1. Introduction
2. Understanding Subgenres in Speculative Fiction
3. Exploring Your Writing Preferences
4. Assessing Your Unique Voice and Perspective
5. Developing Expertise and Mastery
6. Writing Exercise
7. Conclusion

Introduction

Finding your niche within the speculative fiction community is a great way to give you guides in your writing and career path. The purpose of identifying your niche isn’t to restrict you, but to help you develop the fullest execution of your story and author identity. Niche’s help you determine what aspects of the craft of fiction you need to study and master. With all of that said, this will also encourage you to embrace flexibility and evolution as you hone your skills and eventually create your Author Niche.

Understanding Subgenres in Speculative Fiction

Last week you learned about Speculative Fiction and how varied the genres are. This week I’ll provide a brief description for each and a comp title for that subgenre.

Science Fiction:

Science Fiction examines the impact of science on society, covering topics like advanced technology, space and time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. Key elements include futuristic technology, outer space exploration, futuristic societies, and ethical dilemmas tied to technological advancements. A great example of Science Fiction is “Dune” by Frank Herbert.

Fantasy:

Fantasy is a genre that involves magic, supernatural elements, and often takes place in medieval settings. These stories include magical creatures, mythical settings, quests, epic battles, and magical powers. You can look too a classic example of fantasy by exploring “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien, if you haven’t already.

Horror:

Horror is a genre that aims to frighten and disturb readers by using supernatural or unknown elements. Key aspects and elements include suspense, psychological fear, supernatural entities, eerie settings, and the examination of human fears and vulnerabilities. Be sure to read “The Shining” by Stephen King for a visceral horror experience. The book was way more terrifying than the movie, though that was freaky enough.

Magical Realism:

Magical Realism focuses on a real world where magic or fantasy elements appear as if blurred together. Key features include surreal and dreamlike stories, magical events in a realistic world, extraordinary events in everyday life, and the blending of magic and ordinary life. I’ll admit I haven’t read much in this genre, but I found “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez as a highly recommended Magical Realism story.

Superhero:

Superhero stories are about characters with superhuman abilities who fight against evil forces. The elements that make Superhero stories unique include superpowers, secret identities, tough choices, epic fights, and the exploration of humanity and justice. Check out “Watchmen” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons to find that Superhero vibe.

Utopian/Dystopian:

Utopian and dystopian fiction examine societies in their ideal or worst states, often due to specific governing systems or social structures. Utopian/Dystopian stories often feature idealistic or oppressive societies, explore political and social themes, show resistance against authority, and depict the consequences of utopian or dystopian environments. “1984” by George Orwell was a story I read in high school or junior high. I honestly can’t remember anymore. “1984” is well worth the read to gain a better understanding of this genre.

Alternative History:

Alternative history explores what would happen if historical events had turned out differently, leading to a different present. In alternative history writing, you change history, explore different scenarios, analyze the impacts of those changes, and reinterpret familiar historical figures and events. Read “The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K. Dick to gain a better understanding of this subgenre.

Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic:

The Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic subgenre explores the aftermath of a catastrophe and its impact on society. These stories examine survival, societal collapse, barren landscapes, resource struggles, and human resilience and adaptation in the face of catastrophe. Read “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy for one example of this niche.

Supernatural:

Stories in this category explore happenings or entities that lie outside the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Some of the unique aspects include ghosts, haunted places, paranormal abilities, occult practices, and the exploration of the boundary between natural and supernatural realms. Pick up “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson to explore this subgenre.

Exploring Your Writing Preferences

When choosing your niche and the niche your books will fall into, consider what things about each genre pull you in. What do your stories naturally gravitate towards? I’m sure if you asked Stephen King he might say that his mind naturally draws towards horror writing, though he doesn’t think about it that way. Fairy Tale is a great example of taking a normal storyline through a horror scope. You have your unique mind that can only think like you. Yeah, I know that made little to know sense, but it worked in my mind. The fact is, your writing journey will take you toward the books you want to write. But if you’re not sure, look at your bookshelf, whether physical or digital, and see what genres and subgenres you like to read. Most of my bookshelf is YA and Fantasy, though I’ve been adding more and more Sci-Fi in as time has gone on. I loved the escapism as a child, teen, and well, even now.

Consider the books you love and ask yourself why you would want to add one with your name on it to your shelf.

Another detail to consider are the themes, tropes, and setting details you intend to use. Call this part of your process the creative vision.

I didn’t realize it at first, but I write a lot of things themed around family, friendship, and love. I think all three aspects play an integral part in each of my stories I write, and they are something that I look for in other books. There are so many theories and books on writing the theme, but I don’t know if there’s a best way. I believe you write your first few stories with no idea of theme, and then slowly you notice your own trends as you write more. So, for now, don’t stress the theme too much, as it will probably become clear after the first draft. Now is a great time to study the theme through other books, though, and see if you can determine the theme of your favorite books. If not, google it and see what others have said. I am nowhere near a master in theme, so I utilize any tools possible to help me gain a better understanding.

