Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Simon Stephenson is a writer and screenwriter now living in LA (with stop-overs in London and San Francisco along the way). 

His first book was the memoir Let Not The Waves Of The Sea, about losing his brother Dominic in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. It won Best First Book at the Scottish Book Awards in 2011. His most recent novel, Set My Heart To Five, was released in summer 2020 and this is what we’ll be discussing today.

In this episode Simon and I discuss:

• His method for writing a “mis-topia” future and how that differs from a dystopia.
• Why writing a character without feelings allows you to explore feelings more.
• What role movies played in developing his protagonist and the plot.

Plus, his #1 tip for writers.

About Simon Stephenson

Simon Stephenson is originally from Scotland, but now lives in Los Angeles, California. He was born in 1978, an auspicious year already renowned for bringing the world such inimitable cultural treasures as the Bee Gees’ Sergeant Pepper’s movie, and the Star Wars Holiday Special.

A junior library cormorant from a young age, the arrival of the first series of ER on television diverted him from his inevitable English major to medical school. A less impressionable teenager would probably have understood that what he was drawn to was story and not hospitals, but we live and learn.

His first book Let Not The Waves Of The Sea, a memoir about the loss of his brother Dominic in the Indian Ocean tsunami, was written around his hospital shifts and published in 2011. It was serialized on BBC Radio 4 and won Best First Book at the Scottish Book Awards.

By now working as a children’s doctor in London, he next wrote a screenplay about a depressed children’s doctor who desperately needs to make a major change in his life. He remains unsure where this idea magically sprung from, but the script – in which the doctor travels to a life-altering conference in San Francisco – came third on the Annual Blacklist of Hollywood’s favorite screenplays and opened the door to a screenwriting career in the US. In an irony not lost on Simon, he subsequently got a job writing a movie at Pixar Animation Studios in San Francisco.

He has lived in the US since 2013. As a screenwriter, he originated and wrote Amazon’s forthcoming Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy. He also has a small credit on everybody’s favorite bear sequel, Paddington 2.

He got the idea for his new novel while living in the Bay Area, a place where the near future can sometimes seem very near indeed. Set in a 2054 where Elon Musk has incinerated the moon, it tells the story of Jared, a biological android who learns to feel by watching old movies and then sets out to write a movie of his own. Many of the lessons Jared learns might well be the same ones he has learned on his own writing journey, but one he did not learn is about the importance of short titles. His novel is called Set My Heart To Five; despite this, it has nonetheless been optioned by the director Edgar Wright to hopefully make a movie of its own.

You can follow Simon on Twitter.

Set My Heart to Five

Set in a 2054 where humans have locked themselves out of the internet and Elon Musk has incinerated the moon, Set My Heart to Five is the hilarious yet profoundly moving story of one android’s emotional awakening.

One day at a screening of a classic movie, Jared notices a strange sensation around his eyes. Bots are not permitted to have feelings, but as the theater lights come on, Jared discovers he is crying.

Soon overwhelmed by powerful emotions, Jared heads west, determined to find others like himself. But a bot with feelings is a dangerous proposition, and Jared’s new life could come to an end before it truly begins. Unless, that is, he can somehow change the world for himself and all of his kind.

Unlike anything you have ever read before, Set My Heart to Five is a love letter to outsiders everywhere. Plus it comes uniquely guaranteed to make its readers weep a minimum of 29mls of tears.*

*Book must be read in controlled laboratory conditions arranged at reader’s own expense. Other terms and conditions may apply to this offer.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 350

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 350: Voice, Emotion, and Metastory in a “Mistopia” – Interview with Simon Stephenson appeared first on DIY MFA.

Did I mention this event is totally free? 

The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Line-Up

We worked really hard to put together a diverse and interesting set of interviews that covered all aspects of writing and publishing science fiction and fantasy. But even if Sci-Fi/Fantasy isn’t your jam, you can still get a lot of good information and advice from these interviews.

Here is our line-up and little bit of information about each interview:

Introduction to Speculative Fiction: Interview with Ada Palmer

In this interview, Ada and Gabriela discuss why human beings need and want an origin story. They also developed a working definition for sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, and horror. They talk about the role and influence of history in speculative fiction. Ada explains what she means when she says history doesn’t repeat itself. Ada also talks about why she believes sci-fi and fantasy are great tools for galvanizing activism.

Story Structure in a Time Travel Narrative: Interview with Constance Sayers

In this interview, Constance and Gabriela discuss why she wrote in a linear manner as opposed to interlocking the narratives and how she avoided getting overwhelmed when writing multiple storylines. Constance talks about the writerly devices she used to connect her characters as they developed. She also explains her decision to use multiple points of view to create closeness. Constance and Gabriela discuss ways her book differs from a pure time travel narrative. Lastly, they talk about Constance’s intentional use of different locations throughout her novel.

