The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction: 6 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Bestseller!

I rather enjoyed this guide. I didn't expect it to be as good as it is. There are great examples and descriptions that helps me understand what they are talking about. It inspired me to continue writing my fantasy novel and helped me get an idea on structure. It's very informative and definitely recommend.

I've read a lot of these "how to write" genre books. This one is hands down my favorite. It's great for those reading their first how-to book on writing fantasy and science fiction. In the clearest language and using good examples, Athans makes plain what young writers need to look out for when crafting such stories. He identifies which barriers can be broken and which should be obeyed. Keep in mind, however, this is NOT a nuts and bolts approach to writing or submitting. It's more of an overview with general guidelines. Appropriate mostly for those just getting into the craft.

Overall a decent read... I ate it up in a couple of days. There are certainly some solid pieces of advise on a variety of things, and the author has a good sense of humour (I guess you'd have to trying to make a living in this genre). It does in my opinion weigh a bit more to the Fantasy side of things, than the Sci-fi side, but that didn't bother me personally. What I didn't like is that it's fairly vague on some major issues. The section on publishing was very high-level, what one would expect in a "Publishing for Dummies" book. The guy is (was) an insider, so I wanted a few more juicy tidbits and secrets. He only hinted at some brutal realities in the industry, so I wonder if the editor held him back there. Regardless, I started reading his blog, which is a bit more bold and answers more questions. A solid 4 stars.

I read a couple books about how to write novels and was really dying for a book that has specific advice about writing fantasy and science fiction novels. I found this one and I must say that I was not disappointed. I bought a Kindle version and read it over the span of a week. This is indeed a comprehensive guide to writing fantasies and sci-fi. It dives deep into the genre and talks about just anything you may think of that matters. It certainly has answered all of my basic questions. The book may not provide all the concrete instructions on how to do this or that but it definitely tells you what to pay attention to. The author has an easy-going, honest and personable tone throughout, making the book easy to consume.

I'm not sure about the rest of the book, and not sure when/if I'll read the rest of it. I downloaded the sample onto my Kindle a few weeks ago. I finally got around to reading it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The introduction by R.S. Salvatore and the first chapter by Athans convinced me that the rest of the book would definitely be worth a read. It sounds like just what I need to help me with a story I've begun sketching out and plan to start writing soon. So, after reading the sample, I tried to buy the book on my Kindle only to get a message that the book was not available. I looked at the website, and it was indeed not available on Kindle. Not available anymore, anyway. It was when I downloaded the sample. I guess between now and then the publisher decided to yank it. (Just from Kindle, though, since I've found it on other sites, in formats I can't read on the Kindle but can read on other devices.) I've ordered the hard copy version, which is "shipping soon," and I may be reading it by the end of the week. In the meantime, I'm already reading another similar book that is available on Kindle now.

I ordered this used in good condition and it did arrive quickly and with small cover defects. There were no notes inside. I ordered this alongside a few other creative writing fantasy books because I've had multiple creative writing courses and none allowed fantasy. So with that said, this is more of a literal beginning point. It overviews the basics of fantasy, and it doesnt include any writing technique or heavy story building guides. There are no prompts. This is what you read before you even begin your work, and if you have not had any courses, and if you are brand new to fantasy. If you feel you are overwhelmed, I think this would be helpful to recenter yourself. I read this alongside Putting the Fact in Fantasy, and I believe that book would follow this one pretty nicely. This being a beginning, and Fact in Fantasy being a more inspiring read for when you're ready to create your fantasy world and characters, but needed a lil direction.

With humor, blunt advice, warnings, and fantastic examples, the author shares insights into the craft of creating a story and how to best work with agents and editors, specifically in the science fiction/fantasy genre. The suggestions for improving characters and creating consistent and plausible worlds are helpful and motivating. I am inspired to continue working on my story. I've learned more about how to keep on writing even when I feel stuck, how to liven things up, how to evaluate my progress, and how to direct my efforts when revising. The guide reads like a personal conversation with an expert. Grab a drink, get ready to take notes, and make like a sponge to soak up wisdom from a collection of well-respected professionals.

Contenido excelente. Tapa muy blanda.

I really enjoyed this book because unlike Orson Scott Card's book, it leans more towards fantasy development than science fiction, and goes more in depth.

correspond à mes attentes

“When you’re developing your characters, it’s important to know whom they go home to every night—or whom they hope someday to go home to, or whom they used to go home to but can’t anymore.” - Chapter 27. As a fantasy writer, I greatly enjoyed this book. The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction opens up with a segment on genres and the importance of defining your audience. It then moves on to cover the six major elements of a novel such as plot, character, theme, etc., with insights from well-known writers like Terry Brooks and R. A. Salvatore. Some chapters contain thought-provoking questions and useful diagrams. I particularly enjoyed the world-building section of the guide in which Athans touches upon geography, monsters, and details like units of measure, weather, and forms of government. If you need a list of elements to help you build a fantastical world, this chapter is for you. The last part delves into the business side of writing, including tips on finding an agent and creating your query letter, with a practical example. At the end is a real treat—a short story, Hugo Mann’s Perfect Soul by R. A. Salvatore. If you’re looking for a book to guide you through creating your fantasy/science fiction novel, I’d highly recommend this one. Between the covers, you'll find something for writers of all levels, from writing tips to inspiring quotes to motivate you on your writing journey.

A real good book with clear, accurate and complete explanations. I was extremly satisfied by my purchasing. I hope it'll help me...

The other, I would say 'authoritative' guideline is Orson Scott Card's; however, Card's is advice on somewhat classic SF&F. This book has a much more contemporary approach and is more applicable to today's readers and multitudes of SF&F sub-genres.