Speculative Fiction Writers Association
An Online Critique Group with Members from Coast to Coast
1st of 2 parts Writing speculative fiction can be a rewarding and challenging experience. New writers often encounter several pitfalls as they hone their craft. This blog post will discuss eight common issues and provide tips on how to overcome them. Point-of-View Slips One of the most common problems for …
Elaine W. Clark is a native of New Mexico where she has lived all but eight months of her life. Reading was a joy she discovered from the yearly Christmas present books she received as a child from her uncle and aunt who were both librarians. Influences The first book …
Permit me to paint a picture for you: in an epic fight, your characters have overcome immense peril and defeated the villain. It’s the climax to your story, the work of months, if not years. But you run into a hiccup. Your readers don’t enjoy the scene. They find it …
Chris Marker’s 1962 film, La Jetée, clocks in at a mere twenty-eight minutes, but once seen, will stay with its viewers forever. In French, the phrase la jetée denotes “a pier,” and it is one man’s childhood memory of standing on a pier, watching planes take off, that forms the linchpin of this sf …
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, by Eleanor Cameron, has been in print since the 1950s. It features the adventures of Chuck and David, two boys who travel to the alien planet Basidium in their homemade spaceship. This classic, primarily for children, is fun for adults, too, and you’ll …
In the third quarter of 2024, our members have been busy writing, publishing and winning awards. Danaeka Scrimshaw’s novel Worlds of Fire and Glass is a Finalist for the 2024 Gold Rush Literary Awards in the speculative fiction category. Colleen Mueller’s novel The Megaclub Soldiers is a Finalist in the …
A fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration for writers is other writers. Those who have been through it before can share their knowledge and experience with those who are just starting out or new to a certain area. From planning, writing, and editing to querying, publishing, and marketing—and everything in …
As a relatively new genre, at least in comparison to mystery or romance, science fiction has many pioneers making their mark and developing the genre in the last century. One of the most influential is William Gibson who is credited with coining the term cyberspace and is a founder of …
Speculative Fiction Writers Association member L.V. Ditchkus’ novel has been recently published. Here’s the blurb: New Release: Chrom Y Returns: The Chrom Y Series: Book One by L.V. Ditchkus “Hundreds of years after a horrific disease destroys Earth’s male population, Sofia Andes7 and her wife embark on a perilous journey …
Whether you’re a “panster” with a predisposition to write your way straight into a sagging middle or a “plotter” who struggles to get the beats just right so you can sit down and write already, having a firm command of plot devices can be the game changer you need to …