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Get Started in: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO WRITING AWESOME AND AMAZING FICTION FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION.
This is an authoritative and engaging introduction to writing science fiction and fantasy for the complete beginner. This book provides all the information, guidance, and advice you need to write great science fiction to captivate your readers. It will help you understand how the genre works, the big dos and don'ts - as well as giving you the inspiration and motivation you actually need to write. Written by a leading Science Fiction novelist and a Professor in Creative Writing at the University of London - you'll discover how to let your creativity flow, create incredible worlds, and get your novel finished.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Teach Yourself Creative Writing series helps aspiring authors tell their story. Covering a range of genres from science fiction and romantic novels, to illustrated children's books and comedy, this series is packed with advice, exercises and tips for unlocking creativity and improving your writing. And because we know how daunting the blank page can be, we set up the Just Write online community at tyjustwrite, for budding authors and successful writers to connect and share.
This is an authoritative and engaging introduction to writing science fiction and fantasy for the complete beginner. This book provides all the information, guidance, and advice you need to write great science fiction to captivate your readers. It will help you understand how the genre works, the big dos and don'ts - as well as giving you the inspiration and motivation you actually need to write. Written by a leading Science Fiction novelist and a Professor in Creative Writing at the University of London - you'll discover how to let your creativity flow, create incredible worlds, and get your novel finished.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Teach Yourself Creative Writing series helps aspiring authors tell their story. Covering a range of genres from science fiction and romantic novels, to illustrated children's books and comedy, this series is packed with advice, exercises and tips for unlocking creativity and improving your writing. And because we know how daunting the blank page can be, we set up the Just Write online community at tyjustwrite, for budding authors and successful writers to connect and share.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2014
58 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Adam Roberts
256 books553 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Adam Roberts (born 1965) is an academic, critic and novelist. He also writes parodies under the pseudonyms of A.R.R.R. Roberts, A3R Roberts and Don Brine. He also blogs at The Valve, a group blog devoted to literature and cultural studies.
He has a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen and a PhD from Cambridge University on Robert Browning and the Classics. He teaches English literature and creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Adam Roberts has been nominated twice for the Arthur C. Clarke Award: in 2001, for his debut novel, Salt, and in 2007, for Gradisil.
Adam Roberts (born 1965) is an academic, critic and novelist. He also writes parodies under the pseudonyms of A.R.R.R. Roberts, A3R Roberts and Don Brine. He also blogs at The Valve, a group blog devoted to literature and cultural studies.
He has a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen and a PhD from Cambridge University on Robert Browning and the Classics. He teaches English literature and creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Adam Roberts has been nominated twice for the Arthur C. Clarke Award: in 2001, for his debut novel, Salt, and in 2007, for Gradisil.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 16, 2020
~ 3.5 stars ~
The title says it all - this is a book about learning to write science fiction and fantasy.
I do not have much experience with this type of literature so I am no expert, but I thought this was useful and had merit. As the title implies, this is just a small beginners guide. I liked that it focused on the craft of writing this genre and not writing in general.
I think the most useful and unique thing I learnt from Adam Roberts is that the story is not in the actual goal conclusion, but in all the ways that characters are setback from achieving it, ie the kryptonite. This applies to the fantasy as well, in that the heart of the fantastical elements is not them themselves, but the rules of restriction. I took a .5 off my rating purely due to the writing at times being a bit rambly and not clearly and concisely concluding thoughts. This made highlighting the book for reference a little difficult as well (but that is just a personal thing).
Please note I cannot speak for the science fiction parts of this book as I did not read them, I have no plans on writing science fiction.
This made me very excited to write again, and feel better prepared to write within this genre.
The title says it all - this is a book about learning to write science fiction and fantasy.
I do not have much experience with this type of literature so I am no expert, but I thought this was useful and had merit. As the title implies, this is just a small beginners guide. I liked that it focused on the craft of writing this genre and not writing in general.
I think the most useful and unique thing I learnt from Adam Roberts is that the story is not in the actual goal conclusion, but in all the ways that characters are setback from achieving it, ie the kryptonite. This applies to the fantasy as well, in that the heart of the fantastical elements is not them themselves, but the rules of restriction. I took a .5 off my rating purely due to the writing at times being a bit rambly and not clearly and concisely concluding thoughts. This made highlighting the book for reference a little difficult as well (but that is just a personal thing).
Please note I cannot speak for the science fiction parts of this book as I did not read them, I have no plans on writing science fiction.
