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into the sci-fi category? It's futuristic, it's speculative, and the main sciences it considers are psychological, social, and political. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is another example of psychosocial science fiction.

Remember that science is about knowledge, as is philosophy. All three are irrevocably linked in the science fiction genre. Science fiction is, very often, a fictional study of the world, ourselves, and what might be done about our situation.

Lasers and six-eyed aliens are still fun, of course. The X-Files was an awesome T.V. Show, proving that pop-sci-fi stories are great in their own right. Just remember that you aren't limited to the cliches when considering your subject.

7) COPYING VS. TAKING INSPIRATION

I love Douglas Adams. To pieces. I carry a commemorative towel every anniversary of his death. I tried to write a story in his style - that sarcastic, rambling British tone of his. It was about the origin of life, and it didn't work for me. I tried too hard to be like someone else.

Not only is it morally questionable to copy someone else's style or ideas, it's dysfunctional - by that I mean, it stops you from functioning at your best. Everyone has his own unique style, and it shouldn't be ignored to copy someone else's. You probably won't be able to do it right anyway, because you're your own person.

That said, read and read and read, both old science fiction and new. Get a sense of the evolution of the genre - start with H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, the first alien invasion story. Fill your shelves with all kinds of science fiction, as well as philosophy and scientific fact, and if you get an idea from something you read, go with it. Write it your way. Just don't reference back to it to cure your writer's block via copying.

8) STAY ON TRACK

While not necessarily as creatively taxing as fantasy, science fiction still requires you to make up, and keep track of, a whole book's worth of details. Memorize as much as you can (character traits and visuals, societies, slang, technologies, dates), and keep the rest in a folder in a drawer, in a folder on your computer, or better, stuck up on your walls so you can easily see it all at once.

Rereading what you've already written multiple times will help with detail memory too, but don't edit too much - you might end up killing some of your best intuitive revelations with hyper-criticism or self-doubt.

9) KEEP AT IT

Don't be disheartened when you notice a mistake, or if someone points one out to you, even if it's a huge plot hole. Every problem is a learning experience - this may be even more true in writing than in life. If your old work looks terrible to you, and you can't believe you wrote something so awful, great! It means you're better. The more you write, the better you'll get at it.

10) A USEFUL TOOL

Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" is an important part of every serious writer's literary toolbox. It helps clear up common spelling and grammatical errors, and outlines other writing principles and standards. Memorize it if you can.

Learn more about this author, Currie Jean.
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