Whose Story Is It? Point of View in a Dystopian Tale: Interview with Rob Hart

In this interview, Rob and Gabriela discuss how his start in journalism helped his later career as an author. They also talk about correlations between a smash Broadway musical and matters of storytelling. Rob explains his method for playing three point of view characters off each other and why fiction can be a more powerful vehicle for tackling heavy concepts. They discuss what happens when the speculative aspects of fiction meet reality. Lastly, Rob talks about his method for collecting and organizing ideas for future Sci-Fi/Fantasy projects.

The Politics of Voice: Interview with Curdella Forbes

In this interview, Curdella and Gabriela discuss how a relative’s storytelling style influenced her approach to her writing and what books and stories were a large part of her formative years. Curdella reveals which Nobel-winning author she is often compared to (and why she doesn’t mind!). They talk about why the Caribbean provides such a rich background for telling stories. They also discuss how magical realism has elements of sci-fi and what question they have in common. Curdella shares her advice for seamlessly using vernacular throughout her story.

Creating Dynamic Characters through Conflict: Interview with Fonda Lee

In this interview, Fonda and Gabriela talk about why speculative fiction is more character-driven than many people think and how dynamics between characters can ripple in or ripple out to create conflict. Fonda explains the advantages (and challenges) of writing multiple points of view in fantasy. Fonda talks about what role status can play in creating three-dimensional characters. They discuss why you should put your characters in situations where there are no good choices. Lastly, they talk about the differences and similarities between antagonists and villains.

World Building in Noir Fantasy: Interview with Dan Stout

In this interview, Dan and Gabriela talk about how similes and metaphors can become more powerful in fantasy novels. They discuss the importance of small touches in world building and how to use them effectively, and why world building is like going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. Dan gives advice on ways to balance the fantastical and common elements of a mixed-genre plot. Dan also shares how he created a non-episodic sequel to his noir novel. Dan gives his take on writing book two and avoiding the sophomore slump.

Cracking the Code of Middle Grade Sci-Fi: Interview with Nicole Valentine

In this interview, Nicole and Gabriela identify the intersection between sci-fi and fantasy and the difference between hard and soft sci-fi. They explore how writing for Middle Grade readers differs from writing for adult readers. Nicole explains the research process for her book and the ways it resembled planning a bank heist. Nicole and Gabriela also talk about why being a programmer prepared her for becoming an author. Nicole shares her thoughts on the healing powers of wonder and awe and how to provide that in books. Finally, Nicole talks about what she is doing to close the gender gap in Upper Middle Grade fiction.

Crossing Boundaries and Managing Reader Expectations: Interview with Leanna Nicole Hieber

In this interview, Leanna identifies which classic author was her gateway to spooky, paranormal fiction. Leanna and Gabriela talk about how she juggles being at the intersection of multiple genres. Leanna shares her method for managing reader expectations. Leanna and Gabriela discuss why it was so important to create a diverse cast set in a historically repressive period and what she does to create an immersive world without creating an info dump. Lastly, Leanna talks about how she balances multiple jobs, how they interrelate, and why that’s useful.

Race, Capitalism, and the Multiverse: Interview with Micaiah Johnson

In this interview, Micaiah shares her writing process—and whether she is a planner or a pantser. Micaiah and Gabriela discuss why she likes her secondary characters more than her main characters. They also talk about how an outsider status can provide clarity through increased observation. They also discuss what made her focus on the haves and the have nots in her novel. Also, Micaiah reveals why she chose to break her world’s rules by the end of chapter two. Finally, they discuss genre harvesting and how that helped her create some great plot twists.

A Publishing Imprint of One: Interview with Glynn Stewart

In this interview, Glynn and Gabriela discuss why he shifted his thinking about self-publishing and how that made all the difference. Glynn shares what it means to write as creative versus as commodity and the third path he chose. They share tips on how to connect with your ideal readers, even ones who aren’t able to find you easily. Glynn reveals his process for doing due diligence when he writes diverse points of view. Glynn and Gabriela talk about the possibilities for creating unexpected non-human characters in your stories. They also discuss how he manages to be so prolific, while also maintaining the quality of his work.

Craft Your Career and Build a Body of Work: Interview with Chuck Wendig

In this interview, Chuck and Gabriela discuss how his latest book ultimately broke his writing process—and why that’s good. They share tips on what writers can do to create a separate space for their writing if they can’t leave home. Chuck talks about why social media doesn’t actually help make sales and what it does instead. They talk about the need for writers to take more ownership of the business side of their career. Chuck reveals how he stays informed on the latest in publishing and how to discern what is worthwhile. Lastly, they talk about why it’s important to evolve and modulate your voice throughout your Sci-Fi/Fantasy writing career.

