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! 

Y is for You’re in Charge 

As we come to the end of this blogging challenge, and all of the tips, tricks, and advice I’ve given, this is perhaps the most important: you’re the author, so you’re in charge.

Yes, there are guidelines and expectations for the different sub-genres of science fiction. Yes, you should read some writing craft books to get good at basic storytelling techniques. Yes, you should write and re-write, get feedback from critique partners and beta readers, and get an editor for your story—not just hit “publish” on Amazon after cranking out a first draft of your first attempt at a sci-fi novel.

But ultimately, it’s your story, it’s your world, and you get to make the rules. Have fun and go crazy in your first draft; write it chock-full of infodumps and inconsistencies. If you want to have a publishable, marketable book, then yes, you do need those writing craft lessons and an editor. But when it comes to creative side of things, you call the shots. 

Don’t let anyone tell you that your aliens are too weird, or your tech is too advanced, or your premise is silly. Science fiction is not a frivolous genre—quite the opposite. Whether it’s a gritty dystopian future or a steampunk comedy, sci-fi shows us the best of humanity, the worst of humanity, and that anything is possible. 

You’re in charge. Go write your story.