Friday, December 20, 2019

Winter Holiday Writing Prompts: Inside the Snow Globe




 By: Our Writing Garden Team

Holiday Greetings, Writers!

No matter what you celebrate this time of year, it's always fun to sit back from the chaos and do a little bit of winter writing. To that end, the team at Our Writing Garden has come up with a list of fun winter writing prompts, using the theme: Inside the Snow Globe. We hope these bring you inspiration this holiday season, and that you have a happy holiday with family and friends. 

Happy Writing!


Create a short story where the protagonist discovers that the animals within a precious snow globe are real.

Construct a flash fiction piece where a protagonist is transported inside their least favorite snow globe.

Write a poem that describes a snow globe's enchanted forest scenery.

Create a short story about a family's lost possessions being found within an heirloom snow globe.

Write a screenplay where protagonists capture real snowflakes within a crystal ball.

A character's best memories of the holidays are locked away in hidden snow globes, how do they get them back?

Write a short story from the perspective of a snowman trapped inside a fireplace mantel snow globe on a winter’s eve.

Construct a poem about a snow-covered log cabin inside a snow globe.

Write about a winter city scene inside a snow globe. 

Create a screenplay about two characters who fall in love inside a snow globe.

Write about a real town inside a snow globe in which the rapidly falling snow threatens to bury the buildings.

Pen a poem about the falling snowflakes changing colors inside a snow globe.


Let us know if you think of any of your own snow globe writing prompts! And please feel free to share your stories with us in the comments!

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Methods of World Building in Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing


By: Our Writing Garden Team

Fantasy and science fiction novels have the unique ability to send a reader to new, never-seen-before locations. They can transport the reader into space, send them over the rainbow, or situate them on a planet unlike the earth they are used to. There are a few considerations with world-building in fantasy and science fiction, including transportation systems, maps of the world, types of entertainment available, magical systems and creatures, and the setting or environment itself. Below, please find a list of some world-building elements that might help you as you write your fantasy or science fiction novel. 

Maps
"I wisely started with a map," said J. R. R. Tolkien. Maps can be a significant tool for your story. Whether your characters see a map of their world or not (and only you know of it), it can be very useful to plan out your town, city, and or world atlas as you work on your narrative. Not only can maps be a reference sheet when taking characters on their journeys--so writers know exactly where to take said characters--but can also be helpful for readers as they follow your protagonist through their realm. 

When working in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, the map you create does not need to mirror the types of landmarks, terrain, or names we find on atlases of our world. For example, a map of a town does not need places like town halls or town squares. You can have a Chasm of Glowing Souls running through the town's center, a Floating Inn beside the protagonist's hobbit hole--there are countless possibilities. Planning out the format of your world is up to you. You can either craft your narrative around the map you create or develop it with your story in mind. Just remember that nothing has to be written in stone, you can change things as you delve into your story. Though having a map can aid you greatly as you build your world and set characters off on their journeys.  

Magic
There are a few factors to consider when building a fictional world of magic. First, the rules. Who has the magic? Is it just a few specific citizens or does everyone have it? If everyone has it, what’s allowed? Are there laws surrounding the magic? For example, in the Harry Potter universe, certain spells are against the law. The second consideration is the type of magic in your world. Is it wand magic? Spoken spells? Does it come from a hand gesture or another type of physical movement? Or is it related to nature, herbs, potions, or environment? Is it sinister or is it performed mostly for the good of the people and the land? Finally, you’ll want to look at magic on the level of characterization. What conflict does magic cause within the world, and how does this impact your protagonist? What is the source of your main character’s magic? Do they love using magic, or does it backfire on them continually?

Entertainment
When delving into elements such as festivals, theatres, and eating establishments that provide characters with a means of amusement and enjoyment, it is important to keep theme and purpose in mind. Consider a small fictional town, let's call it Frostville, which participates in an annual festival. We, the writers, understand that we want our protagonist(s) to witness or be a part of this event. But what is the event dedicated to? Why is it celebrated? When does it take place? How is it themed? How long does it last, and do the townfolks even like it? Of course, there are endless possibilities to consider (how wonderful, right?) so we must take a moment to envision this festival as our characters would. 

