The science fiction genre has become popular since Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 and now its variety has been widely used in books and films. This genre may seem challenging to make, but if you have a good story in mind, you can write it smoothly. Once you've got the inspiration and designs for the setting and characters, you can write a science fiction story that readers will enjoy!
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Part 1 of 4: Finding Story Inspiration
Step 1. Read stories from science fiction writers old and new for ideas that have already been realized
Visit a library or bookstore and find a science fiction book that interests you. That way, you'll know how to write this genre effectively.
- Take a look at the works of Ray Bradbury, H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Andy Weir.
- Ask your language teacher or librarian for recommendations for good books or authors.
- Read the author's work according to the format you want to write in, for example like a screenwriter if you want to make a screenplay for a film or a short story writer for a short story.
Step 2. Watch a sci-fi film for visual inspiration
Look for a movie with a premise that interests you and takes a few hours to watch. Write down notes about scenes or ideas you like so you can refer to them later when you write. Listen to dialogue to understand how the characters speak in this genre.
Watch movies like Jurassic Park, Blade Runner, Alien, or Star Wars, as well as new movies like The Martian, Ex Machina, Interstellar, and Arrival
Step 3. Search online or scientific journals to find the latest breakthroughs
Usually new discoveries are published in many magazines or journals. Find and read the latest news in the scientific field in newspapers or journals. Write down all interesting discoveries or articles so that ideas can be put into writing.
- Look for journals that cover various areas of science, such as “Nature” or “Science”.
- Try subscribing to a digital or archived version of the journal if you want easier access.
Step 4. Don't miss the latest world news for real-world inspiration
If you're planning to write a science fiction story set in the future, use current events to help shape the universe. Watch or listen to news from around the world for inspiration. This helps you develop a more realistic future, or even something that can be included in your own world.
For example, if news broke about the discovery of a new supervirus, you could write a story about the last few survivors or how efforts to find a cure ended badly
Step 5. Use the “What if …” thesis model
..) to create the premise of the story. Ask yourself the following question: “What if this really happened?” or “What if this is real?” Discuss your ideas based on research or inspiration to put them on paper. Mark ideas that you think are strong and develop them into a few sentences that add detail to the story.
For example, the “What if” question for Jurassic Park would be “What if dinosaurs were brought back to life for human entertainment?”
Part 2 of 4: Building a Sci-Fi Background
Step 1. Select the story time period
While science fiction is usually set in the future, it can actually be set at any time. You can create a story about an alien invasion of a small town in the 1950s, or create a time travel story. Think of the best time period for the story and use it as a backdrop.
- A setting that is far in the future allows you to explore ideas more freely, whereas a story from the past will be somewhat restrictive.
- If the background of the story that will be made is in the past, make sure you research the relevant period to find out what technology was used at that time, events that took place, and the way people at that time spoke. Research is also the clothes worn and the culture followed.
Step 2. Research original locations and their history to include in your world
Even if the story takes place on a planet far away, take inspiration from culture and events on Earth. This will add to the reliability of the story so it feels more comfortable and down to earth.
- For example, The Handmaid's Tale is set in a future society, but the friends of slavery and the treatment of women come from indigenous cultures.
- Experiment with different mixes of different cultural practices when creating an alien race. For example, you could create an alien tribe with a nomadic culture and dress like Vikings.
Step 3. Include real science in how your world works
Even if you want people to be able to fly, you have to explain how it works and why. It's a good idea to have most of your sci-fi stories based on reality so readers can refer them to things they are familiar with. Otherwise, readers can get lost in the universe you created.
- If you're introducing a new technology that's completely foreign to your readers, be sure to include details that they understand.
- For example, The Martian uses real science to send crews to Mars and how to survive there when they are stranded.
Step 4. Use all five senses when describing the background
Think about what the characters in the story saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. This helps you create a clearer background for the reader to imagine so they can feel part of the story.
- Make a list of the things your character experiences when they first arrive in the setting. What did he see? Who was there?
- For example, if your story takes place in a world where the oceans have dried up, you could describe the heat, taste, and smell of water in the air, and the huge piles of salt in the valleys and hills where the sea used to be.
Step 5. Write a description of each background so you understand it
Write a paragraph describing the landscape, people, culture, and animals for each included location. Think about the big scene in the location and the way the characters interact with it. If you need to add more detail to your wildlife or the uniqueness of your world, go further.
For example, if you were doing a short description of Pandora from Avatar, you might write: “Pandora is a large jungle planet inhabited by a race of blue, tailed humanoids called the Na'vi. The Na'vi are a race in the form of a tribal community led by a tribal chief and guided by a spiritual guide. This race adored and bonded with the lush and colorful wildlife around them.”
Part 3 of 4: Creating Characters That Stick in Memories
Step 1. Give flaws to the main character
While a hero doesn't seem to have any weaknesses, you need to give him something so the reader can empathize with him. Perhaps, the hero will do whatever it takes to save himself, even if it means he has to kill, or maybe the hero is very selfish and only cares about himself. Brainstorm about the main character's shortcomings and choose one for your character.
For example, Superman's weakness is that he will do anything to save the world, but he will not kill. If Superman is in a situation where he has to hurt someone it can lead him to make interesting decisions and keep the reader interested
Step 2. Give the antagonist a redeeming quality
Just as the protagonist shouldn't be completely good, it's good that your bad guy isn't completely bad either. An evil antagonist just because of his role as a bad person will make his character feel flat and bland. Give the antagonist a redeeming quality, such as doing whatever it takes to save his child, so that readers can sympathize with him.