Whew! That was a lot of ground! So many awesome Sci-Fi/Fantasy writers! I hope you’ll sign up one or more of those interviews. Again, you can sign up by clicking here. But don’t delay—sign-ups close on December 6. If you have any questions about the summit, don’t hesitate to email support@DIYMFA.

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She also teaches yoga part-time in Smalltown, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram at @LoriTheWriter.

The post Writer Igniter Sci-Fi/Fantasy Summit appeared first on DIY MFA.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

I first encountered Roanhorse’s work through the first book in the Sixth World series, Trail of Lightning. Her 2018 release went on to win a Locus Award. Both Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts, the second book, are set in Dinétah, after floods, fire, and famine transform the rest of the world. A side effect of this climate catastrophe is that the gods and monsters of ancient story walk among humans. Fortunately, Maggie Hoskie, also known as War Child, makes her living hunting monsters. 

Black Sun is Roanhorse’s most recent publication, set in a fantasy world based on the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas. The protagonist Xiala, a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind, arrives in the city of Tova on the day of an eclipse, an event said to unbalance the world.

Bonus: On her recent My Favorite Bit feature on Mary Robinette Kowal’s blog, Roanhorse shares some of her playlist for Black Sun.

Rebecca Roanhorse is of Ohkay Owingeh (Pueblo) and African American heritage, and her husband and daughter are Diné.

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

Waubgeshig Rice was host of northeastern Ontario’s CBC afternoon radio show, Up North at the time Moon of the Crusted Snow was published. I attended a reading and bought the book on the spot.

Moon of the Crusted Snow is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a small northern Anishinaabe community. Rumors of trouble in larger cities to the south precede an early winter. First, the power goes out, then the phones and the internet, leaving the community completely isolated. As they struggle to survive, strangers begin to arrive, disrupting the community’s precarious balance.

Waubgeshig Rice is an Anishinaabe writer, journalist, and radio host from the Wasauksing First Nation.

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

I started reading Eden Robinson on Waubgeshig Rice’s recommendation.

Son of a Trickster is the first book in the aptly named Trickster trilogy. It tells the take of Jared, a teen who sells weed cookies and tries to take care of his family. Weird thing is that crows talk to him and he keeps losing time. When a young woman with eclectic taste and a penchant for protest moves into the neighbourhood, Jared is attracted to her, but not because of the way she looks. Whenever he sees her, she has lights like fireflies dancing around her …

I loved Son of a Trickster and the follow up, Trickster Drift. The third novel, Return of the Trickster, is coming out in the spring. Bonus: If you’re like me and can’t wait for more Robinson, you may want to watch CBC’s adaptation, Trickster. The first season started October 6^th, and you can catch it on CBC’s streaming service Gem.

Bonus bonus: While you’re there, click through to CBC Listen, where they’ve put together a Trickster playlist including A Tribe Called Red, Snotty Nosed Rez Kids, Tanya Tagaq, Iskwé, and more.

Eden Robinson is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations.

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Unsurprisingly, Cherie Dimaline was another recommendation from Waubgeshig Rice.

In Empire of Wild, Dimaline uses the Métis legend of the Rogarou to tell the story of married couple Joan and Victor. Victor has been missing for over a year. Just when Joan thinks she’s never going to see him again, she runs into him—or at least something that looks like him. 

If you like Empire of Wild, you may want to check out The Marrow Thieves, in which global warming has resulted in the inability of almost everyone to dream. Indigenous people are immune, however, and now they’re being hunted by Recruiters, who harvest their bone marrow for its dream-giving properties.

Cherie Dimaline is a Métis writer from the Georgian Bay Métis Nation.

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich

Future Home of the Living God is a dystopian novel set in a future world in which the babies being born seem to be devolving. Cedar Hawk Songmaker is four months pregnant, and she decides to try to find her biological mother. Along the way, the US crumbles under the threats of martial law and Christian dogma. Erdich’s other novels aren’t SFnal, so this may be an entry into her more literary work.

Louise Erdrich is Anishinaabe and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

Just the Beginning of the Journey

There are so many excellent books across genres and age categories being produced by Indigenous people worldwide. While this trend has received a bump in recent years, Indigenous literature has a long and award-winning history. You owe it to yourselves to open the pages of books by these amazing storytellers.

Here are just a couple of places to start your journey:

• https://bookriot.com/sff-books-by-indigenous-authors/
• https://theportalist.com/indigenous-authors-sci-fi-fantasy

Until next time, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink and her speculative poetry has appeared in Polar Borealis and Stellar Evolutions. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Indigenous Sci-Fi and Fantasy Authors to Read Now appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Nophek Gloss.