For example, let's say that Frostville has this annual festival lasting a week to celebrate the winter solstice, a time when a creature from folk legends is said to visit the village in mortal form. If the creature is not pleased with the great magical displays from the fearful villagers, the village will not prosper the following year. Now we understand why this festival occurs, how long it lasts, that the villagers fear the visiting creature, and even that is has magical theming. We can then think of specific magical displays, and the town's visuals during the celebration. Though it is important to first come to terms with the purpose of the entertainment as well as its theming in order to "set the scene" as it were. This process can be undertaken for theatres and eating establishments as well. Ask yourselves the purpose and theme of these places in your world. Why are they there? Are they valued by characters? Do they have a specific theme to them? What form of entertainment do they provide? Are they dedicated to something or someone? After answering these questions, we can work on the details that your characters witness and or feel as they enter these events or places in your world.  

Magical Creatures
It’s always fun to create your own types of magical creatures. You can research mythical beings and design your own from there, or you can come up with completely new creatures never heard of before on earth or whatever world you’re building. As the author, you might dream up a flying creature or a sea creature, or maybe a hybrid of both. Or maybe you’ll set these creatures loose in your world and watch them fall in love with or terrorize the inhabitants. When you develop these creatures, keep in mind what you’d like them to look like (draw them out if you can), the history of their kind, and what traits they possess. For example, you might have a unicorn type creature who uses rare magic or a dragon-like being who speaks in a specific language. Imagine a day in the life of this creature and what emotions it goes through, what it eats, and how it appears to the society of your world. 

Transportation
When considering the means of transportation in your world, you can either take inspiration from the real world (whether from the past or present), other fantasy or sci-fi tales, or get creative with your own transportation system. Ask yourself, "What kind of world am I building?" Are there high-tech societies (where spaceships and holograms are possible)? Is it set in the contemporary era (like our world right now)? Is it an ancient world (taking place during a less-civilised era)? Is it a magical realm (where magical teleportation exists)? 

Once you come to understand the type of world you will be creating, then you can delve into the details of how you wish your characters to move around the world. Perhaps you want to have a magical realm where characters visit various towns and cities through a pixie dust system, similar to J. K. Rowling's Floo Powder Network. Or maybe you want a high tech world, which could allow you to introduce an interstellar roadway that spaceships travel along or portable teleportation devices bring your protagonist from city to city in an instant. Another option is, of course, including the technology we have available today such as planes, ships, trains, cars, or simply walking. There are numerous modes of transportation you can use in your works, deciding which option to use is simply a matter of understanding the world you are creating. You can get creative or use familiar vehicles, just be sure to ask yourself "What form of transportation makes sense for my world?" and or "How do I see my characters travelling within this world?"

Setting Elements
Setting elements make up the backdrop of your story. The fantasy world, futuristic world, or outer space world you design can be bright and sunny, a perpetual winter, or even made up entirely of diamonds. There are quite a few considerations when it comes to setting, such as how it plays out in your story to enhance the character’s journey and how it hinders their quests. For instance, extreme weather might make for difficult travels, and a world of diamonds may seem beautiful at first, but be glaring and too slippery at certain times of the day. Other considerations with setting in fantasy and science fiction writing include landscapes, natural elements (trees, islands, sky color, amount of water available, wooded areas), and buildings. You might include certain eating establishments in space, futuristic schools, or fantasy hotels. 

 It might also help to draw out or imagine the history of the land. How did the land develop and evolve, for example? Knowing these points will help fill in all areas of the setting, even if you don’t ever use them in your manuscript. And you can zoom in on all of the setting locations, too, including your restaurants, schools, government buildings, castles, spaceports, and housing. What is the history of each location? You might even consider the history of wooded land (haunted? magical?) and other landmarks in your story. Every location has a history and even a legend or myth attached, so include that when you can in your writing, or even just in the drafting phase. 


Thanks for reading about world building in fantasy and sci-fi writing. Do you have any tips or tricks for writing in this genre? Please share in the comments!

