Science Fiction Story Ideas

So you think, you have it in you what it takes to be a science fiction writer? One of the prerequisites is the power of imagination. I cannot teach you to imagine, through this article. Nobody can teach you that. Every one of us is gifted with it to a greater or lesser degree. This fiction genre requires an even greater leap of imagination that can extrapolate the possibilities offered by scientific breakthroughs and the impact it may have on human life.

I am no authority to talk about writing a science fiction story. Only an Isaac Asimov or an Arthur C. Clarke could provide the best tips. My only aim in this article is to introduce you to possible plot ideas and themes, that provide extensive possibilities, which remain to be explored by the fertile imagination of creative writers.

Creative writing is a solitary journey of self discovery. One of the best ways of learning to write a science fiction story is to read great ones already written. Read the short stories and novels of legends like H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and Douglas Adams. The masters will show you how the yarn of a story is woven. Don't get carried away with the scientific possibilities that you extrapolate and forget the human touch of the story.

The human touch or what I would call the emotional touch is going to appeal to the readers. You can create your own universe, with its own natural laws like the ones in 'Star Wars' or Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' series. Always remember that imagination has no limits. Here are some exciting ideas for you. A lot of you may think these to be cliched, but believe me, they hold a lot of unexplored possibilities. A writer must think ahead of his times.

What can be more exciting than time travel? It provides you with so many scenarios and possibilities. What happens when the future meets the past or past meets the future? What are its implications? You could think about traveling into the middle or stone ages or go to the future earth. Possibilities are endless in this theme.

What would happen when an actually artificial being came into existence? How would it look at our human world, unencumbered by our human biases and needs? Robots and cyborgs, with artificial intelligence, offer countless scenarios for some interesting plots. Think about it.

What will happen when we come in contact with alien life? Will we get along? What will be our future as galactic neighbors? Will they invade? How will they perceive us? There are many questions that remain unanswered and your story could explore one of the many possibilities.

With advances in genetic engineering, what if creatures with a mixture of human and animal genes (chimeras) are created? How will the world deal with these mutants? This is another interesting plot idea to ponder upon.

What if the world were to come to an end? What will happen when mankind knows of its imminent doom? Will they unite and stop their internal strife? How will we survive and overcome? This is a great story germ, waiting to be explored.

You will surely come up with better ideas if you give full rein to your imagination. Try your hand at science fiction short stories, before you go on to tackle longer tales. Be guided by the 'What if... ' principle and you will never fall short of possibilities and ideas. I wish you all the best with your stories.