How to Write Science Fiction

Science fiction is a compelling speculative genre that allows us to explore questions about humanity and civilization by exploring futuristic or scientific what-ifs. What's not to love about a genre that includes everything from aliens to time travel? It's a unique genre but also a beloved one with so many sub-genres that there's something for almost any writer! If you want to try your hand at sci-fi, here's what you need to know about the genre and some key tips to write it effectively.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - What is sci-fi?
1:58 - Sci-fi word counts
2:29 - Identify your question
3:22 - Know the rules of your world
6:04 - Don't neglect the characters
6:48 - Research
8:03 - Start from reality
9:33 - Don't make the scope larger than needed
11:03 - Decide what you'll say vs. what you won't
12:54 - Lean into the imagery
13:29 - Read good sci-fi

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[kulsoomahsan]

I find the story of your grandfather starting his own exploration into fiction writing and leaving it to you so lovely, even if you don't ever finish it. Both my grandfathers were engineers. One of my grandfathers really let it be know that he thinks fiction is a waste of time... And I was an English major. 😅 My engineer dad has encouraged me to write. I'm sad I slacked off and gave up on writing.

[glenn_r_frank_author]

Love Sci-fi, especially harder sci-fi, but very deeply character driven too. My favorite and preferred genre to read and write.

[brianhall]

Very down to earth tips! I wrote a novel about a starship mainly composed of alien technology that the Captain decided was too powerful for the Empire he worked for. He steals the ship along with the Emperor's daughter, whose twin sister is technologically disguised as a man spying on the Captain.
Titled To Face the Universe - Mutiny, I self published it! Thank you for your weekly tips!

[ulibarriL]

Some of the most sage advice I received when it comes to sci-fi writing and writing fiction in general is to just write. When you have yet to have any of your work published, there is a certain level of appreciation to be had with your infancy into the art that is short-lived and akin to childhood. This is a very special time when your ideas burn with the intensity of the sun, and you're absorbing a ton of information. If you can get one of them to take off, and you're writing, actually writing; it is something very, very special to have. Your first story will most certainly be your worst written, but it will also always be your first born and a time you will never experience again. Enjoy the lack of deadlines, obligations, the privilege to be bad, and allowing your story to be uncovered the deeper you go into your journey.

Forget all the rules. Just write.

[rodholseth]

What I really love about the genre is when it deals with psychology. Like Asimov's novelette Nightfall.

[promcheg]

One thought about the research part: Even writing very soft sci-fi, one still need to be familiar with relevant concepts. For example, you write space opera with a skinny scientific part, you still need to get some things straight.
1. Terminology: the galaxy is a collection of stars, not planets. A group of planets revolving around a star is called a "star system", not a galaxy. Every 3rd space opera writer gets it wrong. The universe is basically - everything and serves very poorly as some kind of spatial boundary for a story. Intergalactic means: between galaxies and implies more than one galaxy. If your story happens in only one galaxy, then you should use the term interstellar. Again, a lot of space opera writers get it wrong.
2. Understanding that all those things are incredibly huge. I am tired to read how a protagonist observes a galaxy getting bigger while watching it from a window. A general understanding of scale is essential. I read a blurb for a book: "100 years intergalactic war resulted in millions of casualties." One has only to think that number of death in WW2 was over 70 million in just 5 years to conclude that the author has no clue or doesn't give a damn.

Those are just two points essential for anyone writing about space and conflicts in space and have nothing with soft/hard characterization of sci-fi.

Another thing about reading good sci-fi, I would argue that reading bad sci-fi could be beneficial. Just avoid writing something that infuriated you about those bad books. ;)

[michellemonarrez]

Great video! I disagree with the definition of Hard SciFi vs Soft SciFi, but everything else makes sense. I love to write soft sci-fi and I generally stay away from space travel, most of my Sci-Fi stays on the superhero and military subgenres, and even then I've had to do extensive research on evolution, genetics, psychology, and memory processes. The hardest part about writing my debut novel was finding the balance between what needed to be explained and what didn't.
As far as recommendations go, I loved Ender's Game and All Systems Red. Ancillary Justice was amazing too.

