How to Write a Science Fiction Series

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By Patricia Gilliam
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Science fiction is a very flexible genre to write stories and novels, considering that it combines well with other genres and allows you to work within your own rules as a writer. In this article, I'll give you some basic ideas and concepts to help you create your own science fiction series.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Regardless to how great of a plot you have, make sure your story is primarily centered around your characters.

Taking the time to develop detailed and realistic characters from the very beginning will make the entire writing process easier long-term. With larger works, especially novels or a series of novels, you need to create character profile sheets to help maintain continuity and for easy reference.

Another aspect to factor in with science fiction is you're often dealing with non-human characters--although when analyzed you can still relate to them. Keep in mind that external appearance and inner emotion and thought process don't have to line up, resulting in some interesting characters that readers may not expect.
Step 2

With environment and setting, it's helpful to take something based in reality and twist it in some way.

Technology is a great example. Looking at today's technology, with some imagination you can see how some things would probably progress and become more popular in the future. Trends in culture and politics can be treated the same way.

Though most of the time your stories are not going to be typical, it's important to think about what a "boring" or "normal" day in the lives of your characters would look like. What would they do? Where would they go? What is commonplace for them that would be unique to the reader?
Step 3

Conflict can come from multiple sources.

Besides what may be an immediate and dangerous situation, you can also put your characters into moral, social, and relationship conflicts to compound a character's problems.
Step 4

Don't let your plot be overpowered by gadgets--you're a storyteller first.

Ever read a science fiction story where the author tells you five paragraphs about how a character's futuristic toaster works to the point you have to wonder if they're ever going to finish breakfast?
Step 5

Revise multiple times--paying particular attention to pacing.

Even talking with other science fiction fans, there is a trend to get long-winded in science fiction if you're not careful. Write the first draft as normal, then cut anything that can be removed without harming the meaning of a passage.

Comments

MrBB said

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on 9/1/2009 Great tips in this article. I like the comment about not overdoing gadget descriptions.

sha4852 said

on 7/26/2009 Good ideas that seem easier to implement than the one's I've been trying to do. I like the links you gave, I'll have to check them out also.