Writing science fiction is a ton of fun, since there are limitless scientific and futuristic ideas to explore. It’s a genre where we can write about space, technology, time travel, possible worlds, and new societies. It’s a genre that looks at what might exist on other planets, and how they might impact humanity.
A science fiction story often involves research into topics such as physics or genetics so that we can embed scientific facts into the story. It also helps us write characters that can talk about the subject and sound believable in their word usage.
On the other hand, science fiction asks us to stretch our imagination. In a story that takes place in the future, we must be able to describe the environment in detail–know what the rules and principles are by which the society functions. We must be able to describe what their value systems are, their norms, and how the characters interact because of them.
We must imagine what technologies they might have and how they use them. And with all these moving parts, we must keep them consistent to tell the story convincingly.
Writing science fiction is like exploring a new frontier. It’s a place that hasn’t been settled in, a place that is vast and is full of treasures to discover. Writing science fiction leads us to think about how society could be improved, but also, leads us to look at the causes that might lead society in the wrong direction.
Fallton Havenstonne 