[glenn_r_frank_author]

I really enjoyed this sci-fi series which is pretty unique - it's a hard sci-fi setting but it reads like a Fantasy novel. (all the things that feel like magic at first have a technological background, from the abilities of the characters to the planet they live on.) The story is very much character driven with emotionally deep characters. This is a great bridge between readers who love Sci-fi and readers who prefer Fantasy! The first book in the series is called SHADEWARD: Emanation by author Drew Wagar.

[ChrisWilliamsDallas]

Such great advice! It's not scifi, but one aspect of my manuscript touch on a scientific topic even though it's speculative. I think I spent more time researching it than writing about it.

[marvinkirkland]

Great tips! I've written a few short stories, a novelette, and worked on a novel years ago. I'm throwing my hat in the ring for another go. I'm combining my memoir with science fiction novel. Believe it or not...

[taurusstarchild]

Sure, I am a science fiction buff. There was a magazine called Analogue sci-fi back in the Eighties which Isaac Asimov produced and edited. I was a subscriber back then and wish I had kept my old mags. Short stories are a good way to get motivated.

[graphkid]

Thanks for your help I’m actually writing a sci-fi novel myself this definitely helped

[TheQuranIsTheWay]

Two of my favorites: Old Man's War, by John Scalzi, and most of the 50-something books of the Horus Heresy series, especially those by Dan Abnett, and Graham McNeill. Such descriptive writing, captivating stories and relatable characters with wildly fantastic worlds that are still within the realm of possibility.

[buzzsaw]

Currently working on what I hope to be my first book. I have a conversational knowledge of things like astrophysics, biochemistry and mechanical engineering (no degrees, though) and it's been super helpful. It's a trio of wanderers on board a intergalactic carrier going about daily life immediately before and after a lengthy warp jump. Not very expansive in scope, but I don't want to burn myself out.

Also kind of ties in to a D&D 5e sci fi setting I built, so I get to see people's reactions to this technology and how far humanity has come. It's Awesome!

[guarddog]

I'm laughing here, because I just submitted a book to a publisher that is sci-fi/fantasy.

It involves magic, science, aliens, mythological gods and goddesses... and the creators of our universe using another race to "seed" the human race here on earth.

It's basically the mixing of everything I've ever had an interest in.

...and it's something I've been working on for more than 35 years, without any intention of publishing it. At least not as a traditionally-written book.
( I originally intended to make it a graphic novel, since I'm a visual artist. )

[Izukaito]

11:06 Instantly thought about the mechanical logic of the Needler from Halo, not even the Sangheili knows much about it

[roguishowl]

Thank you for this video, I am a huge fan of sci fi since I was a child, and this video really help me focus down on what I need to do. I have written a few sci fi short stories, and currently editing them before self publishing (scary). Then my next sci fi story is I’m going to try and go for a cyberpunk noir type setting.

[Mr-Tony-]

I have been sitting on an idea for a few years, life is always taking priority and I just dont get chance to sit down for long. Its still unique for sure. I'll grab some info from this and try again.

[angusorvid]

Good video. I write primarily in the novella and short story format, with my shorter works leaning more into novelette territory. I've written a number of novels, but I really don't think they show my writing at its peak. I think I excel at novella length, no matter the genre. It's nothing to do with attention span, etc. It's just the way the stories come to me. Often too long for a short story but too short for a full novel. Many writers who influenced me, like Jack Vance and H.P. Lovecraft and Roger Zelazny have all written novellas.

[imanayisha]

Your videos always so timely :)
I’m about to finish my first novel so I’m starting to plot my second one and it’s going to be sci-fi, but it’s super tricky and it’s probably going to take much longer because I’m writing about time travel and my narrative structure is gonna be all over the place😭😂