Orson Scott Card

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy

Author

Orson Scott Card presents the fundamentals of writing fantasy and science fiction, drawing on his experience as an author. He explores the creation of believable worlds, their rules and inhabitants, exposition, and narrative consistency, while explaining how to structure a story around milieu, idea, character, or event. From the initial concept to the construction of the narrative, the book offers practical guidance…

• Writing
• Essay

Characters & Viewpoint

Author

Orson Scott Card explores the techniques used to create believable characters and choose the point of view best suited to their story. He shows how motivations, background, conflicts, relationships, and behavior gradually bring a protagonist to life, while also examining how the narrator’s position determines what readers know, feel, and understand. By working with narrative distance and the flow of information, the…

• Writing
• Essay