1. Introduction
2. A Year Mastering Science Fiction and Fantasy
3. Today’s Exercise:
4. Conclusion

Introduction

Last year you focused on honing your craft. But that was a broad overview for an author in any genre. 2024 is about building the skillset to work within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. If you write outside of these genres, then I still encourage you to study and participate. The best writers are always learning outside their comfort zone.

It’s important for writers to emphasize the need for continuous learning and improvement. If you’ve ever been to a writer’s conference you’ll have noticed that the experience level ranges from beginner to expert. Why would the expert writers be there other than to sit in as a panelist? Because they always have something to learn. Even if it’s just one sentence that they take away from the conference, it’s been a success. So, I hope you find that one sentence that can make this year a success for you.

This post will highlight the topics you can expect from this year. Also, it should help generate ideas on where to begin your mastery of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

A Year Mastering Science Fiction and Fantasy

This year of mastery will be broken down into the following five segments of learning:

1. Foundations of Speculative Fiction Writing
   • Discover the balance between science and fantasy in creating immersive worlds across different types of sci-fi/fantasy.
2. Character and World-Building Essentials
   • Dive into the key elements of character development, world-building, and environmental details that form the backbone of compelling narratives.
3. Narrative Complexity and Creativity
   • Delve into advanced storytelling techniques, including time travel, futuristic technology, and the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering, offering writers tools to navigate complex narratives.
4. Genre fusion and Unique Elements
   • These posts will encourage you to experiment with blending genres, such as steampunk, and introduce you to unique elements like parallel universes, magic systems, and alien species to elevate your storytelling.
5. Practical Aspects of Publishing
   • We’ll conclude by preparing you for the practical journey of publishing. We will offer insights into navigating the industry and successfully sharing your speculative fiction with the world.

Now, this is just a general overview of the topics you can look forward to. If there are certain areas you’d like to see more of, please comment below or message me through my contact page. I want to bring you the writing advice you need to be better writers.

Today’s Exercise:

I want you to go online and search for writing books on Science Fiction and/or Fantasy. Make a list of them and try to set some money aside for at least one. Building a digital or physical library of reference books is important for setting yourself up to be a successful writer. Share your lists in the comments below, or on social media so other writers can find the books you think will be most helpful.

Conclusion

I know this is a short post to kick everything off, but I just wanted to hit the basics. There is so much to developing your craft of writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy, so much that a year truly isn’t enough to master it. But if you take the lessons from this year and apply it to a daily practice over the years, you can really become the best Sci-Fi or Fantasy writer you can be.

I encourage you to continue learning, practicing, and perfecting your skills. Don’t use these posts as your only source, but use them to supplement your other practices.

Drop a comment below and share what you hope to achieve during a year of focusing on your Sci-Fi/Fantasy craft. As always, keep writing, keep learning, and stay fresh, my nugs.

Previous Post: January 2024 Newsletter

Previous Writing Post: Expanding to the Third-Person Point of View

Next Post: Understanding the Difference Between Hard and Soft Sci-fi