Sci-fi – what’s it all about?

I wrote my first science fiction story during a Central Colorado Writers’ free-write session. Our facilitator led the meeting wearing a tin-foil hat, complete with silver pipe cleaner antennae. She opened the door for me to explore a world outside of Earth’s boundaries.

I’ve learned that the science fiction genre is more than just spaceships, robots, and time travel—it's rooted in imagination and speculation. This genre offers writers a unique opportunity to explore complex ideas about technology, society, and the human condition, all while creating immersive settings in the distant future, a revised past, or beyond our world.

Science fiction is the genre of possibilities.

Authors can ask what might happen if scientific or technological advancements change the world or the universe. To avoid offending readers with positions on politics, gender, and humanity in the present day, this genre explores uncomfortable topics by setting them in foreign settings, which neutralizes the tension surrounding them. For example, a novel with characters who routinely practice euthanasia in the United States could be controversial and likely be shelved with horror books. But the same story told on a distant planet could explore the rationale for the practice without shocking readers—the distance creates a space for curiosity.

For me, one of science fiction’s greatest appeals is its freedom. Whether I’m crafting a hard sci-fi narrative grounded in real physics or a softer, character-driven story that uses futuristic elements metaphorically, the genre encourages innovation. For every story I write, I dive into research for world building—How do believers rationalize where Sasquatch lives? What kind of plants could grow if our sun were a red dwarf star instead of a yellow dwarf? Character development also requires deep consideration—If only women lived on our planet, how soon would youngsters start having sex, and would there be any societal boundaries about that age?

My advice about writing science fiction? Delve deeply into world-building to create a location that’s innovative yet believable. Know enough about the science behind your location, inventions, and timeframe to be convincing. Consider whether your characters will be motivated by the same things people are now—or will they want something completely different?