Questions tagged [science-fiction]
Stories about space, technology, the future, and other things that could be real but aren't.
2
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3answers
67 views
Research on an alternate history novel
I love alternate history scenarios; however, I just want to start writing. Should I do research or just start writing and go with it with some research along the way?
23
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12answers
4k views
Problems Blending Sci-fi & Traditional Fantasy?
I have been cautioned against blending:
Traditional fantasy elements
Such as magic systems and exotic, less plausible creatures (on a scientific level - magic tends to explain away these beasts)
...
0
votes
3answers
118 views
Finding resources for sci-fi writers on Quantum Mechanics
I don't have the financial resources to hire a scientific consultant to ask him whether my science-fiction plot is realistic, so I was wondering if there were any resource that teach Quantum Mechanic ...
17
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9answers
5k views
Is it time to start closing up my novel?
I realize this may be a duplicate question. I've seen, for reference [
How long can a first novel be? ] yet I think my situation is a little more specific.
I find myself in a similar situation. My ...
9
votes
5answers
831 views
In the background of the Future
As I've mentioned multiple times, I'm writing a military sci-fi novel. The focus of the story is war, and that happens far away from Earth. However, I'm starting with my MC's "normal", on Earth. It is ...
20
votes
12answers
3k views
How to explain the main plot with science based concepts, without the non-sci-fi fans getting bored?
Let me explain: I'm writing a game where the Earth gets a massive biological attack from an alien race in the close future, and only a small part of the planet's life survived (few dozens of humans ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
How do I write a Star Trek themed fiction making the story believable?
I love reading, but I am unable to retain specifics. And Star Trek has quite a few - like the difference between the 'bridge' and the 'deck'.
So, when I try my hand at writing, I tend to skirt ...
5
votes
3answers
308 views
Dystopia that isn't cliche
Dystopian fiction is a big thing right now, and YA books like The Hunger Games and Divergent are pretty individual and subsequently are bestsellers. But a lot of stuff is also really cheesy and trite,...
2
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0answers
48 views
Where can I post my rough drafts for peer evaluations? [duplicate]
I apologize if I am not in the right community but I figured this would be the best place to ask.
I am looking for a place or a group where I can have my story read by others, so they can offer me ...
4
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3answers
103 views
Writing Structure - Building an Anthology Outline
Hi more experienced writers than I,
I have been struggling to figure out how to outline a story (script) I am writing to put all my ideas together. I would like to make an Anthology where it starts ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Halting virtual reality advancement [closed]
Imagine a world where a shadow organisation can insert, modify or delete the thoughts and actions of individuals to maintain the status quo in society. Due to one faction of the organisation becoming ...
0
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2answers
59 views
How to describe movement in zero-G?
Within the setting of my personal project (a hard science fiction) I need to be able to describe movement in zero-G extensively.
Because I wish to write a whole narrative involving very little ...
0
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2answers
78 views
Characters' motivation and feelings on defending against an alien invasion [closed]
I got really good answers to my last question, so I decided to post a new one:)
In my novel, a few humans suddenly find themselves tasked with defending humanity against an imminent alien invasion. ...
14
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3answers
1k views
What are key features and pacing in a satisfying ending to a science fiction novel?
My novel has been through multiple drafts and beta reads, and by and large is in good shape. I've learned how to cure a saggy middle, how to stay in point-of-view, how to keep the protagonist driving ...
23
votes
12answers
6k views
When writing science fiction, how important is it to provide scientific details for the (fictitious) things you are presenting in the story?
I know there is a difference between 'hard' and 'soft' science fiction. But even then, it can be hard to know what sort of categorization in which to place and treat your story, and it is not really ...
1
vote
5answers
192 views
How can I make a compelling character unlikable?
I know what goes in to making an unlikable character compelling and engaging but I'm not sure I know how to make them unlikable in the first place. In particular how does one show that a main ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
How alien can my aliens be if I want them to demonstrate how alien a human character is?