Utilization of resources and tools is a great way to consider tropes. When considering tropes, using resources and tools can be a great way to choose your niche, even though many already use tropes, but they can also be a powerful tool. You can google lists of tropes for each subgenre to see where your story falls, or where you want your story to go. Science fiction alone has pages and pages of lists calling out 80 tropes of Sci-Fi, or 101 Sci-Fi Tropes, etc. Reading through these can give you the basic tools to play with as you write your story. Try subverting a trope, adding tropes together, or innovate tropes. However, be careful that you’re not leaning too heavily on the crutch of tropes as you may fall into cliches. You can avoid this by using your designated trope as a guideline, but let your characters, story, and setting align to whatever your creative vision is.

So how does setting play into all of this? The world you create, whether you realize it, is often the way you see the world, or how you can see it going. A lot of this comes from personal perspective and your individual voice. Often, your creative vision is driving your stories before you even know it. You can write a story full of green lush plants, a thriving city, and happy interactions with characters, and not even realize the optimism and growth you’re putting into the world. And before I fall into a cliche, that could one person’s perception of hell. Sometimes the dark caves where a character can be completely isolated is a blissful font of restoration. What kind of world do you want to create for your characters to live in?

Assessing Your Unique Voice and Perspective

Assessing your unique voice and perspective as a writer is more of an internal journey than anything. Each individual’s life experiences, education, and pivotal moments culminate in a distinct perspective, shaping the essence of their storytelling. The collection of these influences forms the foundation of a writer’s voice, infusing their work with authenticity and depth. Exploring your peaceful place and identifying their hell can reveal profound insights into your motivations and fears, enriching the emotional resonance of their narratives. But if you’re not ready to explore your own past, then look at the stories you read. Who are the characters you relate the most to? What is their personal peace and hell?

Furthermore, personal encounters and worldviews serve as the cornerstone for a writer’s niche within speculative fiction. These facets act as inspiration, allowing writers to craft narratives that are both compelling and genuinely resonant. Trials and triumphs throughout life can become conduits for exploring themes and character dynamics, infusing the storytelling with emotional depth. Emotianol resonance is one of the things that people search for in entertainment more than anything else. Most don’t even recognize that’s why they can re-read or re-experience a story again and again. By fully engaging your emotional investment in the story, you’re more likely to connect with the reader through that emotional level. Moreover, worldviews fundamentally shape the construction of fictional elements, as writers seamlessly integrate their beliefs and values into the tapestry of their narratives.

Embracing authenticity and originality while delving into subgenres and niche storytelling is essential for writers aiming to create powerful connections with their audience. By embracing your unique voice and perspective, you craft narratives that transcend traditional boundaries. Fusion of personal experiences, worldviews, and storytelling not only sets you apart within the speculative fiction genre but also paves the way for captivating and immersive narratives that leave a lasting impact on readers.

Learning and applying your unique voice is only the beginning as you work to master the niche you’ve selected.

Developing Expertise and Mastery

As a writer, you have most likely already accepted that this is a career path with continuous growth, and if now, here’s your warning. The act of writing is a personal experience as much as it’s a technical and craft experience. You can’t delve into the lives of these characters without being affected. So, to continue your development on the personal and professional levels, work toward becoming the best in your niche. There’s the belief in the 10,000 hours or ten years to master. I think this is a good start, but you’ll be working on this as the understanding of literature and your niche genre evolves.

Writing Exercise

Imagine a world where the laws of physics or the natural order are altered in a specific way. For example, what if gravity only affected objects above a certain mass? Or what if time flowed in a non-linear fashion? Spend 15 minutes freewriting to explore how this alteration would impact the world, societies, technology, and the daily lives of the inhabitants. Focus on the parts of this thought experiment that interest you the most and the stories or character arcs that naturally fit into this alternate reality. Does this exercise lean you more towards one of the above subgenres? Or perhaps a blend of the two genres? Use this writing to uncover your instinctual preferences and niche within the expansive realms of speculative fiction.

Conclusion

Finding your authorial niche within the speculative fiction realm requires introspection, experimentation, and an openness to exploring the boundless possibilities that these genres offer. Through engaging with writing exercises, analyzing your inspirations and creative vision, and developing a deep understanding of subgenre conventions, you can uncover the narratives that resonate most profoundly with your unique voice and perspective. Explore your own journey of self-discovery, as it is through combining your unique experiences and imagination that you will make a lasting impact on readers, captivating and changing them with the power of your storytelling.

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