This made me very excited to write again, and feel better prepared to write within this genre.
November 1, 2021
This was so refreshing. I must admit, I don’t usually like non-fiction or ‘how to do it’ books, so was expecting to merely flick this one. But in the end I found Adam Roberts’ writing style so normal - and hilariously funny in places - that I was hooked from early on. Almost as entertaining as an actual novel! The advice on writing was rounded-out and well explained; practical without being rule-based. He’s got some brain too. The way he thinks of things from every side was fascinating and unbiased. And his imagination is phenomenal - I bet his own novels are a real vivid and soul-searching experience! I intend to find out.
December 3, 2014
Get Started in: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, by Adam Roberts, claims to be ‘…an authoritative and engaging introduction to writing science fiction and fantasy for the complete beginner.’ In reality it is a masterclass of how to craft polished writing in any genre. This book is so much more than a simple ‘how to’ book because it is rather like having your own personal writing mentor sitting by you while you work. It is also an extremely useful review and extensive reflective exercise for someone who has already progressed some way into the writing process.
To a certain extent Writing Science Fiction chucks away the format of a standard writing manual as Adam Roberts’ personality and rip-roaring prose exudes from every page. Such an overt personal presence has the potential to be very irritating to a reader, but in this case makes for company that is both informative and entertaining (hilariously so in many places). It is this combination of humour and really good advice, with appropriate examples, that makes all the key concepts stick long after you have moved onto the next point.
It is clear Roberts has an immense knowledge, not only of science fiction and fantasy, but of all types of literature and films, since he makes excellent use of examples from a wide range of genres and historical periods (all of which can be found in the index). This approach is designed to encourage writers to widen their appreciation of what makes good writing, because so many wonderful techniques work across any genre.
There are also some helpful notes on making your potential audience aware of you, as well as the mechanics of being published, either through the traditional route or by self-publishing. However, they are not extensive because this is first and foremost, an extended essay on how to write well.
So sit down and enjoy the type of pace and poise that usually graces Roberts’ novels and really get to grips with what it means to be a great writer.
To a certain extent Writing Science Fiction chucks away the format of a standard writing manual as Adam Roberts’ personality and rip-roaring prose exudes from every page. Such an overt personal presence has the potential to be very irritating to a reader, but in this case makes for company that is both informative and entertaining (hilariously so in many places). It is this combination of humour and really good advice, with appropriate examples, that makes all the key concepts stick long after you have moved onto the next point.
It is clear Roberts has an immense knowledge, not only of science fiction and fantasy, but of all types of literature and films, since he makes excellent use of examples from a wide range of genres and historical periods (all of which can be found in the index). This approach is designed to encourage writers to widen their appreciation of what makes good writing, because so many wonderful techniques work across any genre.
There are also some helpful notes on making your potential audience aware of you, as well as the mechanics of being published, either through the traditional route or by self-publishing. However, they are not extensive because this is first and foremost, an extended essay on how to write well.
So sit down and enjoy the type of pace and poise that usually graces Roberts’ novels and really get to grips with what it means to be a great writer.
February 24, 2015
This book says it is: The ultimate guide to writing Scence Fiction and Fantasy -- set your imagination free! It contains pretty much what it says in the box and is a good starting point for beginners covering basic advice which starts off with 'finish what you write' and goes on to cover characterisation, structure, storytelling and style (description/dialogue).
Interestingly it covers 'How to Have Original ideas' - straying from the province of technical sufficiency to the process of creativity, which is highly individual. It talks about grabbing ideas and turning them into stories by scattering obstacles in the path of your protagonists. It talks about story types and lateral thinking - all good stuff. It even includes a 'plotto' in the appendix - a string of generic story ideas that you can use to mix and match as a starting point.
Every how-to book is an insight via the author's own process. This is almost the polar opposite to the Donald Maass books Writing the Breakout Novel and the Fire in Fiction, aiming at a completely different audience. Well worth a look if you are just toying with either writing or writing science fiction.
Interestingly it covers 'How to Have Original ideas' - straying from the province of technical sufficiency to the process of creativity, which is highly individual. It talks about grabbing ideas and turning them into stories by scattering obstacles in the path of your protagonists. It talks about story types and lateral thinking - all good stuff. It even includes a 'plotto' in the appendix - a string of generic story ideas that you can use to mix and match as a starting point.
