Why Should Sci-Fi Writers Know The Details?

If you’re writing a science fiction book, you may think that since you’re talking about future science, you don’t need to worry about making modern science fit the science in your story. However, people tend to read science fiction stories because they love science and the possibilities for the future. They often enjoy studying science and often know how much of the science theories for the future work. Your publisher may ask to see your references to be sure yours is accurate. Publishers know that if your facts aren’t correct, they will be barraged by letters from readers complaining about inaccurate science or false facts. Therefore having accurate science is smart to have before you even start writing. Why not do the research as you go? Doing research while you write may work well for small details like what date something happened on or how far away something is, but for big items such as your star ship or your character’s job, you want to do as much research as you need to be able to do that job or understand the science yourself. If you don’t understand the item or procedure you have in your story, how can you make it come to life for your readers? Where should you look for your information? The internet is a good place to get a general overview on the item or procedure but you never know how accurate your information is. If you can find a site online put up by an authority on the subject, such as an accurate blog by a leading expert in the field, you may be able to use that as your main reference. You may be able to find books for e-book readers that were created in paperback and got converted, such as the Kindle Store which converts many of its newest books into e-books. E-books typically cost less than regular books but for research books it may be easier to find small facts you didn’t bookmark or highlight in a book you can flip through rather than waiting for pages to load. However, the notes and bookmarking ability of e-readers can be helpful. Also, many older books, such as the epic classics have been put on the internet, and you may find older reference books on things like culture and religion that don’t change too much with time. For those who can’t find the in depth information you need online, libraries or museum archives or magazines should give you information you need. Subject matter experts, such as professors or people who actually work in the field you’re researching, are probably the best bet as they can explain things they are passionate about in ways that your characters may react to them. Although face to face interviews are best for keeping the character traits and interviewing in real time, email interviews or interviews over chat may work for getting the information you need. What are some resources you use when planning your books?