- For example, HAL from the 2001 film: A Space Odyssey judged the human crew as endangering the mission and decided to get rid of them.
- Remember that the antagonist is the hero of the story itself.
- If your antagonist is a monster, he doesn't need any redeeming qualities, but it would be interesting to have one. For example, the monster hunts humans to feed its young instead of just for fun.
Step 3. Give a little quirk that the character does out of habit or necessity
Quirks (quirks) are small actions a character performs that may seem strange at first, but help the reader better understand the character's identity. Perhaps, the character keeps checking his weapon because he is too alert or has been lost in the past. Whether you describe this uniqueness or not, make it believable in your universe.
If a character has a rather odd quirk, for example, likes to splash his body with water to maintain body fluids, you need to explain it so that the reader is not confused
Step 4. Give the character a purpose and motivation that the reader can feel
The character's motivation is what drives the story and allows the reader to sympathize with it. Think about why the character takes a particular action and what he or she wants to achieve overall. Consider how you would react in a similar situation so that it can be grounded in reality and make the character's actions seem natural.
For example, a character can be motivated to explore the universe to find a cure that can cure diseases on his home planet
Step 5. Write down the character's background if it helps you identify him or her
While you don't need to include a character backstory in your writing, it will help you develop your character more deeply. Write down the name of the character, his age, where he came from, how he was raised, and the experiences that changed his life. Try to write a few paragraphs for each main character.
Draw the look of the character you want, if he is an alien race or something the reader is still not very familiar with
Part 4 of 4: Writing Stories
Step 1. Use the “The Adventures of the Hero” template to tell a story
"A Hero's Journey" (aka A Hero's Journey) is a common storytelling tool that ensures the main character goes through emotional twists and turns during his journey. Your main character starts in a world of peace and security, but something or someone forces him to step out of his comfort zone. Throughout the story, he will face the toughest trials before making up for them and saving the situation. Live the 12 steps of the Hero's Adventure for your main character.
- You can find the 12 steps of the Hero's Adventure here:
- The Adventures of the Hero is not a standard way to write a story, but it helps if this is your first time writing a story.
- This template is best suited for long writing, such as a novel or screenplay.
Step 2. Outline the entire story so you know what needs to be written
Start by writing a summary of the story in paragraph 1. Use each sentence to describe the most important part of the story. Then, take each sentence in the paragraph and develop it into more detail. Continue working backwards to add story details. This is known as the “snowflake method” (the snowflake method).
Step 3. Select the point of view of the story to be used
Decide if the story will focus on one character or if you want the reader to see it from multiple perspectives. If you're using the first point of view, use the pronoun I/I and you can only write down what the character sees and thinks. For a third person point of view, use "them" and use the narrator to tell the story.
- A limited third-person perspective allows you to write as the narrator, but the reader accepts only the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist.
- The omniscient third-person perspective uses a narrator, but you can switch to the thoughts and feelings of any character in the story.
- Although you can use the second person point of view, where the reader is the protagonist and uses the word “you/you”, this method is very rarely used.
Step 4. Find the tone of voice for the writing
Your voice is what will make your writing unique and different from other writers. Use your personal experience and language to help shape your writing so that readers can experience your storytelling. Your voice depends on the viewing angle used.
- Some examples of tone of voice include sarcastic, enthusiastic, indifferent, mysterious, sour, somber, sharp, haughty, pessimistic, and so on.
- The tone of voice can also be formal or informal. The sound of your writing can be shaped by the point of view from which you write. For example, you can use slang or informal language if you're writing in the first person.
Step 5. Practice writing believable dialogue
Consider each character's upbringing, education, age, and career when creating character dialogue. Try not to use dialogue to present information in a rigid and unnatural way.
- Make sure each character sounds different or the reader will have a hard time recognizing the character who is speaking.
- Avoid cliches like, “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” or "I don't feel good."
- Hear how people chat in real life so you know how someone talks. Try asking permission to record the conversation and write down the recorded audio.
Step 6. Set the pace of the story so that the action occurs frequently enough
Suppose the story consists of 3 acts, namely in the first act the protagonist begins his adventure, the conflict occurs in the second act, and in the third act everything is finished. You can speed up or slow down the pace of the story by using short and long chapters, using details, or switching subplots.
- Use detailed language, but never over-explain so as not to bore your writing.
- Vary the length of the sentences throughout the text. Short sentences are read faster. Long sentences, like this one, will make the story seem slower and affect how the reader feels when reading the story.
Step 7. Write until you feel the story is complete
Science fiction novels tend to be around 100,000 words, but don't make it a rule of thumb. Ask yourself if you've reached your desired story point, or if everything is well explained. If all of the answers are yes, then you're done!
Ask others for their opinion on your story to get another point of view from your writing. They can catch the things you missed
Step 8. Review the first draft after reading it in its entirety
Silent your first draft for a few weeks or months to get some distance from your story. Open the first draft and then start a new document to work on a blank page. Review any notes you take or give everyone who has read your story, and make any necessary changes to the writing.
- Make several revisions until you feel the story is completely finished.
- Find an editor or copywriter to help assess and revise your draft.
Tips
- Don't be afraid to write something that may never happen. Science is the basis of stories, but your writing is also fiction so don't be afraid to stray from the facts.
- When you're done, you can publish your own story or include it in a short story compilation.
Warning
- Don't exactly copy other people's ideas. Always make changes or use another point of view.
- When you are hit by writer's block, don't give up immediately with the story that is made. Rest for a while.