Every how-to book is an insight via the author's own process. This is almost the polar opposite to the Donald Maass books Writing the Breakout Novel and the Fire in Fiction, aiming at a completely different audience. Well worth a look if you are just toying with either writing or writing science fiction.
October 15, 2020
One of the notable aspects of writing and reading is that one frequently reads about writing, and that is certainly the case with a book like this. If you are a writer who likes to read about writing, then this book and others like it will no doubt be somewhat familiar to you. And admittedly much of this book was familiar to me, though that is not a bad thing. Books about writing and self-help books share a lot in common, namely that what they are urging people is to do something, and while it is hard to get people to do something, the gulf between aspiration and achievement in both areas is wide and while writings obviously have strong limits when it comes to getting people to do things, it remains the most effective means we have of communicating what needs to be done to those who can hopefully be thereby encouraged to go out and do it. It is hard for me to judge the relative success of this book as opposed to others, since I am already someone who does write such works on occasion and found it to be a review--a helpful review to be sure but a review nonetheless. If that is the case for you, do not despair, as it has worthwhile exercises and an approach from someone who is a successful but by no means extremely famous author in speculative fiction.
This book is about 200 pages long and it is divided into ten chapters. The book begins with a section about the author and a suggestion from the author on how the reader can use this book as a means of encouraging writing in science fiction, as well as revision, as editing is a major focus of the author. After that comes a chapter on how to write (1), followed by one on the definition of the genres of science fiction and fantasy (2) as well as a look at how the nature of the genre affects how we write them. This is then followed by a discussion on how to find original ideas (3), which has never been a particular area of difficulty for myself although it may be for others. There is a discussion of how one is to structure their story (4), before a more general discussion of storytelling in science fiction and fantasy (5). There is a discussion on writing dialogue and description well (6) before the author discusses writing character (7). The book then ends with seven key SF and fantasy tropes (8), revision (9), and getting published (10), as well as an appendix of an SF Plotto (i) and an index.
In reading this book I was struck by some of the themes within my own writings, past and near-future, regarding science fiction, in my fondness for dealing with the question of aliens and alienation. One of the reasons at least why I am profoundly interested in the genre of fantasy or science fiction is the way that human beings deal with the alien and the unfamiliar, ranging from new planes and species for people to interact with, whether successfully or not, or the alienation of traveling to the different country that is the past and dealing with being in an outsider in an alien world of one's ancestors and their peers, or traveling to the future where one is similarly an alien in a place one does not know the customs of. In all such cases, the empathy of human beings is tested, as well as the opportunity to learn from those who are on the other side of various chasms from ourselves. Admittedly, I am fascinated by how we can make the alien familiar and the familiar alien, and that alone is enough to make me at least somewhat interested in fiction that seeks to do the same over and over again, even if there are definitely cliches in how such things are done.
This book is about 200 pages long and it is divided into ten chapters. The book begins with a section about the author and a suggestion from the author on how the reader can use this book as a means of encouraging writing in science fiction, as well as revision, as editing is a major focus of the author. After that comes a chapter on how to write (1), followed by one on the definition of the genres of science fiction and fantasy (2) as well as a look at how the nature of the genre affects how we write them. This is then followed by a discussion on how to find original ideas (3), which has never been a particular area of difficulty for myself although it may be for others. There is a discussion of how one is to structure their story (4), before a more general discussion of storytelling in science fiction and fantasy (5). There is a discussion on writing dialogue and description well (6) before the author discusses writing character (7). The book then ends with seven key SF and fantasy tropes (8), revision (9), and getting published (10), as well as an appendix of an SF Plotto (i) and an index.
In reading this book I was struck by some of the themes within my own writings, past and near-future, regarding science fiction, in my fondness for dealing with the question of aliens and alienation. One of the reasons at least why I am profoundly interested in the genre of fantasy or science fiction is the way that human beings deal with the alien and the unfamiliar, ranging from new planes and species for people to interact with, whether successfully or not, or the alienation of traveling to the different country that is the past and dealing with being in an outsider in an alien world of one's ancestors and their peers, or traveling to the future where one is similarly an alien in a place one does not know the customs of. In all such cases, the empathy of human beings is tested, as well as the opportunity to learn from those who are on the other side of various chasms from ourselves. Admittedly, I am fascinated by how we can make the alien familiar and the familiar alien, and that alone is enough to make me at least somewhat interested in fiction that seeks to do the same over and over again, even if there are definitely cliches in how such things are done.