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Antagonists of the Horror Genre

By: Our Writing Garden Team 

Happy Halloween, dear writers! The horror genre is amazing. Their stories can exploit (or create) fears, send chills up our spines, make us view everyday objects or scenarios in a new light, and thoroughly thrill us. Of course, it's the antagonists of these works, in conjunction with great writing, that effects us so greatly. Here's a look at some of the most popular antagonists of the horror genre and what is generally expected of them:



Zombies

Ah, zom-zoms. Dear, lovely, rotting corpses determined to hunt the living and munch on their brains. Over the years, different types of zombies have emerged; ones that are slow and limping, others that are fast and feral, some that can talk, some that sense the living through sound, some that are civilized but still need to feed on brains—they have been well explored. Meaning that there are great foundations set for writers who wish to use them in their work. Most, if not all, versions of these antagonists are restricted by their need to feast on the living. That is their only expectation. The way they move, how they function, their intelligence, how they are created—or where they are created—are all up to writers. It's wonderful to have that freedom.   

Unstable People

Sometimes there's nothing scarier than an unhinged human being. You think they're nice and friendly, sweet and kind, then BAM! They show their true colors or are triggered into an unstable state that results in great peril and horror. Other times, normal people are tossed into a situation were a particularly frightening, damaged human hunts them down one at a time...in some stories, we don't even get to see their face. We just know that our protagonist(s) needs to get out of that situation before they're found! It can get quite suspenseful, right? When it comes to unhinged humans, there are no restrictions. You can create a unique character that creeps the heck out of readers as the protagonist strives to stay alive and or escape their clutches. 

Creepypastas

The name may sound odd or amusing, though these creatures are terrifying...and have nothing to do with pasta. For those who are unfamiliar with creepypastas, they were gradually developed in response to a forum post that told a story of a faceless man in a black suit who lures children into his woodlands. That man became known as Slenderman, now the inspiration for several horror stories (and games). More creepy creatures were created and associated with this antagonist, such as Jeff the Killer who is a man that is fond of stabbing people as they sleep—oh, and he cut off his eyelids and is almost always smiling. Yeah, creepy. The list of creepypastas is quite long, the fans who love these stories have worked together to produce great, frightening, sometimes even funny, works that involve these antagonists. Honestly, there are no restrictions when it comes to these characters. Fiction pieces are written from their perspectives, their victim's POV, or a third-person view. So long as their favored method of murder is adhered to, a writer can do anything with these creatures. 

Ghosts/Poltergeists

It's difficult not to think of the Harry Potter series when discussing ghosts and poltergeists. The novels act as a good example of how these antagonists are often depicted. Ghosts are commonly harmless. Most of the time they are white, transparent figures that roam around the world and sometimes communicate with humans—either verbally or with gestures. They can haunt a certain location or certain people (choosing to just watch them or try to scare them), yet moving objects in the physical world is more of a characteristic of poltergeists. Poltergeists, like Peeves in the HP series, can indeed prank humans and change the world around them. With telekinetic abilities or with the power to grasp items (or people), they are able to manipulate the world as a human would. Though the line of distinction between these antagonists is often blurred. Ghosts are declared as ghosts yet can move objects and people. What these characters have in common, however, are backstories that are completely up to their writer. Whatever tragedy befell them can be unique and discovered in any way a writer sees fit.  

Demons/Possession

Here come the nightmares. Demons are interesting antagonists as they either put on a human face and mingle in society looking for souls to feed on or take control of bodies and inanimate objects. Other stories depict them as horrid monsters as well, and their motivation varies with each interpretation. Perhaps they are hungry and simply need to make a contract with humans to have a nice soul lunch. Maybe they simply enjoy messing with humans and their minds. Or they might need to hurt humans to please their superiors and get promoted in the demon world. Like with the other antagonists discussed, there is a lot of leeway offered to writers. Overall, it is generally expected that they are up to no good and want to scare humans in whatever way they can—like taking control of an old doll and having it pop up in random places throughout the house. So creepy. 


Witches
The fear of witches dates back centuries, so it only makes sense that they are a consideration for an antagonist in a horror novel. While true modern witches normally practice good or earth magic, witches in movies, television, and literature can be a tad creepier. When envisioning witches, we normally think of a warty, evil woman in a cloak, sometimes wearing a pointed hat, bent over a bubbling cauldron of rat tails and poisonous flowers. This definitely works to scare readers, but looking at the demonic side of witches—like in the reboot of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”—ups the creepy factor with a devilish edge. Witches are clever and difficult to combat or destroy, but usually a bucket of water or binding spell will do the job. 

