Common Misconceptions in Writing a Science Fiction Book

The journey in becoming an author is not easy. There are a lot of bumps in the road and choices to create. Among the difficulties include the picking of a genre to write about and crafting a story that can compete with the other established authors. Therefore, it is safe to say that writing is not a piece of cake and will not easily bring you to the top of the list with just a blink of an eye. Becoming a successful author requires hard work and determination.

Whether you are an author with published works or an aspiring one, you may have known by now that there are a lot of writing myths; and, writing a science fiction book doesn’t get away with these various misconceptions. There are a lot of curious yet clueless people that often mistook the essence and effort of writing, especially sci-fi. Thus, to educate readers and give tips to fellow writers, here are some of the common misconceptions in writing a sci-fi book.

The story must always be placed in the future

There are many science fiction books that are set in a futuristic place. A great dystopian novel of George Orwell written in 1949 titled 1984 that was set in 1984, which is 35 years from its publication date. Regardless of this, there is no rule set that mandates writers to select a futuristic setting. In fact, they can select a part of history that they want to modify or based their tale on. The only important thing is that your book possesses the elements needed to be able to be taken under the sci-fi category.

Scientific and/or technological advancements is the key to a best-selling book

Indeed, sci-fi books feature various technological and scientific innovations. Some of the typical advancements that are being highlighted in this genre are artificial intelligence, space suits, space crafts, flying cars, and more. There are also those that feature different kinds of universes and dimensions, such as the book A Journey to Ultradimensions by Kourosh Naziri (Cyrus). Although these advancements are remarkable and impressive, they are really not the key to make your book a best-seller. Yes, they add color to your story; but, the main reason that your book becomes a top seller is its content and writing style. So, make sure to bring something new to the table to achieve success.

Sci-fi is easy because all you need is a creative mind

Sure, you have a creative mind and a passion for writing. But, are those enough to create an engaging and entertaining book? No. There are still a lot of things that you need during your writing journey. It isn’t a knock in the park, because there will be many difficulties that you need to conquer. Your creative mind is a good thing; however, it is essential that you also conduct thorough research and data gathering to strengthen the claims of your book. Science fiction highlights some scientific and technological terms, which readers may not be familiar with; that is why it is important to conduct research first so that you can avoid some errors and plot holes.

Time-jumping is not a big deal

Time-jumping is commonly used in science fiction. Stories that feature this characteristic are typically set in space, although there are also some that are set in fictional and futuristic earth. Jumping from one year to another surely excites the readers. Many may think that it is not a big deal because it is widely used by many writers. However, it is important that writers craft the time-jumping seamlessly. Do note that every period has different trends in language, clothing, and style. Make sure that your characters and settings also suit the time that the characters have jumped into.

The plot of the story must follow the traditional plot sequence

The plot is among the elements that readers always examine. Stories often follow the following sequence: introduction; rising action; climax; falling action; and conclusion. But, it doesn’t always have to stay that way — especially in sci-fi where time traveling and futuristic settings are common. You are given the chance to modify the plot, as long as they are complete. You may start in the middle or somewhere between the rising action, but make sure that you have explained how the events escalated with the help of literary devices.