If you are reading this, it means you have a brilliant idea for a sci-fi novel and are ready to embark on the journey of creating and exploring an imaginative world. While writing a sci-fi novel may sound like an easy and enjoyable path, the reality is a bit different.
If you are not sure how to create the best version of your manuscript that reaches the audience, here are some important tips to consider.
Become a Reader
One of the best favors you can do for yourself is to see your work as a reader before becoming a critic or an editor. Authors who rush into self-editing their first draft often regret this decision. They may accidentally change some parts that may be interconnected with what lies ahead in your manuscript.
Instead of having to alter all of your manuscript while editing, the best thing you can do is to read your manuscript just for the sake of it. For this part, you may want to drop the red pen or take your hands off of the keyboard.
When you read your work as a reader, you can pay more attention to important aspects such as characterization and pacing. You can write your notes to consider making the changes later if necessary.
Fix the Bigger Mistakes First
Every author wants to do their best when they try writing a science fiction story. In an effort to stand out among their competitors, they often find themselves scanning their work for every big and small mistake. Of course, making your work error-free is a great step, but you do not have to achieve your goals in one go.
Instead of letting your work overwhelm you, the best thing you can do is to start with big errors and work your way down.
From plot holes to inconsistencies and character arcs, focusing on developmental and structural errors first can significantly improve the quality of your manuscript.
Cut Down the Weaknesses
Every writer has their weaknesses, and sci-fi writers are no different. It is human to err, and your weaknesses are a part of your journey as a writer. Just because you have weaknesses does not mean that you cannot pursue your dream of becoming a sci-fi author. It just means that you have to be creative when dealing with your weaknesses.
In order to amend your mistakes, you must know them first. Whether you have a tendency to speed through important scenes or overlook character arcs, taking one step at a time can be very beneficial.
Consider addressing one weakness at a time to make significant improvements to your manuscript. If you are unsure about your weaknesses, you can seek feedback from writing groups, critique partners, or developmental editors in the genre.
Eliminate Unnecessary Descriptions
If you tend to add unnecessary descriptions to your manuscript, you are more likely to bore your readers than your competitors, which can be concerning for a writer trying to stand out. You must try to eliminate these parts for a smoother reader experience.
Some details that seem important to you may not be as captivating for the reader. If you feel that you are failing to see these details, it is always a good idea to ask a professional for help.
Professional manuscript editors and alpha readers can help you ensure that each part of your book is equally engaging for the readers. Otherwise, you will always publish your work with a fear of the reader putting it down at some point.
Build the Sensory Details
Writing an effective sci-fi novel is not about telling; it is about showing your readers. You need your readers to experience the stories, not just read for the sake of reading. If you fail to engage the senses of your readers, putting down your work will become a lot easier for them.
It can be a challenge to find the right balance between the sensory details and description in your sci-fi novel. You can read works from great sci-fi authors in the past to see how they cater to this issue or ask a professional for help in improving this aspect of your manuscript.
Improve Your Dialogues
Another important factor that you must pay a lot of attention to while improving your manuscript is to improve your dialogues. You can never expect your readers to overlook bad dialogues because the plot line is brilliant or the characters are very relatable. In fact, bad dialogues are a very common reason why readers often put down a book.
One of the best things to do in order to improve your dialogue is to read it out loud. If it sounds unnatural, you may want to consider tweaking it or eliminating it altogether. Even if you are writing fantasy or any other type of fiction, your dialogues must be realistic.
Avoid Repetition
Another important favor you can do yourself is to look for repetition in your work. Repeated sentence starting is a common problem that many fiction authors struggle with. You must watch out for this issue while looking for room for improvement.
Start by paying close attention to how many sentences start the same way. You may find this issue to be more common in action scenes. Such repetition can make even the best action scenes feel boring and bland for the readers. It is always a good idea to change your syntax to improve the flow of your writing.
Fix Minor Errors at Last
As mentioned earlier, you must start by fixing the bigger issues in your manuscript and working your way down. It is always best to address grammar, spelling, and mechanical errors during the proofreading stage and save them for the end.
Proofreading should be the last step before publishing or sending your manuscript to a professional editor. It can help you figure out and fix grammar and spelling errors in the final draft so that you have no doubts while finalizing it for publishing.
