Comments on: How is Writing A Futuristic Novel Like Writing A Historical?

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Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:00:43 +0000

[…] month Sharla Rae wrote about switching genres. She’s a historical romance writer and has decided to take the leap into a futuristic. The common […]

By: Sharla Rae

Sharla Rae — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:16:57 +0000

Welcome to the Switching Genres Club, Becky. I hope all of us succeed.

By: Sharla Rae

Sharla Rae — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:15:38 +0000

In reply to Her Grace, Heidi, Duchess of Kneale. You and Kay have hit the nail on the head. :)

By: Sharla Rae

Sharla Rae — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:14:16 +0000

In reply to writersinthestorm. I absolutely agree Kaye. I don't plan to write straight Sci Fi. I'll leave that to better scientific minds but am working on a futuristic romance. Romance readers want to be able to suspend disbelief but are most interested in the relationship. So my research, I hope will keep me out of hot water with the purists but the science is only a small part of the story. Reading the straight sci fi novels though, esp. written by the scientists, I think does give a new futuristic writer an idea of boundaries.

By: Sharla Rae

Sharla Rae — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:07:34 +0000

In reply to vijayaschartz. Thanks Vijay. I'm a new at changing genres so I'm sure those of you who have done it could add a lot more. But I think no matter "what" we write, it's the craft rules that come into play and those don't change. That's what I had learn in order to overcome my fear of changing genres. :)

By: Miriam

Miriam — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:07:06 +0000

Great arguments, but one minor quibble. I've written historical mystery novels and short stories. I then tried my hand at a short science fiction story. It took me half as long to write the latter, even including the time I spent checking the science. I had no worry that I would get a letter, or ten letters, taking issue with the (period) clothing I used in the SF, or the food, or the breed of animal, or politics, or etc. I would argue that there's far more freedom in SF writing than in historical writing if you as an author want to present the past as accurately as possible.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:15:19 +0000

Great post! After plenty of research I finally overcame my fears and began working on my first historical (western). I have always been a big fan of sci fi too and you've given me some great thoughts to consider.

By: writersinthestorm

writersinthestorm — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 07:28:38 +0000

In reply to Kaye Munroe. You put into words what I hadn't thought about, Kaye. Since my "day job" is a "hard scientist" I am very picky about the SF and futuristic romance authors I read. I didn't realize that, although I am willing to "bend" physics in an alternative universe, there are things I just won't buy, like inconsistent realities. And you're right, there are not nearly enough good, let alone great!, SF romance authors to choose from. -Fae

By: Her Grace, Heidi, Duchess of Kneale

Her Grace, Heidi, Duchess of Kneale — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 01:51:32 +0000

I write futuristic and historicals all the time. In fact, I prefer anything other than contemporary, regardless of which direction on the timeline it flows (forward, backward, sideways...). It's not just the research (which I love), but the consistency within the worldbuilding that makes it work.

When writing Science Fiction, I incorporate details that are, at best, theoretical. But as long as I can make it sound plausible, my readers are happy to suspend their disbelief.

It's the Otherworldliness I enjoy, to explore a world/culture/life that is very different from my own. (Can you tell I have a penchant for escapist fiction?)

By: Lyn Horner

Lyn Horner — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 02:59:48 +0000

Great post, Sharla, as always! You've taken the fear out of trying to write a different genre, whether sci-fi, paranormal or whatever. Thank you for your insight.