How to Write Science Fiction

[@kulsoomahsan4440]

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.

[@filhanislamictv8712]

Write my friend so that one day we may cry

[@dua-e-zehra647]

When you read fiction, you realize how great and mind blowing stuff a human brain is actually capable of making up 😂 Don't give up on writing bro.

[@nuttysquirrel8816]

Yeah, that's a great story in and of itself.

[@brianhall3932]

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!

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

great concept!

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

That does sound sci fi licious!

[@undernetjack]

So he stole “both” the Emperor’s daughters?

[@brianhall3932]

@@undernetjack technically speaking... yes!

[@dipanage1729]

Intersting

[@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.

[@AhsokaTanoTheWhite]

I'm currently writing one like that, think Expanse meets Star Trek, but they are in WWII battleships in space, a gross oversimplification, but it should work.

[@wongalwin]

Recommendation on harder scifi please?

[@Psychoh90]

same here! Hard s.f.

[@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.

[@rodholseth6354]

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. ;)

[@michellemonarrez2371]

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.

[@RobertGraphics]

Enders game used the US vs Soviet Cold War to claim authenticity for the world, and thus built itself within our real world conflicts. The later novels (the 6 books covering the Formic wars) focused more on the wealth and citizenship inequality questions.

[@michellemonarrez2371]

@@RobertGraphics yeah, I like scifi because it explores current life events and offers a view of them into the future...I tried to read the next books in that saga, but they quickly lost me.

[@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.

[@graphkid]

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

[@lizardkid666]

Same

[@zachariusthethird6627]

Same

[@marvinkirkland6387]

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...

[@elizdonovan5650]

Now, that I would like to read. If you ever publish, please come back here and tell us the name of the book so that we can search it out. Happy writing. ☘️🌝🌲

[@marvinkirkland6387]

@@elizdonovan5650 Hi Eliz. It is called Alienus Tempus. I've had that planned for well over 15 years. So even though it's not finished that will definitely be the name.

[@guarddog318]

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. )

[@davedsilva]

I would love to see the graphic novel version.

[@kr-mnbeatz1619]

Hey , a link for your book please

[@guarddog318]

@@kr-mnbeatz1619 - Sorry, no links. I still haven't published it and it isn't online.

[@lizardkid666]

@@guarddog318 I’m also writing a Sì-Fi fantasy novel series the first book is titled The Forest of wolves. The main plot evolves around six mainline factions the Magni Draconian Imperium, the Republic of outer planetary alliances the Republic of Ironheim and The Knights Of Voidhiem, galactic. order. department and Gaia, a terrorist extremist organization that wants to user in an era of humanities resettlement of Earth. To explain the dimension of Voidhiem it’s basically a space inbetween realities. Oh and I’ve included a mythology in the mix hence Sì-fi fantasy. One unique thing I did was make a bloodline system for were animals have a lore wise orgin and inherit abilities from their ancestor. Example wereboars of the Sæhrímnir Bloodline can’t physically die permanently.

[@guarddog318]

@@lizardkid666 - I have over 400,000 words written on mine. How 'bout yours? ( I had over half a million done, but decided to do some editing and make a few changes. ) If you think I'm joking, I can send you a copy of what I have so far. I could use a good proof reader after all. 😉

[@Mr-Tony-888]

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.

[@buzzsaw133]

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!

[@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.

[@taurusstarchild5109]

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.

[@roguishowl3915]

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.

[@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.

[@steverobbins4872]

I'm trying to write but it's hard because I have dyslexia. So my characters don't really have arcs, they just have cars.

[@CookieMage27]

This is the best joke I have heard. EVER

[@erics7004]

Dyslexic and Furious 7

[@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😭😂

[@Deeman.]

I’m new to writing i started it as a hobby and i knew that i loved sci-fi so i thought about making my own sci-fi story so these tips will come in handy Thank You.

[@Izukaito]

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

[@ef6957]

This is pretty awesome advice thank you. I’ve always been interested in running a sci-fi, fantasy story for decades.

[@angusorvid8840]

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.

[@Leon_K_24]

Excellent video. I’m definitely writing on the soft sci-fi side of the scale.

[@Joebaire]

Great advice! I am writing the story of an Earthly person in another planet. Like someone who's an alien THERE. And exploring through this the concepts of otherness and another perspectife on life. I have the wide range plot but I still have to go through detail, I mean, step by step, how everything happened.

[@fishintheocean-i4g]

I'm in the process of reading Warstrider: Rebellion, second in the Warstrider series before I get on reading the third book, Warstrider: Jackers. There's seven books in total and so far I've been very impressed. Give it a try.