In this episode Essa and I discuss:

• What Essa does to develop her story’s language using etymology and words with multiple meanings.
• Why lead characters like Caiden need agency in their own story.
• How her experiences as a sound designer helped her create an audibly visceral world, and think outside the box creatively.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About the Author

Essa Hansen is an author, swordswoman, and falconer. She is a sound designer for science fiction and fantasy films at Skywalker Sound, with credits in movies such as Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame.

To learn more about Essa visit her website and follow her on Twitter. 

NOPHEK GLOSS

When a young man’s planet is destroyed, he sets out on a single-minded quest for revenge across the galaxy in Nophek Gloss, the first book in this epic space opera trilogy by debut author Essa Hansen, for fans of Star Wars and Children of Time.

Caiden’s planet is destroyed. His family gone. And, his only hope for survival is a crew of misfit aliens and a mysterious ship that seems to have a soul and a universe of its own. Together they will show him that the universe is much bigger, much more advanced, and much more mysterious than Caiden had ever imagined. But the universe hides dangers as well, and soon Caiden has his own plans. 

He vows to do anything it takes to get revenge on the slavers who murdered his people and took away his home. To destroy their regime, he must infiltrate and dismantle them from the inside, or die trying.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 330

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 330: World Building in a Space Opera – Interview with Essa Hansen appeared first on DIY MFA.

It’s important, however, to understand the problematic history of women in the space program to give context and deeper meaning to your story, even if it’s set hundreds, or even thousands of years in the future, when these difficulties are behind us.

Here are five ways NASA’s all-woman space walk can inspire your work in progress, or a future creative project.

1)  We have always been here

On April 9, 1959, twenty-five women were selected to undergo the same psychological screening tests as the seven male astronauts in the Mercury Program. The women who passed all these tests became known as the Mercury 13, though they were never part of the astronaut program, per se, and none of them went to space, or even met as a group.

All of the Mercury 13 were accomplished pilots with at least 1,000 hours of flight time. Some of the candidates, including Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb, went on to complete the phase II and even phase III testing (and, in some cases, performed better than the male astronauts). Despite their success, NASA continued to exclude women from the space program.

Jerrie Cobb and fellow Mercury 13 member Janey Hart went so far as to write President Kennedy and testify at the House Committee on Science and Aeronautics hearing on sex discrimination in July 1962. Despite a concerted effort and the sympathy of many committee members, no action resulted.

2) Space technology was made for men

In her July 17 article in the New York Times, Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the incredible Lady Astronaut series, argued passionately and persuasively against the gender bias endemic to the space program. Even after women formally joined the program, rockets, capsules, suits, and even the International Space Station, have continued to be designed for the typical male astronaut.

This continues to cause problems for women in the program. The first all-woman spacewalk had been scheduled for March 29, and then for April 8, but astronaut Anne McClain opted out as the suits in the ISS did not fit her properly. Safety is always the top priority.

Other examples of gender-biased design include the placement of foot anchors in the ISS. In order to have a line of sight out the observation window, shorter women astronauts are forced to float, unanchored, and to account for the way any movement will tend to displace them as they work in a zero-gravity environment. Even minor inconveniences carry forward the legacy of gender bias, but as Kowal points out in her article, there are more serious problems facing women astronauts.

3) The first woman astronaut

Valentina Tereshkova holds the distinction of being the first (and youngest) woman in space. In June of 1963, she flew a solo mission on the Vostok 6 during which she orbited Earth 48 times, spending three days in space. Tereshkova also holds the distinction of being the only woman to fly a solo mission.

While Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, she didn’t join the space program until 1978 and went on her first space flight in 1983.

4) The first woman to spacewalk

Svetlana Savitskaya was the first woman to perform a spacewalk. When the Soviet cosmonaut program became aware that American astronaut Kathy Sullivan was assigned to an extravehicular activity (EVA or spacewalk) in December of 1983, Savitskaya was scheduled for her own spacewalk, which took place on July 17, 1984.

It was Savitskaya’s second time in space. She flew in a Soyuz T-12 to the Salyut 7 station where she and fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov spent three and a half hours outside the station to repair a fuel line.

5) The importance of fact-checking

Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch conducted a live interview during which President Trump congratulated them on being the first women to perform a spacewalk. With grace and tact, Meir and Koch corrected the president, who was wrong on several counts.

As noted above, Svetlana Savitskaya was the first woman spacewalker. There have been 15 women who have successfully performed an EVA altogether, Meir and Koch among them. While it was Meir’s first spacewalk, it was Koch’s fourth.

The first all-woman spacewalk is significant because it is a next necessary step to NASA’s Artemis program, which will put the first woman on the Moon. In Koch’s words, “In the end, I do think it’s important, and I think it’s important because of the historical nature of what we’re doing. In the past women haven’t always been at the table. It’s wonderful to be contributing to the space program at a time when all contributions are being accepted, when everyone has a role. That can lead in turn to increased chance for success. There are a lot of people who derive motivation from inspiring stories of people who look like them, and I think it’s an important story to tell.”

