| Title | : | Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy (Lit Starts): A Book of Writing Prompts |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1419741373 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781419741371 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 96 |
| Publication | : | Published February 11, 2020 |
Focus on a single aspect of the craft of writing with help from the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy starts with a foreword by author Dorothy Hearst, who offers pointers for writing speculative fiction and inventing fantastic new worlds. The rest of the book consists of prompts and space to write, providing opportunities to consider the rules that govern your imagined universe. Among other ideas, you’ll explore the various aspects of world-building by:
writing a timeline of the history of your imagined place
describing what the inhabitants of your world look like
detailing transportation from city to city or planet to planet
figuring out who’s in charge and whether or not they should be
Perfectly sized to take to a café, on vacation, or on your morning commute, this book is designed for practicing your creative writing a little bit at a time.
Special Features
Paperback with textured cover stock, flaps, and a lay-flat binding
Advice from a published writer, followed by fill-in prompts and space to write
Part of the Lit Start series, a collection of single-subject writing prompt books by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto
Check out the other books in this series: Writing Action, Writing Character, Writing Dialogue, Writing Humor, and Memoir.
Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy (Lit Starts): A Book of Writing Prompts Reviews
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I’m a journalist, so writing sci-fi and fantasy is pretty far out of my wheelhouse. But I love the idea of using writing prompts to shake myself out of habits, so I picked up this book. Dorothy Hearst walks you through the steps of creating SFF as she calls it: from concept to world to character to story. In the prompts, I especially like the chances to ask “what if?” and let my mind go free (see the prompts on pages 30-31). I also love “memoirs of a hydrangea”—the idea of taking a scene and rewriting it from an unusual point of view, like a plant or animal.
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Nothing too groundbreaking here, but several of the prompts did spark some new ideas. Writing prompts are generally hit-or-miss for me, so I guess this was a win.
3.5 stars. -
Inspiration and plenty of prompts to get you started or restarted.
