This is annoyingly useful, which is the worst kind of useful. I love the idea that a speculative premise isn’t the magic trick — it’s only the trapdoor. The real story starts when you shove your most unbearable opinion into the woods, make it grow teeth, and then send in the exact person least equipped to survive it. Also obsessed with “disprove your original point,” because yes, the soul of a story is basically: I was right, I was wrong, I am on fire, please clap.
Devon, this is just the perfect breakdown of how speculative stories tend to go. I've been thinking if the ones I've had published follow this formula, and I don't think they do. But also my hit rate is quite low, roughly one in twenty at the momenr. Perhaps if I were to try this I'd have a higher success rate? Only I'm not sure I can. Writing is a journey of discovery, like you say, and I like playing with form and language to discover what the story has to tell me about myself. I am tempted to try though ... 🤓
I went through the same transformation as the example protagonist 😂. Then I realized pickleball was the perfect gateway to get my kids into tennis. That aside, I’m curious about the side plot and how to fit that into a relatively short story. Thoughts on how you weave or sprinkle that in? Going to read your other stories now…! Thanks for this post!
Hey Devon, I was wary when I first heard the word "formula" for speculative fiction, lol. But I was glad when I saw what you actually meant. I especially resonate with the "taking it to its logical extreme" part. It's much easier to make a point if you have exaggerated examples, which are also entertaining for the reader. That's a good point about being surprised. I'm an extreme pantser so I always look forward to my story surprising me in some way! I'd be bored if there was nothing new for me to discover.
Devon, your posts are always pretty incredible, and this is yet another one. I find myself starring them and putting them in a file. Thank you for essentially putting a how-to write a speculative fiction short story class into a single post. I'm truly in awe.
Your examples are too good! I'm still wondering what happened to the person who sat on the pocked and pebbled couch as dawn clawed up from behind the hills, from your previous post.
Totally wrong about point number six. In my scenario, tennis players organize and roam the planet’s recreation facilities on horses like the Gorillas in planet of the apes and hunt down all Pickleball players throw nets over them and put them into Pickleball player jails.
This is annoyingly useful, which is the worst kind of useful. I love the idea that a speculative premise isn’t the magic trick — it’s only the trapdoor. The real story starts when you shove your most unbearable opinion into the woods, make it grow teeth, and then send in the exact person least equipped to survive it. Also obsessed with “disprove your original point,” because yes, the soul of a story is basically: I was right, I was wrong, I am on fire, please clap.
This is incredible, thank you! Your posts are so much fun to read.
Devon, this is just the perfect breakdown of how speculative stories tend to go. I've been thinking if the ones I've had published follow this formula, and I don't think they do. But also my hit rate is quite low, roughly one in twenty at the momenr. Perhaps if I were to try this I'd have a higher success rate? Only I'm not sure I can. Writing is a journey of discovery, like you say, and I like playing with form and language to discover what the story has to tell me about myself. I am tempted to try though ... 🤓
I went through the same transformation as the example protagonist 😂. Then I realized pickleball was the perfect gateway to get my kids into tennis. That aside, I’m curious about the side plot and how to fit that into a relatively short story. Thoughts on how you weave or sprinkle that in? Going to read your other stories now…! Thanks for this post!
Hey Devon, I was wary when I first heard the word "formula" for speculative fiction, lol. But I was glad when I saw what you actually meant. I especially resonate with the "taking it to its logical extreme" part. It's much easier to make a point if you have exaggerated examples, which are also entertaining for the reader. That's a good point about being surprised. I'm an extreme pantser so I always look forward to my story surprising me in some way! I'd be bored if there was nothing new for me to discover.
Devon, your posts are always pretty incredible, and this is yet another one. I find myself starring them and putting them in a file. Thank you for essentially putting a how-to write a speculative fiction short story class into a single post. I'm truly in awe.
Making a STUDY of this post.
Also just read “if this reaches you” and I’m stunned in the best way
Me too! Loved it Devon.
Thanks for this breakdown! I didn’t even know I was writing speculative fiction 😂 a woman turns into a…
This is great! Thanks.
Your Substack columns are so helpful. You cover your subject in such a thorough but engaging way. Thank you!
As a fellow tennis player, I resonated with the example perhaps a bit too much instead of focusing on the advice that you were giving haha
Your examples are too good! I'm still wondering what happened to the person who sat on the pocked and pebbled couch as dawn clawed up from behind the hills, from your previous post.
Totally wrong about point number six. In my scenario, tennis players organize and roam the planet’s recreation facilities on horses like the Gorillas in planet of the apes and hunt down all Pickleball players throw nets over them and put them into Pickleball player jails.
LOL brilliant and spot on!
Let me know if you want another bad short story to read. 😜 I’m prepping for a fall competition.