How I Write a Sci-Fi / Fantasy Novel: From Worldview to Final Draft
Science fiction and fantasy come with an extra challenge: you’re not just telling a story—you’re asking readers to believe in an entirely new world. This is the process I use to keep that world consistent, immersive, and manageable from the first idea to the final draft.
1. Begin With a Focused Worldview
Before plot, before characters, I start with a short worldview.
This isn’t an encyclopedia of lore. It’s a grounding document that defines:
- The rules of the universe
- The level of technology or magic
- The tone of the story (mythic, grounded, hopeful, tragic, etc.)
- The themes the story explores
For sci-fi and fantasy, this step is critical. A clear worldview prevents contradictions later and keeps the world feeling intentional rather than improvised.
2. Outline With Bullet Points, Not Chapters
Once the worldview is solid, I create an outline—but not a chapter outline.
- I use bullet points
- Each point is only a line or two
- I don’t worry about prose or dialogue yet
These bullets capture ideas, story beats, discoveries, confrontations, and moments of change without locking me into structure too early.
Using Acts to Mark Major Transitions
Instead of chapters, I sometimes use Acts to signal major shifts in the story, such as:
- Traveling to a new planet or realm
- A revelation that changes how the world is understood
- A shift in power, allegiance, or purpose
Acts help track large-scale movement—something especially useful in epic sci-fi and fantasy.
3. Treat the Outline as a Creative Sandbox
The outline is not a rigid plan—it’s a creative sandbox.
I use it to:
- Add new ideas as they occur
- Expand bullets into slightly more detail
- Move events around until the story flows
I deliberately avoid writing scenes until the outline feels complete. This keeps me from getting attached to early prose that may no longer fit once the story evolves.
For complex worlds, this step saves enormous time later.
4. Write the Draft One Scene at a Time
When the outline is ready, I write the draft scene by scene.
In sci-fi and fantasy, scenes do heavy lifting:
- They introduce cultures, technology, or magic
- They reveal how characters interact with the world
- They move the plot forward without info-dumping
I revise scenes repeatedly, refining clarity, pacing, and emotional weight until they feel right.
5. Using Transitions Instead of Hard Scene Breaks
I’m not a fan of hard scene breaks like:
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Instead, I prefer transition paragraphs.
These allow me to:
- Smooth movement between locations or timelines
- Maintain immersion across large settings
- Signal change without breaking the reader’s momentum
This approach works especially well when a story spans vast distances, long time gaps, or shifting points of view.
6. Let Chapters Emerge Naturally
Chapters come late in my process.
If a scene—or group of scenes—becomes long and self-contained, it may naturally form a chapter. As a general guideline:
- Chapters often land between 4,000 and 5,000 words
- But this is flexible
In epic genres, story rhythm matters more than strict word counts.
Final Thoughts
For sci-fi and fantasy writers, structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s what makes vast worlds readable.
By starting with a strong worldview, building a flexible outline, and focusing on scenes instead of chapters, I can explore complex universes without losing coherence or direction.
This process keeps the big picture clear while still leaving room for discovery along the way.