Using non-humans to show human failings is a mainstay of Science Fiction but is there a limit to how alien a viewpoint can be and still be used to show that a human character is devoid of an aspect, ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Seeking Comp (Comparison) Titles for my Work-In-Progress [closed]
Seeking comp titles for my WIP. Can you recommend books that meet one or more of these criteria?
Soft sci-fi
Space setting with fantasy feel
Speculative fiction about species that has advanced ...
19
votes
8answers
7k views
Is it considered lazy writing to have a dry prelude at the start of a book?
I'm thinking of the crawl sequences at the beginning of Star Wars, that just give you the background information straight up, and then start the excitement.
I've just been wondering if putting a ...
14
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17answers
5k views
The role of the supernatural in hard science fiction
The response to this question makes it clear to me that I haven't quite asked the question I had intended, the answers are useful but not quite what I'm looking for.
So different but related ...
8
votes
13answers
4k views
The role of inexplicable events in hard science fiction
The modern world has few true mysteries, among them the fate of the Roanoke colonists and the crew of the Mary Celeste but do such happenings have a place in futuristic settings?
In settings with ...
9
votes
1answer
151 views
Writing a short story set in a place I’ve never been
I’m writing a science fiction type short story set in Germany (actually Stuttgart). To some extent the location isn’t that important- it could be set anywhere but setting it there appeals to me and ...
12
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3answers
1k views
Researching Future Technology for a Science Fiction Novel
Because I enjoy reading Science Fiction, I'm thinking of writing a Sci-Fi novel myself. I'm interested in 'hard' (related to the engineering sciences) science fiction with a military bent (think The ...
7
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8answers
245 views
Why do most literature magazines take so long (several weeks or months) to respond to submissions despite having only a few hundred subs per month?
I have heard that the the editor of F&SF (Finlay) is the only one who reads all the submissions. Yet he always responds within a week! (With detailed comments on each story.) Clarkesworld is ...
17
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8answers
2k views
How do I know which elements I can use from the work which orginally inspired me?
I recently read the Blood on the Stars series by Jay Allan and really enjoyed the idea of a post-Golden Age human civilization that has splintered into factions and is now at war with itself.
I ...
24
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9answers
5k views
Does everything have to be accurate?
Do I have to make everything apply to logic, physics, science, etc?
The Harry Potter series has been a major hit, and it is nowhere near to being scientifically possible. But I've noticed that I can'...
17
votes
7answers
4k views
Fantasy novel with obvious - but never defined - sci-fi elements?
I'm considering writing a fantasy novel. While I'm striving to make the world as original as I can, and not rely on many of the popular fantasy tropes, for the purposes of this question you can assume ...
2
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0answers
34 views
Am I too young to publish a book? [duplicate]
I am writing a novel called "Abducted by Aliens", but I'm only 9 years old. Am I too young to publish a book?
3
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5answers
179 views
Creating a logical framework for the concept of “decisional causality”
I'm working on a science fiction universe in which time travel exists, in a very limited form, but it's useless, at least it's the intention that it be useless. To that end time travel, on the rare ...
5
votes
4answers
171 views
Writing a Novel Set In The Future
So, I have this idea of writing a novel set in the future. Not the far future but a few decades away from today. Could you please give me an advice for that. The reason that I am asking this is that I ...
6
votes
4answers
141 views
Do I have to capitalize ESP in sci fi fiction sentences?
Some of my fiction sci fi characters are ESP sensitive and the term is used a lot. Capitalized ESP stands out in my sentences like yelling so I am using esp,lower case. Is that acceptable? Will a ...
21
votes
5answers
2k views
How to add depth to writing - turn a story into a book [duplicate]
I've had a few 'great ideas' for books. I'm a big sci-fi fan, especially Michael Crichton. I'm not sure if that's relevant but there it is.
I want to write a full length book, not a short story, a ...
18
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9answers
3k views
Referencing modern pop culture in science fiction
A geek today is quite likely to reference the pop culture of 30 years ago: "Do or do not, there is no try", "Beam me up, Scotty" and "Ground control to Major Tom" are easily and commonly recognisable. ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
How to balance between dialogue & character building and action scenes?