Vampires
Vampires scare us because they essentially feed off humans, stealing our blood and making us just a little pale in the neck and face area. It’s rare to see a “good guy” vampire in movies and literature, because by nature, vampires are stalkers and killers. Further, it’s said that vampires are quite irresistible to their prey, sucking us in (pun intended) with their charm and good looks. As an antagonist, vampires present the protagonist with difficulties as they are wickedly strong and difficult to kill, except, maybe, with garlic, holy water, or a good neck-break. 

Werewolves
In a modern era, when we think about werewolves, we inevitably think about poor Professor Lupin from the Harry Potter series. True, he did have to contend with some serious fear of full moons, as werewolves, historically, change at the full moon from human to beast. This transition is far from pleasant, with a sudden thirst for human flesh and a burst of excessive hair growth (not to mention the fangs). The legend of the werewolf perhaps started with an actual fear of wolves eating livestock and grew from there, with the threat being that if you were bitten by a werewolf, you would shape-shift into one under the full moon. Legend says that werewolves, incredible hunters who possess superhuman strength, are only susceptible to death through silver blades and specific herbs (mistletoe, wolfsbane, or mountain ash). 

Mermaids
Beautiful, but not creepy . . . or are they? These mythological creatures are historically females with one single fish fin, alluring sailors with their beauty. For that reason, they would make the perfect antagonist in a fantasy horror novel. With an emphasis on the dangers of the sea, these gorgeous sea spirits are the perfect fit in any sea fantasy novel. They’ve been known to drown sailors, sink ships, and can even sprout legs on land to fool unsuspecting seamen. There is no known specific method for killing a mermaid, but if it’s indeed necessary, good luck finding them. 





Which antagonist would you use, or have you used, in your works? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy Writing!

Halloween Writing Prompts


By: Emrald Sethna


Hello, dear writers! Are you ready for Halloween? Such a spooky, fun time of the year. Here are some new writing prompts to help us all celebrate this holiday:

- Create a tale about a supernatural character that likes to dress up as a human on Halloween night.

- Write a short story from the perspective of an ancient mummy awakening for a Monster Halloween Bash.

- Construct the scariest story you can think of in thirteen words.

- Write a flash fiction piece that revolves around a scarecrow, a werewolf, a ghost, and a bowl of candy.

- Create a short story where your protagonist gets stuck in a monster realm for 24 hours.

- Think of your favorite supernatural character and describe them in a poem.

- Craft a narrative that takes place in a graveyard with a character poorly attempting necromancy.

- Write a story where a character discovers a ghost party in their bedroom.


Image Prompt ~



Write a short story based on the photo above

Happy Writing!

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Publishing Opportunities: HORROR




Happy Autumn!

In keeping with the seasonal spirit, we'd like to present our followers with a list of publishing opportunities in the horror genre. It's the perfect time of year to shake the dust off those old horror stories and give them another chance at publication! Or perhaps you have a new story ready to go . . . whatever the case, we hope these listings will help with your quest.

Please read all submission instructions on the websites and follow the publisher's specific requests for word counts and formatting. 

Good Luck!



Blood Moon Rising Magazine

http://www.bloodmoonrisingmagazine.com/newsubmissions.html


Danse Macabre

https://dansemacabreonline.wixsite.com/neudm/subspage



Dream of Shadows




Ink and Sword




The Wicked Library






Thursday, September 26, 2019

Fall Fantasy Writing ~ Picture Prompts!



By:  Our Writing Garden 


Welcome, fall!

We have some fun writing prompts and articles lined up for autumn, and to get you started, here's an enjoyable writing exercise featuring picture prompts!

The (easy) Directions:

Below, you'll find 6 fall-themed photographs. Using the photos, create a short story. You must use all the photos, although you are welcome to change the order. We look forward to reading your stories and hope you share them in the comments section!













Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Fall Writing Competitions






By: Emrald Sethna


The Val Wood Prize: Love Letters
Date: Sep 21
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 1,500
Prize: 100 Euros

In the Blink of an Eye! Competition
Date: Sep 24
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 3,000
Prize: $345

Owl Canyon Press Hackathon Short Story Competition
Date: Sep 30
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: No limit
Prize: $3000

Gransnet and HQ Writing Competition
Date: Sep 30
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 20,000
Prize: Publishing contract

The First Page Challenge
Date: Sep 30
Entry Fee: $5
Word count: One page
Prize: $200+

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest
Date: Sep 30
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 17,000
Prize: $1000 & publication

The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award
Date: Sep 30
Entry Fee: $20
Word count: 10,000
Prize: $1,000 and publication

Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest
Date: Oct 1
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 749
Prize: $1000

Beartooth Anthony's Halloween Campfire Story Contest
Date: Oct 25
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: No limit
Prize: Publication & hiking gear

Aftermath Short Story Contest
Date: Oct 31
Entry Fee: Free
Word count: 5,000
Prize: $1,000

Other competitions can be found on this website: https://www.dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/

Happy Writing!

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Late Summer Writing Prompts


By: Our Writing Garden
Greetings, Writers!


As summer starts to draw to a close, we turn our creative voices inward as the colder months loom ahead. At The Steps to Getting Published, we thought you'd like one last fling with summer writing, however, with a focus on late summer and end-of-season festivities. Below, please find our list of writing prompts for fiction writers, screenwriters, and poets. We'd love for you to share your work with us in the comments section, and please enjoy the last few days of warm weather and fun in the sun!




craft a screenplay about the last day of a student's summer vacation

write a short story from the perspective of a blooming Autumn plant

create a poem about the daily visits of a hummingbird

write a story involving the last day of summer camp

craft a short story where a student recieves the worst class schedule for the upcoming school year

write a poem about the changing of seasons

write a poem about the first day of high school 

write a short story about the last camping trip of the summer season

compose a short play about a boardwalk amusement park in another era

write a poem about the last sunflowers of August

write flash fiction about an unusual garden crop/harvest

write a poem about the last day out at the beach

write 3 short prose poems about: 1) your new dorm room 2) your new college roommate 3) your first college class

write a short story about the car breaking down on the way back from summer vacation 

compose a 100-word story, and make sure 5 of the words are: POOL, BUTTERFLY, GRILL, LANTERN, SEASHELL (words can be in any order in the story)

write a short story about one kid’s quest for a special back-to-school item (unique pencil, notebook, book bag, etc.)

write a poem about the days growing shorter

write a play about an argument at a backyard family picnic

write a poem about a basket of late summer tomatoes

write a sci-fi story about the first day of school on another planet

write a poem about the first hint of autumn colors in the trees

write flash fiction about a parent’s first “home alone” day when the kids are back to school

write about a mishap at a pick-your-own fruit or vegetable farm


write a poem about a favorite food at a summer or autumn festival

Sunday, July 28, 2019

SCI-FI JULY Publishing Opportunities

                      

Greetings, Sci-Fi writers!

Welcome to SCI-FI JULY! We're happy to post publishing opportunities in the science fiction genre for you this month and wish you good luck with your hunt for publication! Using the comments, please let us know how you make out with your search, and ask any questions you might have. Stay tuned for August, when we bring you some fun writing prompts based on the end of summer and prepping for those early fall days!





WHO: Daily Science Fiction
WHAT: 100—1,500 words flash fiction and short stories
WHERE: https://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines





WHO: Leading Edge
WHAT: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, art in the science fiction genre
WHERE: http://www.leadingedgemagazine.com/?page_id=31








WHO: The Mystic Blue Review
WHAT: Poetry, flash-fiction, non-fiction, micro-fiction, art and photography (sci-fi, but open to most genres)
WHERE: https://themysticbluereview.wixsite.com/litmagazine/submit







WHO: Write Ahead/The Future Looms
WHAT: Sci-Fi Cyberpunk Short Stories
WHERE: https://www.writeaheadthefuturelooms.com/submission-guidelines



Wednesday, July 24, 2019

SCI-FI JULY: Subgenres of Science Fiction

By: The Steps to Getting Published Team



Hello and welcome to science fiction month at The Steps to Getting Published! After a month off in June, we’re delighted to bring you a special month of science fiction themed articles and publishing opportunities in the science fiction genre. First, we have researched a few science fiction subgenres to give you a better idea of what conventions you’ll be working with in these subdivisions of sci-fi. Specifically, we’ll take a look at dystopian and utopian societies, definitions of hard science fiction, time travel, mythic fiction, space exploration, and space operas. As always, if you have any questions on these topics or would like to add your own science fiction knowledge to the comments, please don’t hesitate to jump in!

