Sara Cleveland asked Dan R. Arman:

You've written both sci-fi and fantasy. How does the experience of writing in these genres differ for you? How is it the same?

Dan R. Arman In many respects, not all that different. I stayed away from fantasy early in my career because I felt that "magic" was too easy an answer to solve or create problems in a story. However, science fiction needs to be grounded in some sort of reality with well-defined rules to follow.
However, as I began to read more modern fantasy, I realized that fantasy wasn't such a free-for-all and needed its own set of boundaries. So world-building isn't all that different, though as I writer I do have a freer hand to create a world to my desires or needs, just so long as magical mechanics are consistent within its own system.
I also noticed that I do as much research, if not more, writing for fantasy as for science fiction. Even the most fantastical realm doesn't come from thin air and I spent a considerable amount of time researching Joan of Arc, the Hundred Years War, the Black Plague and other historical events and personalities for inspiration for the Night Maiden series.
But I love doing that. I think that added dose of realism makes the world richer and more immersive.

flag