Rachel Lester

Sci-Fi Tips Pat 11

There are way too many authors of science fiction and fantasy who are guilty of Common Noun Overkill. Don’t know what that is?

Well, what happens when The Protector must meet the Magus who will give her the Sword which is empowered by the Light so she can fight the Dark One, keeper of the Darkness, who resides at the Black…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 10

Let me deconstruct a popular sci-fi convention. It is commonly viewed as a cliché, but I see the value of the Social Inequality convention. The entire dystopian genre is dependent upon Social Inequality so there clearly is an audience for it. Therefore, there must be something intrinsically fascinating about a state where the…[Read more]

Aaand now that that’s over . . .

For the last week of the month of June, I’ll be posting random tips that might actually be useful (unlike my deconstruction of sub-genres) :). I’ll tag random people so they can follow this thread throughout the last week of Sci-Fi Month and (hopefully) read the sub-genre deconstructions that I posted earlier.…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 9

I don’t feel like breaking down another sci-fi sub-genre. So I’ll just tell you that there are a lot of possibilities out there. If you think you know sci-fi completely, then you probably don’t. Here are just a few of the many possible genres to write in.

Have you heard of Steampunk or Dieselpunk? These two sub-genres are…[Read more]

@hope I agree with most of what everybody else is saying (which is pretty much the same thing). However, I do understand what your “respected friend” says. The Bible does talk about offending another Christian by using something associated with something bad (the Bible uses eating meat offered to idols). You should be willing to give up what…[Read more]

@delightinlife

I second what @kate-flournoy and @daeus said. And, yeah, don’t worry too much about developing voice. I also really like what @ethryndal said: “Voice is the personality behind the writing, and Style is the form used to broadcast that personality.”

With that said, I think the difference between voice and style is that you can…[Read more]

I second what @kate-flournoy and @daeus said. And, yeah, don’t worry too much about developing voice. I also really like what @ethryndal said: “Voice is the personality behind the writing, and Style is the form used to broadcast that personality.”

With that said, I think the difference between voice and style is that you can change style, but…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 8

Social science fiction. Once I heard of it I was fascinated.

It’s a broad genre of science fiction that revolves around the effects of technology on society. Accurate technology or science is not needed nor is it the focus. The effects of science and technology are more important to the story.

Probably one of the most…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 8

Social science fiction. Once I heard of it I was fascinated.

It’s a broad genre of science fiction that revolves around the effects of technology on society. Accurate technology or science is not needed nor is it the focus. The effects of science and technology are more important to the story.

Probably one of the most…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 8

Social science fiction. Once I heard of it I was fascinated.

It’s a broad genre of science fiction that revolves around the effects of technology on society. Accurate technology or science is not needed nor is it the focus. The effects of science and technology are more important to the story.

Probably one of the most…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 7
I’ll give the rundown on three more sci-fi sub-genres, and then I’ll begin posting useful randomness on sci-fi (though some of it crosses over into fantasy). Stay tuned!

Make fun of it all you want, I’m a sucker for the post-apocalyptic world. A place where everyone is a survivor and no one is trustworthy. A setting bursting w…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 7

I’ll give the rundown on three more sci-fi sub-genres, and then I’ll begin posting useful randomness on sci-fi (though some of it crosses over into fantasy). Stay tuned!

Make fun of it all you want, I’m a sucker for the post-apocalyptic world. A place where everyone is a survivor and no one is trustworthy. A setting b…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 6

So I’ve given a basic idea of three popular sci-fi sub-genres: the alien invasion, space opera, and robot genre. I hope I’ve given you enough information to reveal the possibilities available within these genres. But, to tell you the truth, I don’t think you should write within a genre. It can be a great starting point, but…[Read more]

I could say something, but I know other people who could write more thoroughly about it.

@daeus
@kate-flournoy
@emma-flournoy
@hope
@dragon-snapper
@sierra-r
@warrioroftherealm
@winter-rose
@brandon-miller
@rolena-hatfield

@dragon-snapper Okaaay . . . yeah, sure I’ll ignore that.

SFR-P2 <– that’s cool btw Yeah, genres are always changing in popularity, but even in form. They’re always being combined and transformed. If you’re interested there’s a really cool essay on how genres change. Click here to read it.

SFR-P3 Alien invasion is great. Since you haven’t been…[Read more]

@dragon-snapper Okaaay . . . yeah, sure I’ll ignore that.

SFR-P2 <– that’s cool btw Yeah, genres are always changing in popularity, but even in form. They’re always being combined and transformed. If you’re interested there’s a really cool essay on how genres change. Click here to read it.

SFR-P3 Alien invasion is great. Since you haven’t been…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 5

I believe one of the best science fiction genres is the “robot” genre. Here’s why:

Technology has always been a key part of advancement. Humans have always depended on machines throughout the years, and the technology we depend on has advanced too (from the wheel to the microprocessor). As the quality of technology advan…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 5

I believe one of the best science fiction genres is the “robot” genre. Here’s why:

Technology has always been a key part of advancement. Humans have always depended on machines throughout the years, and the technology we depend on has advanced too (from the wheel to the microprocessor). As the quality of technology advan…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 4

The most well-known genre of science fiction, thanks to Star Wars, is probably the space opera.

The space opera is primarily characterized by adventure and space travel. Space battles. Belligerent aliens. Futuristic gadgets. These are just a few of the elements of the space opera.

Parallels can be drawn between space operas…[Read more]

Sci-Fi Tips Part 4

The most well-known genre of science fiction, thanks to Star Wars, is probably the space opera.

The space opera is primarily characterized by adventure and space travel. Space battles. Belligerent aliens. Futuristic gadgets. These are just a few of the elements of the space opera.

Parallels can be drawn between space operas…[Read more]