SFWA Blog

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association aims to boost and support the craft of science fiction and fantasy writing both in the United States and globally. They work to educate the public about these genres and provide resources and encouragement for writers in the field.

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Enriching Your Worldbuilding with Economics

Jan 7, 2025 | sfwa.org | Albert Zhang |M. L. Clark

by Albert ZhangScience fiction is often much more concerned about the physical than the organizational reality of a setting (and that’s understandable). But a good fundamental economic story can facilitate plot development and lend realism to a setting. To that end, I hope to share some tips for incorporating economic events into your own writing. My goal is to move beyond the what and into the why of economic history. Consider the following questions:What is the payoff?
In Memoriam: George Zebrowski

Jan 2, 2025 | sfwa.org | M. L. Clark

George Zebrowski (28 December 1945–20 December 2024) was a prolific writer and anthologist. He edited three Nebula anthologies and headed SFWA’s committee that oversaw the selection of editors for Nebula Awards anthologies from 1983-95. His collection of Bulletins and Forums now makes up the majority of SFWA’s archives at Northern Illinois University. He was editor of the SFWA Bulletin during 1970 to 1975, and then, jointly with his long-time partner Pamela Sargent from 1983 to 1991.
What Should I Pitch to The SFWA Blog?

Dec 31, 2024 | sfwa.org | M. L. Clark

by the SFWA Publications CrewIn recent years, The SFWA Blog has undergone many changes and refinements to serve its community better. Where we once had a single editor, we’re now a team that reviews pitches collectively and looks for ways to bring more voices into the conversation.
In Memoriam: Barry N. Malzberg

Dec 23, 2024 | sfwa.org | M. L. Clark

Barry N. Malzberg (24 July 1939–19 December 2024), also writing as Mel Johnson, K.M. O’Donnell, Nathan Herbert, Mike Barry, Claudine Dumas, Lee W. Mason, and Gerrold Watkins, was a prolific and varied writer, anthologist, columnist, critic, satirist, and editor. Malzberg served as SFWA’s Eastern Regional Director from 1980 to 1984. After originally working toward careers in screenwriting and as a literary agent, Malzberg began writing and publishing short fiction in the mid-1960s.
The Inexorable Growth of BIPOC in Publishing

Sep 4, 2024 | sfwa.org | Emily Jiang

by Emily JiangAN INTRODUCTION OF SORTS: To Boldly Go Where I Have Never Gone Before“We often fear what we do not understand. Our best defense is knowledge.” –TuvokOver 15 years ago, when I enrolled in an MFA program for Creative Writing, I had no idea what social justice was.
Dance the Exotic Dance for Me!

Aug 7, 2024 | sfwa.org | Yoon Ha Lee

by Yoon Ha LeeWhen I was a kid in the 1980s and 1990s, I adored classical mythology, Arthurian mythology, the Cthulhu mythos. I was the weirdo who holed up in the library reading Tacitus, Plato, and Sylvia Plath for fun. I had ambitions of writing science fiction and fantasy. Yet the science fiction and fantasy I’d grown up reading, the games I grew up playing, never featured people like me—Korean-American by way of Texas—or the Korean foods I grew up eating.
Gamifying Your Writing Goals

Jun 25, 2024 | sfwa.org | Gideon Smith |Jo Miles

By Gideon P. SmithWe all have writing dreams, but they often remain dreams without solid productivity goals to turn them into reality. Unfortunately, as with adhering to the Prime Directive or making the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs, most quickly fail. Many systems have been proposed to help us succeed. SMARTER goals is a helpful project management tool that helps us design measurable goals, and James Clear’s Atomic Habits suggests using routines to make them stick.
From the Archives: Top Tips from the INDIE FILES

Jun 18, 2024 | sfwa.org | Jo Miles

By SFWA Publications CrewIndependent publishing can feel as daunting as it is empowering. Monthly at the SFWA Blog, the INDIE FILES has offered tips and insights to help authors taking this route to share their writing with the world. Whether you’re just starting out or an active indie author who feels they need a little more guidance to boost sales and reader response, there are articles in our archives that might have just what you need to improve the business end of your writing.
Yes, We Need Diverse Books, But We Also Need Diverse Reviewers–Still* - SFWA

May 1, 2024 | sfwa.org | Erika Hardison

by Erika HardisonThis essay is the fourth of eight in the Publishing Taught Me: A SFWA Anthology Project. Ever since Black YA Fantasy author L.L. McKinney set Twitter (now known as X) ablaze with her hashtag #PublishingPaidMe in 2021, the traditional publishing industry has been scrambling to give the appearance that they are truly committed to being more inclusive.
The INDIE FILES: Continuous Marketing and Selling Costs

Apr 16, 2024 | sfwa.org | William Tracy |Jo Miles

By William C. TracyEditorial note: This is the second in a two-part series from William C. Tracy. Part 1 focused on publishing and release costs, comparing traditional and indie publishing. Part 2 will present marketing resources, including a Google Sheets template, to help authors calculate their book costs. Welcome back! If you read last month’s article, you know about the costs associated with publishing a book.