Taking it to the page

There’s a lot of fertile ground for storytelling here, past, present, and future. What if Cobb and Hart’s testimony had successfully moved the committee to include women in the space program as early as 1962? What might it have been like for Tereshkova to spend three days alone in space? What might she have done if something had gone wrong? In the days of the “space race,” what might the scramble have been to get Savitskaya to spacewalk first? What if NASA had gotten wind of Savitskaya’s mission and escalated Sullivan’s timetable? Do you think a story about the challenges faced by early or current women astronauts would be something your readers would enjoy? What about the future, the Artemis program and beyond? If colonies are the ultimate goal, wouldn’t women be an important part of the equation?

You can take any of these as a jumping-off point to craft your own fictional creation.

Until next time, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Five Awesome Ways NASA’s All-Woman Spacewalk Inspires Us appeared first on DIY MFA.

Kristyn is an author who’s obsessed with SFF, food, video games, and her dog. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and her book Fortuna launches a new space opera trilogy that will hook you from the first crash landing.

In this episode Kristyn and I discuss:

• How a NASA discovery and a TV show inspired the world and story of Fortuna
• Techniques for building multiple worlds
• Creating complex family and cultural dynamics
• Using dual perspectives to create balance and expand world-building
• How to grapple with real-world issues in a speculative story

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Kristyn Merbeth

Kristyn Merbeth is obsessed with SFF, food, video games, and her dog. She resides in Tucson, Arizona. Check out her website, or connect with her on Twitter or Facebook.

Fortuna

Fortuna launches a new space opera trilogy that will hook you from the first crash landing.

Scorpia Kaiser has always stood in Corvus’s shadow until the day her older brother abandons their family to participate in a profitless war. However, becoming the heir to her mother’s smuggling operation is not an easy transition for the always rebellious, usually reckless, and occasionally drunk pilot of the Fortuna, an aging cargo ship and the only home Scorpia has ever known.

But when a deal turns deadly and Corvus returns from the war, Scorpia’s plans to take over the family business are interrupted, and the Kaiser siblings are forced to make a choice: take responsibility for their family’s involvement in a devastating massacre or lay low and hope it blows over.

Too bad Scorpia was never any good at staying out of a fight.

Perfect for fans of Becky Chambers and Catherynne M. Valente, Fortuna introduces a dazzling new voice in science fiction.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode #281

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 281: The Art of the Space Odyssey — Interview with Kristyn Merbeth appeared first on DIY MFA.

Fanfiction is increasingly recognized as a legitimate form of expression, and dismissing it means ignoring some mighty names who have written it. And let’s not forget, fanfiction isn’t that different from, say, being commissioned to write a Star Wars novel.

I started out in the fanfiction trenches in middle school, and I wrote some 260,000 words before I quit. It was excellent practice, and helped fuel my desire to keep writing. Here are five things I learned along the way.

1) The communities can be supportive and encouraging

I’ve never felt more love for my writing than when I was engrossed in fan communities. Each time I posted a new item I would get a flood of comments telling me they loved it, they wanted more. (Always more!) There was no serious critique, which was just what I needed at the time: unflagging encouragement. When you’re new to the game, that’s a great feeling.

Fandom is about the shared love of someone’s work. People come together to celebrate, to indulge, to have fun. Like any community, there can be negative interactions, but fandom itself outlasts the trolls. Find your tribe and ride the wave of positive, mutually-beneficial love.

2) You can focus on craft by putting some elements on hold

You know the complaints people have with fanfiction. You’re using someone else’s world. But for writers, starting with a world and characters that come pre-built can be a boon. A lot of developmental work is taken care of by the original creators, and you, the fic writer, get to play in the pre-built sandbox. That means you can focus on other elements of craft, like plot, theme, scene building, and evoking emotion in your reader.

You wouldn’t try to build a computer or a car from scratch without tinkering with some existing models first. Get to know how each part does its job, then invent your own.

3) You can experiment freely with no editorial requirements.

There is no editor making demands. No deadline you have to hit. You get to work to your own schedule, and are only answerable to your beta readers and the wider readership. That gives you a ton of freedom!

First off, you can learn what ‘your own pace’ means. Do you need a week or a month to ruminate on the next chapter, or can you write several in a few days?

Set your own deadlines, either privately, or as a promise to your readers. Do deadlines make you nervous, or do they spur you to greater heights?

And let go of worrying about what anyone else thinks. This is a free zone for you to experiment in. Switch POVs. Change tense. Throw in some slapstick, or a wild action scene. You’re not under contract and you didn’t make any unbreakable promises up front about what you would deliver. This is your sandbox to play in.

