Have you thought about writing your own sci-fi novel?
If you’re an avid sci-fi fan, you may have already written your own intergalactic adventure, and now you’re wondering how to get your sci-fi novel self-published online. Never fear, budding authors! We’ve got a guide to help you write and get your novel self-published, with no huge financial investment on your part, or waiting years to get traditionally published.
Let’s dive into the details of how to get your novel self-published online.
Read and study other sci-fi novels
If you’re choosing to write sci-fi, odds are it’s already your favorite genre. So go for a bookshelf deep dive and reread your favorites and really focus on what it is you love about their storytelling.
Click here to read more about great sci-fi authors to read to improve your writing.
Research
Out of all the genres to write, sci-fi is one genre that can require a heavy amount of research. Even though sci-fi is fiction, readers still expect a certain level of scientific fact and realism.
Here are a few sites to get you started that I use frequently:
Fantasy Name Generator: This is THE site if you want to start creating believable characters, planets, colonies, species, etc.
Roll For Fantasy: Need visual inspo for your spaceship, or for that exciting space battle in an asteroid belt? This site (the sister of Fantasy Name Generator) allows you to create visual mock-ups for anything you can imagine!
Worlds Without End: This site has a wealth of information on literary subgenres. You’ll find descriptions of each genre along with book recs for you to read and study.
Bonus: here are five more excellent sci-fi sites to whet your appetite!
Outline
Now, I know you’re ready to dive right in and start writing! But pump the brakes for just a sec and take the time to outline.
Science fiction requires attention to detail and can be rather in-depth. So, before you jump in and start writing take the time to write a general outline.
If you’re a pantser (writing without an outline), you’re not alone. Like traveling, it’s important to know where you’re going, so you’ll need a roadmap. Your outline isn’t set in stone, and you can change it if your story starts to evolve into something different.
Click here for some helpful articles on outlining, including some free outline templates!
Write your heart out
Try to carve out time each week, if not each day, to work on your novel. It can be hard to juggle if you’re also working full-time, but an hour here and there can really add up. Create a cozy spot to write, put on headphones to help block out the rest of the world and lose yourself in your writing.
Edit
What’s harder than writing a novel? Editing it. Many self-published authors shoot themselves in the foot when they’re so eager to publish they don’t take the time to get someone to edit their work.
Before you edit anything, put your manuscript away for a couple of weeks. Stephen King even recommends six weeks. This puts time and distance between you and your manuscript so you can read it again with fresh eyes.
If you have the money, you can hire freelance editors on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. If you don’t, you can find writer or reader friends to read and give you feedback. You can also find a critique partner on Critique Partner Matchup or CritiqueMatch to help you.
Entice your readers
With a beautiful, eye-catching cover and unique title, you’ll have readers clamoring to click on your book to see what’s it’s about.
Like with editing, if you have the extra cash to hire a freelance artist to design your cover, go for it! Upwork and Fiverr are two popular sites, and Instagram and other social media sites have tons of artists open for commissions, many specializing in book covers. Strapped for cash? Free sites to design your own professional-quality book covers do exist. Canva’s Book Cover Maker and Visme are a couple of good sites.
The next step to entice your readers is to write a synopsis. Your book will be dead on arrival if your synopsis doesn’t creatively explain what your book is about. Stumped? Here are some tips on how to write a great synopsis.
Choose a platform
When you have a polished manuscript free of errors, a great cover, and synopsis, you’re ready to choose your self-publishing platform.
A newer kid on the block, Fictionate.Me is a great platform for speculative fiction.
- Publish for free
- Grow your audience
- Engage with your readers
- Keep 100% of royalties
- Create audiobooks
- Publish complete manuscripts or chapter by chapter.
One of the most popular platforms for authors.
- Publish for free
- Huge reach
- Engage with your audience
- Paid Stories program (must be invited)
- Publish for free
- Publish chapter by chapter
- Can earn royalties (from reader donations only)
- Writer forum
- Engage with your readers
Create an online presence
It’s a good idea to start a social media presence before you start self-publishing, but if you haven’t yet, now would be a great time to start.
Deciding on a social media platform is also a personal choice. I personally prefer Instagram, while my colleague Jillian (who has self-published her own sci-fi novel!) prefers Twitter. Facebook is also a viable choice for aspiring writers, especially if you like to engage with writing groups or want to start your own. Once you gain some ground, you can create your own author website.
I hope this article helps guide you along the path of self-publishing your sci-fi novel. Check out more helpful articles and writing tips on our blog!
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