Welcome back to Storytelling Sunday! I am here, dreaming about writing a novel. One of the most integral parts of a novel is the plot. A plot is what carries the story forward. It contains the main events of any story and can be affected by the genre and the setting. It is, arguably, the most important part of any story.
There are hundreds of science fiction plots out there, millions if we take into account the details that different types of setting and character can add. If you think about it, a plot is a combination of setting and story, spun together to create a beautiful tapestry.
In this article I am going dive deep within the genre of the natural science fiction. I will outline various science fiction plot threads within each sub-genre that can lend themselves as brilliant story-starters.
Space truly contains the world’s mysteries. Focusing on space allows you to explore the unknown in the most creative way – nothing is beyond your scope. Space is a new frontier, with equal potential for dark & dangerous or new & exciting. You can invent the future by setting your story in space.
If you are looking for a setting to portray something mysterious or you want to build a world that is not constrained by anything, including the laws of physics, consider setting your science fiction story in space.
- Alien invasion: “Of course we are not alone in the universe and why would they not want to colonize us? History repeats itself.”
- Alien cooperation: “These aliens are pretty friendly…and attractive, guess this means a larger dating pool.”
- Human colonization: “Earth is already ruined, but that planet down there looks like it might have expensive minerals – attack!
- Colonization of Earth: “The war has been lost, we have no choice but to follow our alien overlords, or do we?”
- Space Exploration: “Is that a star we’ve never seen before? Or…a whole new galaxy?”
- Space Horror: “Does that plant have eyes or is that just me?”
- Intergalactic War: “Space travel is so last century, but I think I heard that the military in Zarkon Sector are mobilizing, wonder why.”
Steampunk is a sub-genre based on the aesthetic of 19th-century steam-power machinery. Solarpunk is similar, except focused on technology powered by natural resources. Plots that are set in the steampunk/solarpunk setting are the ultimate ‘what-if’. It acts as a historical dive, showing the reader what may have been different if our luck was a little different. They can act as a “what-if” setting – showing the reader how life could have been different if we placed importance on a different energy source.
If you want a colourful setting predicated on changes to our own history then choose a steam or solarpunk as your science fiction plot.
- Central Power: “Under our town is a super secret energy source that keeps runs our entire society. We do not know anything about it but without it we would all die.”
- Factions: “We are divided due to differences in perception, class, skills or birth. There is nothing we can do about it and most of us are ok with that. Most of us.”
- Sudden Tech Advancement: “In three days we were able to master teleportation, all because of that ore we found in the Arctic. But we’ve never seen power like this before. I hope it doesn’t change everything.”
The world as we know it ending is not a new concept. However, there are about a million and one ways for it to happen. By being tragic, apocalyptic stories set a heavy tone that allows for maximum creativity. As long as the creativity ends in mass death and destruction.
Interested in in learning about villains that cause this sort of destruction?
Read the 5 Origins of Villains.
If you want a plot that pushes the characters to desperation and plays on their worst fears, choose an apocalyptic setting for your science fiction plot.
- Natural destruction: “Has anyone looked at the sky lately…I can’t see the sun and our plants are starting to die.”
- Nuclear destruction: “If we keep bombing each other there will be nothing left but cockroaches.”
- Otherworldly destruction: “That tentacle coming out of the ocean can’t be good news.”
- Doomsday: “Prophesied millions of years ago, we know that today the Earth will stop spinning.”
It is easy to combine one or more of these threads to create a deeper, more complicated narrative. It is just as easy to stick to something simple and create a story based on one idea.
Take some of these ideas and run with them! Science fiction plots inspire and awe. Look out for Part 2, where we cover more science fiction plots, this time circled around technological advancements.
Credits to Chitra Nookala for helping me come up with ideas and talk them through!