[@johnnyahrens]

This will help me a lot on writing the story for my game project.

[@JM.Redding]

I've wanted to write science fiction since High school, so the characters I was going to write about were in high school so I'm working on some YA Science Fiction. I haven't really been in the right mindset to write until now. And it's so awesome to see this artistic vision I've had for years start to come to life.

[@Scotty_28]

This was great tips and advice Shaeline!

[@cosmic-fortytwo]

Martha Wells has a fantastic and funny cyborg character in her “Murderbot” series. Starting with All Systems Red we are introduced to a partially human but mostly augmented Security Robot or SecBot who basically works as a corporate mall cop, keeping the bad guys away and stopping the stupid and squishy humans from being killed, but he would rather spend his time back in his regeneration cubicle watching soap operas. He’s very antisocial and shy, while being a super capable killing machine. He nicknames himself “murderbot” as a self deprecating way of teasing himself about his own condition. It is great sci-fi while being entirely character focused.

[@invernessfan3017]

I am a big fan of science fiction. I love to read and listen to short stories. I also like to watch sci fi movies. My fave writers include Stephen King, George Lucas, George Orwell, Tim Schooch, Philip K Dick, Joey Vimsante, Ursula K LeGuin, Bob Gale, George Lucas, and others,.

[@ButterCookie1984]

My debut is a near-future character-driven novel. Not sure how to properly label it

[@denisusynin]

I've had this issue too. I use science-fiction or speculative fiction depending on who I'm querying

[@justanotherswiftie1389]

I’m going to make a Science Fiction now

[@1v1thousand]

Can you do a video about physically writing. Like what kind of keyboard, maybe software you use or how you set up the page. Things like that

[@Reedsy]

We have a few videos comparing different writing softwares! I just use the keyboard on my laptop + microsoft word, but this is all completely personal preference. There's no right or wrong, so do whatever you like!

[@danmacneil1895]

In my sci fi universe its nice to know there are many others out there in their own! I go to it almost hourly everyday! It is me!

[@ateeba-mateen]

I always wanted to write ✍️ sci fi. Thank you Reedsy.😍😍

[@DatsWhatXiSaid]

Solaris, which explores "the alieness of aliens" (as the author, Lem, put it) and how they are fundamentally not like humans thus so hard to even recognize let along communicate with. A real trip of a book and neither film version (1972, 2002) did it enough justice, rather just focusing on a part of the story. It's very hard to realize, but with a longer Netflix style series format, it may be possible, since it'd basically be for a niche audience.

[@brandenmanuel2037]

Just what I needed

[@caidenlynnmcpherson362]

Thank you! This really helped!

[@ElJorro]

An informative video! Thank You very much!

[@joshuablevins4340]

So I've been writing my book for way too long and I have the entire thing planned out already written as a movie script, long story... easier to get a book published and that's what I always wanted to do anyway. But what kind of advice do you have for a science-fiction novel that merges science, technology, magic, and religion? There are a lot of fantasy elements on certain planets in this star system, as well as the basis of a religious war with Biblical connotations.

[@28318511]

10:06 Marth Wells, Murderbot diaries. Great action mixed with just enough science without bogging down in the minutiae.

[@mikerand1980]

Question Shaelin - What is the effective difference between soft science fiction and space fantasy? I realize lines can blur and works can be of more than one genre, but I'd like to hear a Shaelin definition.

[@poesero]

50 thousand it's consider to short or it's okey?? i hear that number in another video and stuck with me

[@oliverbertoch3619]

thanks for this video i am writing a science fiction novel called redu and this really help thanks a lot

[@godstenrules]

I'm actually in the process of writing my first book, it's set in the future where the dominant form of transportation is Spaceships, involving space and aliens, as well as sea and mermaids. It's also going to have technology and magic. My worlds are going to be divided by magic, religion and technology

[@sahal3472]

It's been a year, how's it going?

[@ObbkoOG]

This is really helping me write my sci-fi novel tysm.

[@SerendipityInTheSky]

Is there a genre of science writing or any examples of works that are not so technological/future focused (as this is based in a particular worldview) but instead focuses on embedding our growing understanding of the world into story, thereby creating a bit of modern mythology?

[@austinv.3916]

Theorically, how would one make a multiverse in a novel?

[@ahgasejjang4339]

I'm really thinking of writing sci-fi stories.

[@moxie9585]

Me too, but I'm struggling to write a good one because it's difficult. Can you give me tips if you know some?

[@troyjohnson2395]

I am writing a soft scifi world. It has two major series that are gonna be in it. One involves humans and stuff, the other involves the United Alliances which is an alien goverment system of multiple Alliances. There may be others I make, as technically space is somewhat infinite.

