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

Philip Athans

Jun 2010 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Science fiction and fantasy is one of the most challenging--and rewarding!--genres in the bookstore. But with New York Times bestselling author Philip Athans and fantasy giant R. A. Salvatore at your side, you’ll create worlds that draw your readers in--and keep them reading!
Just as important, you’ll learn how to prepare your work for today’s market. Drawing on his years of experience as one of the most acclaimed professionals in publishing, Wizards of the Coast editor Athans explains how to set your novel apart--and break into this lucrative field. From devising clever plots and building complex characters to inventing original technologies and crafting alien civilizations, Athans gives you the techniques you need to write strong, saleable narratives.

Plus! Athans applies all of these critical lessons together in an unprecedented deconstruction of a never-before-published tale by the one and only R. A. Salvatore!

There are books on writing science fiction and fantasy, and then there’s this book--the only one you need to create strange, wonderful worlds for your own universe of readers!

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed it and will continue to refer back. This book will not tell you how to make a best seller. It will not tell you everything there is to know about writing. But it will give you basic guidelines on how to stay focused and organize your ideas. I have spent months and months writing without much in the way of organization and always feel like something is missing, although there are some brilliant parts in there. This book helped me find out I did not know my hero enough, simple things that we overlook in our haste to get our work out there. Not only does it help with characters and world building but it also touches on the business aspect of it. I purposely have not read that yet because I am too excited to cultivate my world. This will not and cannot give you all the answers, but can help you create something solid. The easy way its written will make you feel like you're talking over a cup of coffee with the writer. Don't over think it.

About the author

Philip Athans is a fantasy author of numerous titles, including the Baldur's Gate series, the Watercourse Trilogy, and The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction.