdays from 5-7 pm ET (2-4 pm PT), beginning on September 16th and concluding on November 4th.
Application window: August 1-15
The Instructor: Danica Novgorodoff is an artist, writer, and New York Times best-selling illustrator. Her books include the graphic novels A Better World is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis; Long Way Down, written by Jason Reynolds; Slow Storm; The Undertaking of Lily Chen; and Refresh Refresh; the cookbook The Simple Art of Rice, with Chef JJ Johnson; and the picture book Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist, and Environmental Pioneer. In 2022, Danica was awarded the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal, the UK’s most prestigious award for children’s book illustration. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky.danicanovgorodoff.com.
Tuition
This Zoom course is available for $600. Payment within five days of acceptance will guarantee your spot. Cancelations up until a week before the start of the course will result in a full refund. After that, refunds will be conditional on our ability to fill your spot before the course begins.
How to Apply
These workshops may be competitive. Please send a brief cover letter and up to 1500 words of your best prose, up to five pages of poems, and/or illustrative art. Sample writing can be published or unpublished, and might, but probably will not be used in class. Applicants will be notified whether they have been admitted within a week or so of the application deadline.
Questions? Contact workshops@orionmagazine.org or check out our Help Center or FAQs.