How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Genre Writing)

I'm just a beginning writer, but I found that what Card says agrees with what I have discovered on my own. I've found it very helpful and informative, but--obviously--if you really want to be a writer, you'd better go out there and write.

I read a lot, and everything he says agrees with what I have observed in books, good and bad.

Someone commented that Card wouldn't give away his secrets for success. What secrets? There IS no formula for success. How does Card do what he does? Talent, experience, and most of all--practice. He writes, keeps writing, keeps writing. That's how he gets better. The more you write, the better you get. There's no secret formula, however much one would like to believe it. What works for Card may not work for you--but you have to write and find out what works for you.

I found this to be a very helpful book. I truly admire Card--I've read many of his books, and he is a master writer. (I highly recommend his award-winning _Ender's Game_) He's not some dry academic who hasn't written a thing beyond grammar textbooks. He is very practical, and every bit of his advice is useful.

(It's also a source for some good books. He shows examples from others' writing, and I intend to look up those books.)

Even if I were not a fledgling writer, I would still have enjoyed this book. His prose is clear, and even entertaining.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in writing, and anyone who would like to know more about how (good) writers write.

I found this book helpful in writing fantasy. I did sense that the book focused more on science fiction and the various ways to write sci-fi. Card has a concise and direct way of writing. The reader has a clear picture of what Card is conveying.

Books like this are almost self-parodying. 'How to Paint a Mona Lisa', 'How to Play Like Yo-Yo Ma', etc. All this book did is show that sci-fi writers are going thru such lean times that they can make more money selling how-to books than doing their 'thing'. Seriously, would a real pro in a crowded market sell his secrets for success for a few bucks, hoping to create his own competition? Not likely. Writing great lit. takes a dedication to art that makes this slim how-to volume seem like an insult, sorry. If he had titled it 'How I Write Sci-Fi/Fantasy", it might have been more honest; but not really, precisely because he's hiding his 'best secrets' to keep you from topping him. Think for yourself.

I have no desire to ever write science fiction or fantasy, but this book is still a great read. Very entertaining and informative. It definitely made me a better reader of all types of fiction.

All writers of Speculative Fiction must read this book