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How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Genre Writing)
 
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How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Genre Writing) [Hardcover]

Orson Scott Card (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews) |

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How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy 4.2 out of 5 stars (112)
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Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0898794161 | ISBN-13: 978-0898794168 | Edition: 1st
Orson Scott Card shares his advice on how to break into this field, how to develop fantastic story ideas, and evolve fresh plots.

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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (July 15, 1990)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0898794161
  • ISBN-13: 978-0898794168
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Orson Scott Card Page
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is the bestselling author best known for the classic Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow and other novels in the Ender universe. Most recently, he was awarded the 2008 Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in Young Adult literature, from the American Library Association. Card has written sixty-one books, assorted plays, comics, and essays and newspaper columns. His work has won multiple awards, including back-to-back wins of the Hugo and the Nebula Awards-the only author to have done so in consecutive years. His titles have also landed on 'best of' lists and been adopted by cities, universities and libraries for reading programs. The Ender novels have inspired a Marvel Comics series, a forthcoming video game from Chair Entertainment, and pre-production on a film version. A highly anticipated The Authorized Ender Companion, written by Jake Black, is also forthcoming.Card offers writing workshops from time to time and occasionally teaches writing and literature at universities.Orson Scott Card currently lives with his family in Greensboro, NC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
93 of 93 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Only the first two of Card's five chapters deal exclusively with SF&F. The other three apply to all genres. Card spends the first chapter defining just what is SF, what is F and how to tell the difference. SF&F have many sub-genres (space opera, hard SF, cyperpunk, sword & sorcery, etc.) and Card shows the reader that they all have several elements in common. The second chapter focuses on creating believable worlds that readers will want to explore. SF&F is not an "anything goes" genre; you must have rules and follow them, especially with regard to time, space, and magic. You also have to work out problems in your world's history, language, geography, and of course science.

Chapter 3, Story Construction, has already opened up new worlds for me (no pun intended). Almost every story, no matter what your genre, falls into one of four categories: milieu (the time or place of the story is the most important element), idea, character, and event. Knowing which your story is will help you write it better. Very helpful examples are given.

Chapter 4, Writing Well, shows how to unfold your story. True, this chapter is geared to the specifics of SF&F, but contains extremely valuable information. How much information should you share with the reader early on? How much is too much? Have you dropped enough clues or interesting pieces of information early on to keep the pages turning? This chapter answers those questions and more.

Chapter 5, The Life and Business of Writing, is probably the most honest look at the writer's life that I've ever read. Not only does Card offer advice on how to get your stories published, he also covers the pros and cons of conventions, classes, workshops, conferences, contests, handling your finances, and a subject that doesn't get addressed enough: balancing your writing life with your home life.

How to Write SF&F is a book written by an author that cares about the genre and cares about writers. He doesn't pull any punches, but you come away with the sense that Card wants (and expects) you to succeed as a writer. I was extremely impressed with the way he uses examples from other writers' work and not his own. I've read so many books and articles in which the author cites, "In my book 'Pluto Goes to Town with Gorfzork,' I deal with the problem of faster-than-light travel in a new and fascinating way." Not Card. He praises others instead of himself.

Again, this is a book for ALL writers. The book has already made me re-examine several of my own stories. Now I can look at them and say, "I knew something was wrong with it...NOW I know what it is."

137 pages

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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you're looking for the ultimate tome and guide that will take you from simply reading science fiction and fantasy to a best-selling writer of it, then this book is not for you. However, NO book fills that role, nor can it, as writing is something best learned by doing, not following a formula in a book.

Card, like most writers, is well aware of that fact and does not take the pretention that his book is a how-to that will have you churning out sci-fi and fantasy like a pro. However, for those enthusiasts who aren't sure where to begin or what mistakes to avoid, Card's guide is a good, if ill-titled, one; it describes the different types of stories (idea, character, event, etc.), plus offers tips on building a world with consistent and believable rules, what constitutes sci-fi/fantasy, etc.

More advanced writers or even rather astute readers may find some of the book's guidance obvious or a matter of common sense, and the book is not the only one an aspiring writer might wish to own (Writer's Market, various plotting, characterization, marketing, etc. books also being invaluable), but it is a good starting point for the average sci-fi enthusiast.

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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful reading December 8, 1999
By Alex
Format:Hardcover
I am not biased for or against Orson Card. I simply own the book, and I have the right to say that there is nothing wrong with it. I've noticed people complaining that the author doesn't keep up with science, is biased against Star Trek, gives nonsemsial info in order to confuse you, etc.

This is not true. Moreover, that is not what the book is for. The author encourages you, gives you examples, and makes you comfortable with writing fiction. Card doesn't give you specific advice ( insert character A here). He gives you examples of tone. He doesn't give you a compendium of data on the medieval world. He shows you what it feels like to write about it. He points you in the right direction, gives personal pointers, uses fine humor. You supply your own storylines. Enjoy this book.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The cover is different
The cover of the book I got is different. It has no image on it - just plain text of the title and author. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Sandhouse
Disappointingly Generic and Missing Fantasy Writing Advice
If you want a good book by Orson Scott Card on writing, then pick up Elements of Fiction Writing - Characters & Viewpoint. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Judah
Must read for any SF & Fantasy writer
Orson Scott Card's fiction is incredible, and Ender's Game is one of the classic scifi novels. Card manages to do a very good job of teaching the craft, with a very specific... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Eoghan Odinsson
Wonderfully Helpful Book!
I've dealt with a lot of would be writers, mostly young people. They all love F&SF and dive right in, as have I myself. Wish I'd bought this book sooner. Mr. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MSHRagland
Special Insight For Science Fiction Writers
This is the first book I have read on how to write. I bought it because I like Card's books and I want to write someday. Read more
Published 5 months ago by C. Nielsen
Not what I thought
This is a nice book that didn't tell me anything I wasn't already aware of. I had gotten it for ideas and suggestions of markets and he spends about 10 pages on that and even then... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stuart Ferguson
Good read but not the best.
What this book has showed me is i have a lot to go if i want to be a sussessful writer. its hepled to know how to organize my writing better than i was. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Johnathan P. Adkins
Science Fiction & fantasy
The small font of text makes the book difficult to read, a kindle version would be nice, especially for those of us who have had a few life experiences. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Steven C. Thedford
Dated Advice
My hope for this book, anyway, was that it would be delightfully speculative fiction focused, which is a good thing (seeing as this is my favorite genre). Read more
Published 10 months ago by Julia M Nolan
Great Book
I love this book! He is an excellent author and he includes great examples. It is very helpful and a pleasure to read!
Published 11 months ago by Mermaid
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