How ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ A Science Fiction Writer

Imagine this. Reams of balled up paper are all over the floor covered with ideas that I have come up with to write Science Fiction stories. Except none of them are any good. I’m trying to follow the instructions of paragraph 1 below in the quoted section, suggesting, “Write down anything interesting until you find the right topic for you.”

The problem is: everything I come up with is Fantasy. Although I did not fail Science in high school, actually got B+’s, I struggled daily wracking my brain to comprehend SCIENCE. And I am wracking my brain now.

The quoted section, paragraph 1 below, (second sentence) reads, “…search for your topic in modern science books, articles and magazines, or talk to a scientifically inclined person”. I mostly live in a dream world. In my Science Fiction world these elements of  “science books, articles and magazines”, don’t exist. And I certainly don’t know any “scientifically inclined people”.

Do I give up my dream to write Science Fiction? I will let you in on a secret. Science Fiction is my least favorite topic to take the pen and write stories. I don’t want to think about future worlds where there are robots, where the sky is now a sullen dark gray and all human population has been wiped out by the aliens, or research the mechanics of how a space ship would be constructed that will fly the universe with the female captain protagonist chasing the villain (who really is her stepfather that walked out on she and her mother when the captain was a baby), or lastly, construe a complicated secret computer that talks rationally with its inventor, but the computer really wants to take over the world.

Sure I can choose my characters, write a basic outline, or dive into my first chapter… as recommended in paragraph 5 in the quoted material below. However, I can’t envision a world without magic, without mystical happenings, without myths and fairytales. The elves, I can do without. Although they might make good friends for my female protagonist who is searching the vast eerie woods for the villain who has wiped out her village (and unbeknownst to her, the villain is her stepfather who walked out…)

But you might be one of the special writers who are scientifically oriented and writing Science Fiction is not just a dream but also a lifelong goal. Therefore what is written in the 8 paragraphs below will absolutely put you on the right path to obtaining this purpose.

“Find a general topic; this applies to any book. To write science fiction, you need to know a little about science fact, so search for your topic in modern science books, articles and magazines, or talk to a scientifically inclined person. Write down anything interesting until you find the right topic for you.

Ask yourself “What if?” Remember, this is fiction. Play off your main scientific topic, but you can get a little crazy with it. For example, science can’t really successfully clone humans yet, but what if it could?

Decide what your main conflict will be: Man vs. Technology, Man vs. Man, etc. Aliens are probably the most popular enemy for science fiction books (and technology the most popular weapon against them), but don’t be afraid to step out of the box.

Decide your setting and time period. Most science fiction happens in the near future and involves more than just planet earth, but there are lots of different types of science so don’t feel bound to this scenario. Remember to stay within the limits of the time period you choose–if you choose only five years into the future, for example, we probably haven’t developed flying cars yet.

Choose your characters, and then write your basic outline. If you’re not an outline person, then go ahead and dive into the first chapter or prologue. Good luck!

Know the difference between science fiction and fantasy. Science fiction is more about scientific occurrences that could happen in this world, or aliens and amazing inventions. Fantasy is about events that are impossible to happen in this world, and usually has magic and creatures like elves or ogres.

Know the structure of a story. Stories have a structure with an initial incident, or starting struggle, that escalates into a “dark moment” in which all seems lost for the main character, and then turns into a climax followed by a resolution.

Make sure you know what all of your characters want. Characters are driven by a goal, or want, and this should form the foundation of their behaviors. For instance, a character who wants to travel to a new existence may actually want to win the love and admiration of a fellow being, and the story plot will be driven by this double want.”

To be or not to be a Science Fiction writer? I don’t think Shakespeare contemplated this question; however his plays do flirt with Fantasy, fairies, Cupid, mystical happenings. I think this writer will not delve into the Science Fiction world. I leave that to all you “A+” students out there who aced Biology, Chemistry and Physics.