[@timmeyer9191]

Love the video. Love the sci fi breakdown. I would not say you have to have magic in fantasy. Supernatural could be used as a substitute like werewolves or telepathy.

[@emmanuellaeledu]

PHENOMENAL VIDEO, SHAELIN ❤🫶👑!

[@multicreativeartist6579]

My sci fi story doesn't have a main character in the first story. My universe is very vast (it's also not based on our universe so there's no Earth) so there's alot of characters (that I drew). And Right now i'm just continuing a story line from where I started and then having a way for it to end.

[@phangkuanhoong7967]

About time! Yay!

[@fuscomania]

What about Ridley Scott's Alien, is that hard Sci Fi? Or softer?

[@rach9466]

That’s so cool your grandpa left his writing to you in his will, I hope you finish it in some way!

[@OOoKarmaoOO]

All tomorrows is one of my favorite sci-fi book

[@caesarius2004]

I always wanted to write Sci-Fi but after finishing a chapter, I feel like all my ideas were used long before I created it. 🤷🏽‍♂️🙈

[@mirophew7164]

Do you have some tips on how i can write or design a good alien species please

[@tokiomitohsaka7770]

As for Sci-Fi recommendation, I highly recommend the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor, absolutely brilliant series with incredible characters and a fairly realistic (at least partly, and the math is right). If you are writing and need ideas for alien life forms, I highly recommend reading The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. It is an amazing tool for world building, even outside of the Sci-Fi genre, and it helps you understand a lot more about evolutionary biology. Another strong recommendation if your story involves a super-intelligent AI is Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom. Nothing too technical, and it explored strategies to develop super-intelligence and the danger of an unstoppable AI, strategies to minimise risk, and more. A must read if your story involves an AI in any significant capacity. I myself am writing a few Sci-Fi stories, mostly short stories.

[@prashantsrivastava6695]

Love sci fi good job

[@martynaskasys2012]

Reply what you consider Alternate History to be Some sources describe it to be a subgenre of Science Fiction... Some describe it as simply a type of Speculative Fiction Is Alternate History (not including time travel) to be considered Science Fiction?

[@tahaahmed7578]

Just what I needed 🤍💜

[@jytali1853]

It’s very disheartening to try to write my soft sci-fi books because it feels like everything I make isn’t original enough…like everything I make is too close to Dune or Star Trek/Star Wars or mass effect since I take a lot of inspiration from them all. I’m scared to work on it.

[@IamOllytech]

There is excellent content in this video, but the audio is awful. There is an echoey reverb, and the music in the background is off-putting. However, the content was very helpful and deserves a sub.

[@RayJin-dq1td]

Im planning to write a science fiction about humans terriforming the Proxima star system and building a colony which spans for thousands of years because the super vast distant between the solar system and Proxima.(Even with future technology, it still takes at least 40 years to go between these two planets), but I really only good at designing the spaceship thanks for my passion on physics, but I have absolutely no idea how should the terriform happen.

[@VoltPlayz23]

How do I develop the biology of an alien species?

[@gianni206]

Thank you, but “what did your Grandpa write and leave to you” is the real question now

[@kit888]

Recommendations? Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson. Virtual Light, William Gibson. Any Michael Crichton.

[@EricDouglas0]

I've been trying to find some modern sci fi that compares to the novel I'm working on. Any recommendations for a recently written, soft science space opera that's... how should I describe it... that has the feel of franchise science fiction like star trek, stargate, farscape, B5, etc., but is, of course, its own new thing?

[@brianhall3932]

My book mentioned above might fit your bill, however it is the first book of around the amount of five that I have written so far. Just pacing them out and making sure they jive with each other. Think many varied civilizations of mostly humans being brought together by fairly ambitious Noblesse because the boss aliens said "here, it's all yours now."

[@comteroi9219]

Star Wars. That's relatively recent. By recent, I'm going on the assumption that by recent you mean since humanity first saw the advantage of the written word :)

[@gianthills]

It's tough to write something not done before. The false reality thing, the genetic engineering monster thing, ..

[@spiritfox6066]

Wasn't star trek actually a type of hard sci-fi? NASA even said most of the tech they use can be built. Aka the steel-glass. And the time crystal from Google is thought to make replicators in the future. Last part is speculation by scientists at this time, but I'm looking forward to seeing where this technology goes.

