FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Hank Cannon: What is your reaction for calls for “genre” purity in genres that aren’t necessarily so straight forward? And for those who to like genre purity in sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror, what do you use as baselines to judge for said purity? Join the chat
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Shiriluna Nott: As self-published authors, what niches have you found to be trending currently with readers within the LGBTQ sci-fi/fantasy genre? Are there any tried and true niches that seem to ‘stick’? Which ones are harder to break into? Do you find it easy to market your novel? What LGBTQ-friendly advertising sites have you found work well? Do you have suggestions for other types of marketing? Do you feel like LGBTQ Sci-Fi and fantasy are becoming more popular due to not being limited by the restraints of traditional publishing? What do you … Read more
Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Ryane Chatman: “What inspires you to branch out?” Let’s expand on this a bit. I read pretty much ONLY sci fi and fantasy, so you’d have to wave a pretty big carrot in front of me to get me out of my rut and into something else. What do you read, mainly? And what would it take to entice you to pick up a different genre? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat
Today’s topic comes from QSFer Freddy MacKay: Steampunk AKA The Red Headed step child of SF and why a fantasy world with steam is not steampunk. AKA what caused it to get shoved into fantasy. It’s a fascinating question. We have all these sub genres, but some seem to be more dominant: Science Fiction Fantasy Paranormal Horror While some seem relegated to secondary status and have to be shoved into one of the “master” genres: Steampunk Superheroes Shifters Post Apocalyptic So who decides these things? And with genre boundaries blurring ever more, is it time to reshuffle how we think … Read more
Some of my favorite sci fi authors often throw in a dash of Fantasy. Look at Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books, which included dragons (albeit genetically created ones). Or many of Sheri Tepper’s books, that create a Fantasy-like setting in a post-apocalyptic world. I even wrote an “elf in the future” story that I hope to get published one of these days. When it’s done right, I LOVE mixing these two genres. But it’s not always done right. So what do you think? Do elves, dwarves and wizards have a place in Sci Fi? Or do you prefer your science fiction … Read more
Growing up, I read my first Fantasy books – the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, starting in second grade. Not long after, I read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. They were two very different experiences, and I loved them both. Ever since, I’ve found myself reading a little hard sci fi, and then bouncing over to the other pole and reading a great epic fantasy novel. It’s a little like eating a salty dinner and washing it down with wild cherry pepsi. But I’ve also learned to love that middle ground – the fusion of sci fi and fantasy. It’s fairly … Read more