ew science fiction fans can resist the urge to say "I could write better
than that" after throwing aside a
disappointing novel. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Science
Fiction will show them how to take that sentiment and turn it into a publishable
story.
Cory Doctorow and Karl Schroeder, the book’s authors, are experienced
science fiction writers. Doctorow’s a short-story writer with more than a
dozen published tales to his name, while Schroeder has written several
novels and teaches writing at Toronto’s George Brown College. Their
Idiot’s Guide begins with every SF writer’s dream: winning the Hugo
Award. They use this fanciful “what-if” scenario to introduce aspiring
writers to the speculative fiction industry, including what the publishing
business is really like, the kinds of science fiction that folks
write and the world of fandom.
Over the course of 26 chapters, the authors advise readers about the
basics of writing, getting their stories published, marketing their
creations and working in the profession. The appendixes include
model contracts, market listings, agent listings, online resources and a
bibliography of helpful books. Scattered throughout the text are short
blurbs offering insights into the publishing world: “Factoids” define common
writing terms, while “Did you know Bob?” spots offer anecdotes about the
industry.
Optimistic and experienced advice
Doctorow and Schroeder are no strangers to the science fiction field. In
addition to their publishing accomplishments, they’re also award-winning
authors--Doctorow won the Campbell Award for Best New Science
Fiction Writer earlier this year, while Schroeder won
Canada’s Aurora Award. They clearly
know their stuff, and their knowledge comes through in the book.
They start by giving would-be Asimovs a healthy dose of reality, pointing
out that few science fiction writers are able to make a full-time living as
writers, and that most published writers still rely on day jobs to pay their
bills. That having been said, they’re optimistic about their readers'
chances of getting published, and offer plenty of tips on how to do it.
The book’s tone is light and friendly, and it makes frequent use of
bulleted lists for important ideas. While it’s not dedicated to the art of
fiction writing, it does review the basic principles of a good story and
offers insights on how to combat the procrastination and self-doubt that can
kill a tale. Their comments on actually getting published are right on, and
will help alleviate much of the anxiety new writers feel when they get their
first rejection. It’s this sort of help that makes the book such an
excellent resource for beginning and intermediate writers, and a worthy buy
even for those who’ve already made their first few sales.