January 12, 2018
The author is an academic who writes science fiction on the side. His style is lively and his book is conceptually interesting. He does tend to favor science fiction over fantasy (in terms of space). I found his discourse on fantasy to be a bit limited--mainly given over to Tolkiensque and anti-Tolkien writing. (He might have taken on Harry Potter or other fantasy works.) And he's very opinionated, which can be both intriguing and frustrating. Why must dragons be sublime and terrifying? Why view time travel stories as overdone?
But on the whole, for such a short book, this one does the trick for the aspiring writer of speculative fiction. The author believes it's essential to treat writing within a genre as a sub-category of writing in general. Most of the chapters are simultaneously about the genre and general writing technique. That's a definite strength of this book.
But on the whole, for such a short book, this one does the trick for the aspiring writer of speculative fiction. The author believes it's essential to treat writing within a genre as a sub-category of writing in general. Most of the chapters are simultaneously about the genre and general writing technique. That's a definite strength of this book.
October 27, 2022
I thought this book did exactly what it was meant to do: help people get started writing speculative fiction. It offers excellent advice as well as a step by step template that could feasibly be employed during the writing of a novel.
Now, that isn’t why I bought it. I’m too lazy to write anything professionally, and even Roberts doesn’t have the solution for that! But I do teach writing, both in English classes and also in my science fiction elective. Roberts offers a lot of solid advice, easy to digest, veneered with clever humor. There are some writing prompts in here that I could apply in my teaching, and while there weren’t many original discoveries I did appreciate reading some of my own personal opinions and assumptions backed by someone much smarter than me.
Roberts writes well; it’s clear, funny, and helpful. What more could you ask for?
S-, L8, I8, C-, E9, O8.5
Now, that isn’t why I bought it. I’m too lazy to write anything professionally, and even Roberts doesn’t have the solution for that! But I do teach writing, both in English classes and also in my science fiction elective. Roberts offers a lot of solid advice, easy to digest, veneered with clever humor. There are some writing prompts in here that I could apply in my teaching, and while there weren’t many original discoveries I did appreciate reading some of my own personal opinions and assumptions backed by someone much smarter than me.
Roberts writes well; it’s clear, funny, and helpful. What more could you ask for?
S-, L8, I8, C-, E9, O8.5
December 1, 2018
Insightful read
I felt like the author was leading me by the hand through the daunting maze that is writing and being published. I am currently writing my own book and I keep coming back to this guide which offers advice that is easy to follow and the advice helps to asses writing through the eyes of an author since I needed a more critical eye when creating a story and this book acts as the critical lens to counter the rose coloured lenses.
I felt like the author was leading me by the hand through the daunting maze that is writing and being published. I am currently writing my own book and I keep coming back to this guide which offers advice that is easy to follow and the advice helps to asses writing through the eyes of an author since I needed a more critical eye when creating a story and this book acts as the critical lens to counter the rose coloured lenses.
January 29, 2019
I picked this up from a secondhand bookshop after entering a short story competition, receiving my prompts and panicking. Turns out I’ve read a fair amount of science fiction, but having never written stories before, had no idea how to write one. Nevertheless, thanks to this book, I persisted. I do not know if my story is good, but I do know that it is done.
July 9, 2018
A useful resource that rings true. Many of the things I feel frustrating about in sff are highlighted as bad and criticised. Some interesting points are made to consider, some good general advice is given. Probably the best SFF specific writing book I've read.
July 12, 2018
Very useful. I've read this several time now, and will doubtless read it many times in the future - essential for keeping the skills and chops fresh in my head!
June 26, 2017
Highly recommended read for all writers. It does everything it promises: to get you started in writing science fiction and fantasy, and even goes several steps further giving you a rounded preliminary education on how the world of writing and publishing works. Although the book title specifies genre, most of the content is relevant to writing in general. This book by Adam Roberts' deserves much more recognition as a writing guide than it gets. So glad I stumbled across this in a Sydney bookstore one day.
July 24, 2015
This was very interesting to read. I'm only a beginner writer, I have a couple of stories that are at editing stage, but this really gave me an insight into how I could improve my stories. Structure, characters, plot wise etc. Definately going to have to use some of this advise to improve.
May 1, 2016
Loved the focus on aspects of writing for this genre. It was mostly oriented towards beginners and getting that first story completed, but there was lots of good writing advice for any writer here. A very beneficial read.
November 29, 2015
Full of useful information and great advice, and very entertaining and readable too.
July 22, 2019
Not as good as the Get started in Writing Historical Fiction but good solid advice.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews