Science fiction is a fairly broad genre, with countless sub-genres to be explored. By and large, however, it deals with basic questions about humanity. Where have we come from? Where are we going? It shows our greatest fears and most desired hopes for the future. It can be used to escape, or to expose harsh truths about the world and about our own failings as human beings.
It is also one of the most challenging genres in which to write. The giants of the genre, from Asimov to Heinlein, and Clark, are held in such high esteem by science fiction fans, that newer authors can find themselves with some pretty big shoes to fill. So let’s find the tools you need to provide a solid foundation for writing science fiction.
1: 3 Golden Rules – We start off with Standout Books giving us their 3 golden rules for all science fiction books. This is a good general baseline for how to approach the research and execution of your story.
2: 3 Things Every Good Sci-Fi Story Needs – Sticking with Standout Books for our second link, here they go into a broad checklist of elements that help give a science fiction story the weight and depth it needs to stand out.
3: 10 Tips for Generating Killer Science Fiction Story Ideas – I often say that there are no truly original ideas out there, and this can be especially true of science fiction. The trick is making your ideas feel fresh and enthralling, and this list of tips will help you do just that.
4: Free Sci-Fi Writing Course – Writesf.com offers a completely free online course in writing science fiction. Author Jeffrey A. Carver shares his knowledge and experience with the genre.
5: Top 10 Mistakes in Science Fiction Movies – While science fiction fans are passionate and loyal to their favourite authors, they can also be incredibly discerning, and mistakes will stand out. Use this list of major mistakes specific to science fiction to be sure you get things right.
Wishing you all good luck with your writing!
(c) Paul Anthony Shortt
