Science Fiction Writing: A Comprehensive Guide
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Science fiction is one of the most popular genres in writing today.
It has a massive following, and for good reason – science fiction is an incredibly interesting genre that can explore many different ideas and concepts.
But if you’re new to science fiction writing, it can be difficult to know where to start.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about writing science fiction.
We’ll cover important topics like worldbuilding, character development, and plot structure.
So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced science fiction writer, this guide has something for you!
What is Science Fiction?
Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life.
It has been called the “literature of ideas”, and often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations.
Science fiction is not limited to any one genre, but it often includes elements of fantasy, horror, and/or dystopian fiction.
A science fiction work can be written in many different ways, but the most common subgenres include hard science fiction, cyberpunk, space opera, and steampunk.
What is Science Fiction Writing?
Science fiction writing is the process of writing stories that fall within the science fiction genre.
It can be a challenging genre to write in because you must create believable worlds and characters that inhabit them.
But with careful planning and execution, you can produce a story that will transport your readers to another time or place altogether.
Quick Writing Tips:
- Start by creating a detailed outline of your story. This will help you stay organized and know where to go next when things get tough.
- Write a first draft that is as complete as possible before editing begins so there are no surprises later on down the road! You can always change things up after this step if necessary, but it’s better than having something incomplete from day one.
- Edit carefully! You might find yourself going back over old material because of some new ideas that came into being while working on another part of the novel.
- Don’t let those revisions distract you too much (unless they’re absolutely necessary for continuity).
Types of Science Fiction
There are many different types of science fiction, and each type has its own unique characteristics.
Some common types include:
Cyberpunk
A subgenre in which technology becomes a central theme or plot device.
It typically deals with dystopian settings that feature advanced technological developments like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR).
A classic example is William Gibson’s Neuromancer, which features cyborgs as protagonists from various social backgrounds who must work together to stop an evil corporation from taking over the world.
Hard science fiction
This term describes stories about scientific accuracy being paramount above all other considerations such as character development or literary style.
The focus is often on real life technologies such as space travel and extraterrestrial life forms instead of fantastical or futuristic concepts.
Hard science fiction is often used to explore the implications of scientific and technological developments.
You might consider hard science fiction as an over-exaggeration of today’s technology and scientific theory.
Soft science fiction
This term describes stories that focus on social and emotional issues rather than scientific accuracy.
It typically deals with more personal themes such as relationships, morality, and human nature.
Soft science fiction is sometimes called “humanist science fiction”.
That’s not to say soft science fiction is particularly less focused on technology or science.
You could, say, have a story about a robot who falls in love with a human with a background plot exploring a wild universe.
The robot and the world is a higher form of science fiction, but if the blog revolves about the implications and relationship of how a robot could love a human, then in essence, you have created soft science fiction.
Steampunk
A genre that typically features anachronistic technology and settings inspired by 19th century industrial steam powered machinery.
The most common elements are airships, goggles, corsets, and brass fittings.
Steampunk often explores a world where society has reverted back to a preindustrial state.
Steampunk does not specifically need to hearken back to this time period, but more likely it is about the idea of going back to past time periods and exploring what they could be like when technology of the time is exaggerated to the point that it becomes science fiction.
Dystopian fiction
A genre of science fiction that typically features a world in which the conditions of society are extremely bad.
This can be due to factors such as totalitarianism, pollution, overpopulation, or climate change.
Dystopian stories often explore the negative consequences of humans trying to play God.
Sadly dystopian fiction often times is based on real life experiences, and of this list in this articles, is the only true science fiction that does exist to some extent in our current world.
We go into more depth about what is a dystopia.
Sci Fi noire
Sci Fi noire recent subgenre of science fiction that combines the conventions of film noir with those of science fiction.
It typically features a bleak, dystopian future, and often focuses on the psychological effects of advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
One of the earliest examples of sci fi noire is Blade Runner (1982), which tells the story of Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who tracks down escaped replicants—genetically engineered humans designed for slave labor.
The film was directed by Ridley Scott and has since been hailed as a classic in the genre.
In more recent years, films like Her (2013) and Ex Machina (2015) have brought sci fi noire to the mainstream, garnering critical acclaim and box office success.
These films explore the moral and psychological implications of advanced technology, often in a dark and suspenseful way.
Explore our list of 101 amazing sci fi movies to explore more similar films.
Science Fiction Writing Tips
Now that you know about the different types of science fiction, let’s take a look at some tips for writing science fiction.
Start with worldbuilding
As we mentioned earlier, worldbuilding is one of the most important aspects of science fiction writing.
When creating your world, it’s important to think about things like geography, history, and culture.
You’ll also want to create a map of your world to help you visualize it as well.
Use imaginary technologies
It’s not Science Non-fiction, so it’s ok to use imaginary technologies that don’t exist in the real world.
This allows you to explore different ideas and concepts that wouldn’t be possible in other genres.
Just make sure that you explain the technology in detail so that your readers can understand it.
Focus on character development
Character development is a key element of science fiction writing.
You’ll want to create characters who are complex and interesting, so that readers can relate to them.
For example, you might include some flaws or weaknesses in your characters to make them more relatable.
Develop an engaging plot
The story needs to be compelling enough for readers to keep reading until the end!
In other words, it should contain twists and turns that make you want know what’s going to happen next.
Write believable dialogue
Dialogue is another important part of science fiction writing because it helps bring characters alive on paper.
Your dialogue should sound like something someone would actually say in real life instead of being too formal or robotic sounding.
Include a sense of wonder
Science fiction is all about exploring new and exciting ideas, so make sure to include a sense of wonder in your writing.
This will help engage readers and make them feel like they’re part of the story.
Horror is a type of wonder too.
You don’t have to come up with a whole wonderful new world with new ideas.
Sometimes you can set up certain rules in your world that when concocted with great characters or settings can make a sense of wonder even if all the ingredients are familiar to the reader.
Use illustrations
Illustrations can be helpful for visualizing your world and characters.
They can also add an extra level of excitement to your story.
If you’re not artistically inclined, you can find illustrators online who are willing to work with you on a freelance basis.
It’s a fantastic way to get readers and fans of your work to really indulge themselves into the world you’ve built.
Characters have a personality on paper, but visualizing them makes them more real to someone who didn’t write the character themselves.
Conclusion
Science fiction is a fascinating genre that allows writers to explore different worlds and ideas.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to write science fiction that engages and entertains readers. Thanks for reading!