[@RetroCinemaKingSpaceTheaters]

I am trying to find out about how I can write sci-fi

[@baloisromero4859]

I like your video. I'm working on a alien meets cave people (tribe). I gave a brief discription on the space ship, and the natural world, where the space craft crashed. I will describe the cave. I have a back ground in Anthropology (Human studies). I came up with a cave people, that had early kind of dogs. I showed a hunt that was morbid, and the animal hunted died quickly.

[@sheliaaustin2800]

(This is Casey Casper) I don't follow these rules at all. My style is to write and see where it goes. I still hope all you writers do amazing things. I sure want to!

[@adamadam-bp4kv]

thank you so much you helped me alot

[@Joe-zk7ps]

These are great keys to good sci fi. Thank you! Cyborg surgery is definitely tricky, take it from me, a cyborg surgeon 😁

[@tusharchandra5744]

Super sci fi content

[@damianmiller4026]

Can a science fiction book for ya readers with a adult viewer as well be under the recommend word court and be a little more then 63k words be published for a first time author

[@undernetjack]

I wrote my own book and published it online, to prove it, I am posting here on somebody else’s channel to try to get people to read it... Not really, I am just annoyed by those who pull such a slimy tactic instead of legitimately trying to promote it on their own platforms.

[@lyojeanmorbach]

Defenitly the "Bobiverse" by Dennis E. Taylor

[@Nondisclosed0]

While I agree with you on most points I think you missed one point namely that science fiction uses its speculative nature to ask deeper questions about humanity and The human condition the best and greatest examples of science fiction all do this it's all about asking questions about humanity and The human condition through the lens of a speculative story.

[@nuttysquirrel8816]

Star Trek not really based in actual science? Ummm, I'm sure you're confusing Star Trek with Star Wars but that's ok. This is still a very insightful video. Thanks for sharing.

[@cute1942]

I was thinking about protagonist becomes an antagonist in a science fiction story🤔

[@CaptGage]

Nice video. You're intelligent and cute. As for me, I'm in the home stretch of writing my space opera novel. Looks like it'll be a novella.

[@nicholasblakiston6297]

Thanks for the video. I'm writing a novel that takes place 80 years from now when the world has been free of centralized government except for a few locations. Oh, and aliens have arrived.

[@thomasciarlariello3228]

Try telling it to Trevor Quachri of Analog.

[@Mxsmanic]

Character development is not necessarily that important, especially for hard science fiction. Rendezvous with Rama is a perfect example.b

[@number1forthewin]

How to contact you personally? I have to ask something about my writing. If its okay?

[@fiercetoast8338]

I physically can't look at this woman without hearing: Do you know why the best majority of self published books don't sell more than a few copies?

[@dpacc88]

Anybody else really want to read her grandfather's eight chapters?

[@victorbryan5482]

I’m writing a soft Sci-Fi and I was really concerned about what I should and shouldn’t explain, so thanks for this video. As for the what if question, my WIP has several 😅

[@pierre-louisdrevon2213]

Hard scifi can be really pleasant to do: take in account all the actual cosmological models are wrong! Maybe because the Einstein formula is not deeply understood.... I am passionate by astrophysics since the age of 11. Also many others things; as I acuratlly predicted many geopolitical unprobable events during those last 30 years... Hard SF is an excuse to tell the people what they normally refuse to listen. But anyway, an SF book is still being a story, with people and all the usual stuff to have a story-telling. On the side, and if you don't want to be annoying, you can blow some minds with what you know, or think. But the people still remembering the characters and their emotions FIRST! If you want the people change their minds on somthing, first do credible caracters and emotions (the most difficult part for me), then create a credible and interresting world, and then, a "plot" made possible THANKS to the interraction of your world and the caracter's conflicts. Sometimes you put the center on the main caracter, or the world, or the events as a trigger for the interractions between caracters... But we still being humans, and colonising space (for exemple) still remain a human choice. So humans can be "big" in the center or "small" in the middle of big dark, according to the core reader you choose. Please, if you have interresting others experiencies, I'd appreciate you share it. T.Y.

[@timmeyer9191]

Hard science vs soft science = Jules Verne vs. H.G. Wells.

[@เรียนภาษาอังกฤษวันนี้]

But what is a SCIFI that has a few magical characters?

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

Quantum entangled space tyrants, techno barbarians, psychotic dolphins and far too many mermaids. Can commander Bryce Al Ghazali reclaim his honor in this future gone mad?

[@Jackfrom1497]

Can he?

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

@@Jackfrom1497 probably not.

[@CLAUMORENO]

Channel! ❤

[@dannycage88]

Thank you for all your great insights! 🙏🏽🫶🏽✍🏽

[@wendolynsaurio2426]

I love sci-fi but I suck at writing it