4) You’ll study your source material in depth—yes, literary criticism of your favorite genre novel or show!

If you want to do this fanfiction thing right, you’re not just using someone else’s work. There’s an expectation that you will, in some manner, be true to the original work. That means the characters need to stay in-character. That means you can’t break the rules of the world. You need to know the source material inside and out. That takes time and dedication.

The Hugo Awards include several fan categories, including fan writer, fan artist, fancast and fanzine, as well as Best Related Work. That’s where you can find in-depth analysis, like 2017 nominee The Women of Harry Potter by Sarah Gailey. Gailey has written profiles of six female characters, picking apart their motivations and highlighting their resilience.

For a fanfiction writer who wants to play it straight, depict the characters as true to cannon as possible, this is gold. And for all other writers, it’s platinum. If you struggled with literary criticism in school, studying books you were forced to read, try studying a book that you read for pleasure. Figure out what the writer did that makes you love it so, so much.

5) You can play out your dreams

I have this theory that fanfiction is driven by the desire to fill in holes, to achieve what the original doesn’t provide. (I come from the Gundam Wing fandom, where the show has no romance. Guess what ALL the fanfiction is about?)

Do those two characters who make eyes at each other never manage to get together? Write it yourself. Are you sick of waiting for winter to come? For dragons? Write about it. Is the cannon sorely lacking in people who look like you and the rest of the real world? Rework it. Ending leave you hanging? Reimagine it.

Fanfiction is all about possibilities. Fandom is a rich place full of people who love what they’re doing. You shouldn’t feel ashamed to be part of that. You, writer, are exploring all avenues to becoming a better writer. So go play.

Bronwen Fleetwood writes contemporary and fantasy novels for young adults. After four years running the Princeton Writing Group and acting as Municipal Liaison for the Central New Jersey Region for NaNoWriMo, she’s gone back to her roots in South Africa. From her home between the mountains and the sea she connects with writers globally through the Twitter chat #RPmyBook. Visit Bronwen at her website, or on Twitter.

The post #5OnFri: 5 Reasons Writers Should Try Writing Fanfiction appeared first on DIY MFA.

Of course, there are other reasons to pin down your genre definitions, and they all boil down to one word: marketing. Now hold on, before you run screaming from your computer, smart phone, or tablet, there’s nothing inherently evil in the M word. It’s more marvelous than malevolent, I assure you, but we’ll get to those juicy details in a bit. Now … onto the definitions!

Fantasy first

Why? Because it’s the easiest of our genres to define. I’m sure you already have a firm grasp on this airy-fairy genre. Just to be sure, though, I’m going to consult our friend, Merriam-Webster.

Definition of fantasy

2 :  fancy; especially :  the free play of creative imagination
3 :  a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: such as
a :  a fanciful design or invention – a fantasy of delicate tracery
b :  a chimerical or fantastic notion – His plans are pure fantasy.
c :  fantasia 1- the organ fantasy of Johannes Brahms
d :  imaginative fiction featuring especially strange settings and grotesque characters – spent the summer reading fantasy —called also fantasy fiction

Fantasy is anything you can imagine. You want your mermaids to be descendants of narwhales? Bad-ass, aquatic unicorns, coming up! Seriously. Fantasy is the fiction of the impossible.

Wee caveat here, though. Your aquatic unicorns may not look human, or live in a world that most humans could relate to, but they must behave in a human fashion. Their hopes and dreams, motivations, and loves and losses, if relatable, are what will draw your readers in and keep them coming back for more.

Science fiction

This genre is more hotly contested. We only have to consult the Wikipedia entry on Definitions of Science Fiction to see what various writers and editors in the genre have proposed over the years.

In 1926, Hugo Gernsback, editor of Amazing Stories and the man for whom the Hugo Awards are named, coined the term scientifiction (all due respect, but I’m so glad that didn’t stick). He based his definition on the fiction of the genre writers of the day, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Edgar Allen Poe. He defined scientifiction as “… a charming romance intermingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision …”[1]

Subsequent offerings from Robert Heinlein, John W. Campbell Jr., Theodore Sturgeon, James Blish, Brian Aldiss, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Kim Stanley Robinson, Arthur C. Clark, and Orson Scott Card were all more or less successful in adding something to Gernsback’s definition. Something all agree upon, though, is that scientific theory and technology form the basis of science fiction.

Because of the emphasis on science and technology, some writers view science fiction as a more plot-based genre, and it can be, but I find the most enjoyable science fiction in an interweaving of science or technology as plot vehicle, and character development. Sure, Stranger in a Strange Land is about what might happen if a human child were raised by Martians, but it’s Valentine Michael Smith and his journey as he discovers what it is to be human that makes the novel compelling.

