5 Solid Tips in Writing a Reader’s Magnet Sci-fi Novel

Science fiction is an offspring of speculative fiction and an all-time favorite genre. Literary enthusiasts already had their fair share of thrill and heart-pounding emotions while reading sci-fi novels. What more can readers ask for other than a rollercoaster plot? A brand-new imaginative concept! Sci-fi offers a fresh and futuristic approach that book lovers definitely crave for; thus, making books of this genre climb to the best-selling list every now and then.

SF is frequently referred to as the “literature of ideas.” Its popularity already has reached the avenue of film; hence its influence to its audience and reader bases has become greater through the course of time. 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and The Brotherhood of the Wone by Len Stage are some best examples of well-written Sci-Fi novels in different eras of literature. If you have ever came across or dug out one of these books, you probably have thought about how these page turners were written or perhaps have considered writing one. Cease the thinking now and put it into action because this article will give you excellent tips on how to write a savory science fiction novel!

Think Out of the Box

Sci-fi, again, is amongst the many genres that produce record breaking books. For readers to delve into your story, there should be a factor that will make it different from others. Always put to mind that there is already a bunch of books about alternate universes, space reconnaissance, technological advancements, and aliens. So do not remain enclosed in the box of traditional science fiction writing, look or create an opening where you can make a new and outside the box touch for your story for it to stand out. Conduct a research so that your story will have a stronger ground and factual basis. Also, study the current science fiction book on the rise to evaluate and learn from them.

Outline the Plot

A clean draft means a clear story. Creating an outline of your on-progress sci-fi story is not easy but it is also not that daunting at it seems. You may wonder why an outline is essential, well the purpose of an outline is to list the important points in a hierarchical manner. It is advantageous to sketch the overall plot of a novel-length story so that it will follow a straight path and avoid going astray. Begin outlining from the exposition to the ending. If there are any subtopics, you may embed them under the parent category. That said, the overall story will be systematic and you, as a writer, will know what part to emphasize and to add more details.

Let the Characters Move the Story Forward

Allow the characters to run the story. Give them life but do not control all their actions. As much as you want to have all the power in your book, enable the characters to give you aid by letting them do what they ought to. Whether it is a person, inanimate object, animal, supernatural being, or extraterrestrial creature, they all have the same purpose: prolong the plot. In every bestselling book, the title and author are not the only things that will leave a mark to a reader’s mind but also the characters. Take The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Trilogy book 1) by Suzanne Collins for example, the main character and her love interest — Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, have been living in every reader’s hearts since the outburst of the book. Thus, grant the characters the chance to contribute to the story’s greatness by moving it forward and making great things happen.

Add an Element of Surprise

In literature, every great story is always mixed with an element of surprise. This aspect is crucial in every work because it is one of the pole of the magnet that attracts the readers. It is the ingredient that creates the twists and turns of every tale; hence, arousing various emotions from the readers — such as thrill, excitement, fear, and more. The element can be added in the plot in the form of foreshadowing or cliffhanger. It can also be done by the characters through betrayal, identity discovery, mishaps, death, or other things that the reader should not see coming. Thus, as a writer, take some time to put your feet on the readers’ shoes so that you can examine and identify the best twist to blend in your sci-fi story.

Tie All Loose Ends

Conduct a run through on your story so that you can assure that there are no plot holes that may dismay the readers. Check if the outline and the draft fit each other like how jigsaw puzzle pieces do. Stories with plenty of plot holes or with a messy story line are most likely being shoved aside by the readers, and it is a big impact not just on the book but also on the image of the author. That is why it is extremely important to tie every loose ends there is in a story before it is published or shared to the world.