Hard Science Fiction
Hard Science Fiction is a sub-genre dedicated to realism. Specifically, realism in regards to the technology and science used or discussed in the novel. It is important to focus on the theories and real science that inspires your work rather than get too creative with unrealistic concepts. Oftentimes, the focus on technology and science results in a lack of character development--and sometimes a lack of plot. Though it is possible to create a strong narrative thread while delving into this sub-genre, as seen with Arthur C. Clark's "Fountains of Paradise," Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea," and Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot." If you are interested in writing about realistic possibilities with tech and science, then this could be a sub-genre to pursue.

Dystopian/Utopian Societies
With the rise in popularity of books like The Hunger Games, it’s easy to forget that the idea of dystopian and utopian societies has been around for a long time. Early novels in the genres include Utopia from the year 1560, Gulliver’s Travels from 1756, and Brave New World from 1932. And who can forget books like Orwell’s 1984 and Wyndham’s The Chrysalids in the mid 20th century? While utopian societies are based on the ideal society, often depicted as a fairy-tale or heaven-like land with no famine or suffering, utopias are, for the most part, debatable. Can any land really be a utopia? Who makes the call on what’s considered ideal? On the flip side is dystopia, in which readers observe lands that are dysfunctional, corrupt, and oftentimes in ruins. Dystopians are usually futuristic, giving the reader insight into what may happen in the years ahead if humans continue down a certain path. When writing in this genre, consider unique apocalyptic events, satires of utopian settings, and government and religions of these lands. 

Mythic Fiction
It is in Mythic Fiction that you will find references to real-world mythology and folklore. In this sub-genre, writers typically take inspiration from or incorporate aspects of ancient mythology into their works. Some examples, although not sci-fi-oriented, include Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, and Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. These works all revolve around well-known tales of heroes and monsters, though they offer interesting twists to the lore. If you are interested in writing Mythic Fiction within the Sci-Fi genre, it is expected that you allude to or take inspiration from known mythology and folklore while writing in a sci-fi setting. Imagine the tales of the Greek Gods and Blade Runner mingling together. It would certainly be an interesting novel to visit. 

Time Travel
A beloved subgenre, time travel has been gathering readers for decades. Most readers are enthralled by the idea of jumping into another time or place, living beyond their years, or changing something horrific in their past. And of course, the methods of traveling through time can be just as fun as entering a different time period! In “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells, readers get to visualize such a contraption. The clunky time machine was not quite as fancy as the DeLorean from Back to the Future, but hey, it got the job done. In your writing, consider unique methods of time travel, with an emphasis on exactly how time travel is accomplished. Readers who know the genre well will be looking for explanations, having read different theories and seen many different time machines. Also consider the choices made in different time periods. If traveling to the past, how does this change the modern world? Why were these changes necessary? 

Space Operas
Opposing Hard Science Fiction, the Space Opera genre is neither strict in its conventions nor oriented towards science and technology. A prominent characteristic of this sub-genre, however, is long story arcs and character arcs spanning across several novels. Typical theming for these stories include heroism, rebellion, politics, imperialism, colonialism, war, and space exploration. If you would like to write tales where certain reoccurring characters deal with dramatic situations within a science fiction setting, then this is a sub-genre to explore. Examples of Space Operas are "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge, "A Talent for War" by Jack McDevitt, and Cassastar by Alex J. Cavanaugh.  

Space Exploration
One of the most popular subgenres of science fiction (especially during the heyday of space travel—the 1950s and 1960s), is space exploration. Here, a main character might leap to Mars to explore the landscape, or they might speed off to another galaxy altogether. And there are subgenres within this subgenre as well, including space defenders, danger and villains in space, problems with escape pods or space debris, hazards of light-speed, alien attacks, and blackholes or wormholes. The list is quite exhaustive, so the sky is the limit here (no pun intended). Consider research in this area, including galaxies, planets, space machines and space travel. Imagination is key to this subgenre, because the future of space travel is up in the air (pun intended). 


Good luck with these and please look for publishing opportunities in sci-fi, coming in the next few days!