What’s speculative fiction, then?

Judith Merril, Canadian author, editor, and activist, defined speculative fiction in 1966: “… stories whose objective is to explore, to discover, to learn, by means of projection, extrapolation, analogue, hypothesis-and-paper-experimentation, something about the nature of the universe, of man, or ‘reality’…”[2]

Sounds a lot like science fiction, doesn’t it?

Today, speculative fiction serves as an umbrella under which are gathered not only science fiction, but also fantasy, horror, magic realism, alternate history, various -punks, weird fiction, and superhero fiction. Literary writers who embrace the supernatural have also embraced the term speculative fiction as a means of avoiding identification with the more commercial genres of science fiction and fantasy.

After all of that, I’m going to trot out what I think are the simplest, and yet most elegant of the definitions for fantasy and science fiction I’ve yet encountered. In 1962, Rod Serling said, “Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science Fiction is the improbable made possible.”[3]

The big “why?” and the M word

I said that knowing and understanding your genre is important because marketing. Don’t go anywhere, please. Bear with me for another minute. That nasty M word? It’s all about connecting your story with readers who are going to love it. In my opinion, a work of fiction isn’t complete until it’s in the hands of a reader to whom it speaks. Novels want to be read.

When you write, you’re generally writing to or for someone, even if that someone is you. That point is nothing to sniff at. There are over 7.5 billion people on this planet. You can’t be unique. If 1% of the world population shares your taste in reading material, that’s 75,000 people. You don’t even need that many.

Back in 2008, Kevin Kelly wrote a blog post titled 1,000 true fans, and the gist is that, if you can find 1,000 people who love your work, you have a tribe who will proselytize on your behalf. Word of mouth remains the most powerful method of sales and marketing.

If you want to go the traditional publishing route, you have to identify who among the sea of literary agents represents the genre you write. A query letter is a sales and marketing tool. Once you’ve sold an agent on your novel’s premise and converted them into one of your 1,000 true fans, your agent will make use of your query, tailoring it to particular editors, to find your novel a publisher.

It doesn’t stop there, either. The publisher’s internal sales and marketing team will take their turn and get your novel placed on the shelves of book stores and in libraries. How do those book stores decide where to shelve your novel? Yup. By genre. The science fiction and fantasy sections of most book stores are side by side. Some even shelve them together in one section.

Genre will influence cover and interior design. Yes, each genre has its own aesthetic.

Readers of fantasy and science fiction will head directly to those sections to browse. You increase your chances of discoverability if your novel is shelved alongside their favorite author’s.

If you decide to self-publish, you still have to choose which genre and category to place your novel in, which keywords to select, so that your novel can be prominently placed in the catalogs of Amazon, Kobo, and other online retailers.

One way or the other, knowing your genre is the key to getting your novel into a reader’s hands and that, my friends, is powerful ju-ju.

[1] Originally published in the April 1926 issue of Amazing Stories.

[2] Originally published in the May 1966 issue of Extrapolation.

[3] Rod Serling (1962-03-09). The Twilight Zone, “The Fugitive”.

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Defining Speculative Fiction appeared first on DIY MFA.

At DIY MFA, we believe building your community is integral to a thriving writing life. Writers benefit from the expertise, experience, and advice of other writers. This is certainly true of the DIY MFA website as well. Over the past few years, we’ve been privileged to bring you articles by several talented columnists each week, along with our other regularly-scheduled content.

Today, we are excited to share that we will be adding a whole extra day of delicious DIY MFA material on the website. In addition to our regular Monday columns, Wednesday Podcasts and Five on Friday posts, we’ll be adding a series of genre columns on Tuesdays, starting with these four new regular members of the DIY MFA team. Please join me in welcoming these wonderful writers, and look forward to reading more from them in the coming weeks.

Kayla Dean: True Stories, Well Told

They say everyone has a story in them. Maybe you like reading creative nonfiction, but you’re still a bit fuzzy on what it means. Or you think your life is too boring to write “true stories, well told.” My column on creative nonfiction aims to break down these barriers by defining the genre, recommending great works, and debunking the myth that you must be a world traveler or have the most heartbreaks to write about your life. DIY MFA breaks down the three tenants of your writing education, which are reading with purpose, building community, and writing with focus. My column will show you how to use these elements and apply them in a new way to creative nonfiction.

Note from Gabriela: I first got to know Kayla as a member of the DIY MFA community, and when she announced she was starting a newsletter, I hopped on board just to see what it was all about. Let me just say… this lady is taking the writing world by storm and it’s a pleasure to see her emails pop into my inbox.

Stacy B. Woodson: Hook, Line and Dagger

Looking for an insider’s perspective on publishing a suspense novel or what’s happening in the suspense community? Hook line and dagger covers everything suspense – from craft to community.

