Planetside: The Online Magazine of SFWA
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An Abridged History of Mathematical Metaphor in Speculative Fiction
by Sam Macdonald. Speculative fiction has long borrowed mathematical concepts to explore political systems, technological fears, and the limits of human understanding. Here are a few notable early examples.
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Searching the Medical Literature for Yourself
by Randall Hayes, PhD. Learn how scientific material available through PubMed can guide your research and help you create fiction grounded in medical literature.
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How Neuroscience Reveals the Alien Mind
by C. L. Kagmi. Neuroscience can give authors tools to imagine alien minds. Here’s how the biology of senses and emotions can help you create believable nonhuman experiences for your own worlds and stories.
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SFWA Presents: Get to Know Our Industry Peer – National Association of Science Writers
by Janet Stilson and Sandeep Ravindran. National Science Writers Association: an industry peer supporting “science fact” and improving the general state of scientific wonder for science fiction writers.
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Photostories Past and Present
by Emmalia Harrington. Photostories blend images and text to create a dynamic form of storytelling rooted in early newspapers and SFF history. Explore this distinctive method to stretch your creativity and tell stories in a fresh format.
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Silent Movies Jump from Screen to Page in Movie Tie-In Novels
by Rosemary Jones. Early silent movie tie-in novels blended cliffhanger serials, film stills, and imaginative adventures. Explore the origins of photoplay editions and their enduring appeal to collectors of cinematic history.
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A 23-Button Stenography Keyboard: All Gain, Zero Pain
by J.D. Henning. Because the QWERTY keyboard has well‑known ergonomic drawbacks, stenography offers a human‑centered alternative. Here’s how switching systems helped one writer overcome injury and rediscover sustainable productivity.
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Managing Your Story Portfolio
by Laurence Raphael Brothers. A look at essential strategies to safeguard your manuscripts, track submissions, manage contracts, and navigate reprints and translations, with practical guidance that supports a sustainable approach to your writing career.
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Walking and Dictating: A New Strategy to Mix Up Your Writing Routine
by Corrine Kumar. Writing while walking can boost creativity, deepen immersion, quiet your inner editor, reduce distractions, and help you reach flow. Here’s how to use physical activity in your creative process.
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