Welcome to my guide on how to write technobabble! Every post will start with one letter of the alphabet, from A to Z, and cover tips and ideas for all you writers of sci-fi. Whether you’re writing about near-future science fiction, far-flung alien worlds, or historical steampunk adventures filled with advanced technology that never was – these posts are designed to help you write convincing and unique tech for your story! 

R is for Research 

This goes along with my post about “H is for History.” Even if you’re not writing steampunk, alternate history, or some other retro-futuristic story, research is important.

You need to know the facts before you can create the fiction. Basing your tech on something real (or even other sci-fi high-tech concepts) helps to ground the reader in something believable and familiar, so that your fictional developments can then have a greater impact. 

Unless you’re writing sheer fantasy, (or something humorous and purposefully unrealistic), then at least some knowledge of scientific facts and possibilities will help you when creating your tech. I wrote my first “how to write technobabble” post several years ago, and the main point of it emphasizes the need for accuracy, at least in your initial creation stage. 

I also wrote a more recent post about some of the research I’ve done for the 1920s dieselpunk series I’m working on. Since that is intended to historical science fiction, research is very important. I need to get my 1920s Los Angeles world correct, as well as all of the real—and therefore also, the not real—science and tech as correct as possible. 

Research is important, and can be a lot of fun, too. Even if you don’t use a specific topic you researched in your final story, you might get some new ideas along the way!