Note from Gabriela: A seasoned DIY MFA alumni and super-sharp writer, Stacy was hands down my first choice for our suspense column. Not only is she well-versed in the genre, but I’ve also had the pleasure of reading excerpts of her fiction. Stacy knows both the theory and the practice of writing great suspense. With a few ThrillerFest conferences and other events under her belt, she’s plugged into the suspense/thriller community and will have plenty to share about that aspect.

Janae Marks: Kid Lit Confidential

There is something special about writing books for kids and teens. The right book can have a big impact on a young person—it can turn a reluctant reader into an avid one, make a child feel less alone, or help them survive their adolescence. But writing for kids isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you want to write picture books, middle grade or young adult fiction, my Kid Lit column will give you the tools you need—through craft tips, book recommendations, author interviews, and more.

Note from Gabriela: Janae and I go back to my MFA days, when we studied together at The New School. Not only is she a talented writer with a great sense for the nuances of writing for kids and teens, but she’s also one of my most trusted readers and a good friend. Now that we’re both moms, we don’t get to hang out as much as we used to in person, so I’m thrilled to have her writing for us so I get to read more of her words.

Melanie Marttila: Speculations

Speculations is about all things science fiction and fantasy, written by a life-long lover and writer of the genre. If you write, or want to write, fantasy or science fiction, this column’s for you. From idea generation and inspiration to research and fact-checking, from world building to the impact of the genre on readers and society we’ll delve into all aspects of SF&F in entertaining posts that will help you navigate your hero’s writer’s journey.

Note from Gabriela: I had seen Melanie around on social media, but it was during the DIY MFA book launch that I got to know her much better. She was a rockstar member of the DIY MFA street team and an engaged member of that community. I could tell right away that her voice would be a wonderful addition to this group!

Please join us in welcoming Kayla, Stacy, Janae and Melanie to the DIY MFA Team!

The post New Genre Columns at DIY MFA! appeared first on DIY MFA.

So glad you could be here with me for this awesome episode of DIY MFA Radio.

Today, I’m talking to pop culture and sci-fi guru, Ryan Britt, talking about his new book Luke Skywalker Can’t Read, And Other Geeky Truths. Listen in to hear us geek out about life, literature, and all things nerdy. 

In this episode Ryan and I discuss:

• The differences between writing for and reading online vs. writing and reading a book
• What it actually means to be a geek in this day and age
• Why being a geek is a good thing, especially if you’re a writer

Plus, Ryan’s #1 tip for writers.

Don’t forget, if you want to dig deeper, join me for a “Stop Dreaming, Start Doing” workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. Sign up at DIYMFA.com/openhouse.

Also, winter enrollment for DIY MFA 101 now open. Learn more at DIYMFA.com/DIYMFA101

Resources:

About Ryan Britt

If the ghost of Marshall McLuhan were to merge with Chuck Klosterman, you’d have essayist Ryan Britt. Ryan has never met a monster, alien, wizard or superhero that didn’t require further discussion, and in his book he answers questions you’ve probably never thought to ask (but now that he’s brought them up, you’re probably wondering about them too). In his book, he tackles topics like: Does anyone in the Star Wars universe read books? Is Pete Best the Bilbo to Ringo Starr’s Frodo? And, what ever happened to Biff Tannen’s parents? If you’re a geek like me (and even if you’re not) you’re going to get a kick out of this entertaining manifesto for modern geekdom.

But seriously, Ryan has written for The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Awl, VICE and The Morning News and is a consulting editor for Story. He was the staff writer for the Hugo Award-winning web magazine Tor.com, where he remains a contributor.

About LUKE SKYWALKER CAN’T READ

Britt recounts personal stories of coming of age amid the influence of 80s and 90s pop culture; how he learned to take his interests seriously from a big box store manager he nicknames Captain Space Pirate because of he was reminiscent of Harrison Ford; how his first “the birds and the bees” conversation came from asking his father about the pictures in an Omni magazine article entitled “Tyrannosaurus Sex: A Love Tail”; and how his next lesson in sex was from watching Jane Fonda in Barbarella, which quickly evolved into a life-changing epiphany.

Britt’s thoughtful and fun meditations on everything sci-fi and pop culture spins insights on what many of us have not known about our favorite stuff. He shows us how monster movies are just romantic comedies with commitment issues, claims nobody should get mad about super hero remakes, and argues that killer robots are probably harmless authenticity-seeking hipsters. Luke Skywalker Can’t Read tears down the wall between hardcore sci-fi readers and the mainstream, making it perfect both for cosplayers, or those who haven’t worn a costume since grade school.

To learn more about Ryan you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter, or visit his website.

Link to Episode 76

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 76: Life, Literature, and Everything Geeky – Interview with Ryan Britt appeared first on DIY MFA.