I'm writing a novel which takes place in a carefully built (science-)fictional world. The protagonist is also a fictional creature.
Obviously, the reader does not know about the world or the creature'...
30
votes
19answers
15k views
Writing a Super Intelligent AI
Something I have been thinking about recently is how to write a character who is an artificial intelligence and not have him feel human. Specifically an AI who is designed to think faster and better ...
23
votes
5answers
8k views
Can I use the name Valerian in my sci-fi novel?
I have an Ancient Roman theme with the names of my characters, however someone pointed out to me Valerian is already a scifi character's name. Are the french comics (which spell it with an accent over ...
3
votes
2answers
181 views
Third person into first person as the protagonist becomes the same entity as the narrator
I'm attempting to write a sci-fi novel in a dystopian future baring semblance to that within 1984. I'm using third person to describe what the protagonist sees, what he feels and what he thinks, ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
How to write a 'fish out of water' character?
Inserting a Fish out of water character could be good way to introduce the reader to the world and also great for comic relief, but there were cases in books I've read when the character's naivete or ...
4
votes
4answers
85 views
Presenting unrelated or vaguely-related stories in a setting in backwards chronological order by epoch?
I'm thinking of a science-fiction or science-fantasy setting wherein modern humanity colonizes a new homeworld in a classical star system, bombs themselves back to a Neolithic technology level, and ...
2
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2answers
285 views
Describing a psychological concept like Stockholm Syndrome in a non-Earth setting?
I actually posted this originally over in the Psychology and Neurology SE in hopes of getting specific, helpful, psych-related responses from people who were actually knowledgeable in the field, but ...
5
votes
8answers
209 views
To read or not to read similar works before write my own?
I was thinking if is better or worst to read other works that share similar ideas to the story you want to write before you start it or while doing it.
Two quick answers comes to my mind:
Yes, do ...
1
vote
2answers
92 views
Should I write about a particular lingering thought? [closed]
I have had the thought of writing about a nation with states on another planet. The planet is earth-like and the quantity of some resources is higher than on Earth.
There are some differences between ...
13
votes
9answers
1k views
How to expand my vocabulary?
I wanted to write something for a long time. But what I think is, in writing the choice of words plays a very significant role. From where I can learn this thing?
I think I don't have enough words in ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Electricity Manipulation Variations [closed]
Trying to create a character with the ability to generate, and manipulate electricity. He's going to be an antihero. Saving people but killing the ones who inflict suffering and chaos. But I'm just ...
2
votes
1answer
145 views
Writing an autobiographical science fiction [closed]
I would like to write an absurd fictional biography/memoir
How do I go about it?
What does Autobiographical Science fiction inspire you?
4
votes
3answers
152 views
Writing a letter from the future
I'm writing a letter from the future to my dear friends, posing as the child they're about to have. The main aim of the letter is to be amusing, but also to give some perspective (you don't need to be ...
0
votes
3answers
324 views
What makes bad science fiction? [closed]
The obvious way to understand quality is to examine what is successful. On the other hand, it is often more helpful to examine what has failed.
Are there any tropes generally considered to make ...
10
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5answers
2k views
Rewriting a scifi story to fit with actual science, should I do it as I go?
Rewriting a scifi story to fit with actual science, should I do it as I go, or just write first and make the needed changes while editing?
My world exists in my mind, clear and palpable. but I am ...
8
votes
6answers
574 views
How to use short stories to explore a new setting and potential characters for a novel?
I'm an aspiring fantasy and sci-fi writer and I my goal is to write a novel that is to be the first in a series within the same setting. I'm getting to a point where I can feel "the world coming ...
46
votes
10answers
13k views
I wrote a novel, now what?
I'm new here, so, please, bear with me.
I had a look at previous answers to similar questions, but my case is (possibly) a bit different.
I am not a professional writer, so I wrote this (long) novel ...
