Saturday, February 23, 2008

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy [52 Books #10]

1987 was how many lifetimes ago? Card's writing guide for speculative fiction still has much good information on what works, what doesn't, and where the traps are for young writers. There's probably as good sources of information on the internet but most writing guides say 'buy this book'. And so I did, and while it was a page-turning drama it did keep my interest.


The chapters on technique are timeless; styles change, but a writer must understand what his audience expects before breaking new grounds. Simply, you need to know the rules before you break them. Managing exposition, finding the right viewpoint, finding the main character, all these lessons matter. I'd recommend the book for these chapters for people interested in writing or looking to critically analyze writing.


The latter chapters on getting published are hurt by the massive cultural shifts the publishing landscape has undergone. Card's advice to start with short stories published in magazines feels outdated. These days, I wonder if a young author could make a start using just Facebook and self-promotion.


The last two chapters dealing with conventions and writer's groups aren't quite so dated. Conventions are good for networking and meeting fans; bad if you make your career about attending conventions and your writing suffers. The pros and cons of writer's meetings, the Clarion workshops, and other circles are discussed, along with all the common problems leading you to quit them.


It's a solid book on writing SF&F. The techniques are always useful; the advice for dealing with other writers and fans is often helpful. The marketing world is different these days but the recommendations are a starting point for the unknowing.

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