Lol.

Let me make things right:

Dear OP: Go and read Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series
Frank Herbert's Dune
Ursula Le Guin's books (fantasy and sci-fi)
Starship will help, too

Thank you, Just2day. Please, google Wole Talabi. You'll be amazed.

just2day:


^{The answer to life, The Universe and Everything is... 42!}

Had a mini geek gasm from your list. Been years since I read those books; well except for the Nigerian authors, sadly haven't read those.

To pile on, Dune, Hyperion, Terry Pratchett are hurt you left them out. Starship Troopers could help shape the militaristic aspects

Before I proceed, here's what speculative fiction is:

"Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing narrative fiction with supernatural or futuristic elements. This includes, but [is] not limited to the genres science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, science fantasy, horror, alternate history and supernatural fiction, as well as their combinations" -- Wikipedia

Speculative fiction isn't new to Africa (see Amos Tutuola, Ben Okri, and Fagunwa), but for some reason, many people (the West and even some Africans) have somehow come to the conclusion that speculative fiction is new on the continent. They might have a point if they're talking about science fiction, but that's not the point. I'm sure someone, somewhere was doing the most in their own little way. They probably were not recognized.

Anyway, that's not my problem. What matters to me is that we need to find a way to push our writing (especially in this genre) out to the world.

See what Nnedi has done with her books (and Black Panther). N.K Jemisin, too. Look at Wole Talabi. Chikodili Emelumadu (she used to write the most amazing blog posts. Nominated for Caine). Lauren Beukes. They're making us proud.

It's time we started showing the world that magic, technology, and the most amazing worlds live in the minds of Africans.

-------

If you have a manuscript that contains elements from the Wikipedia description and you need an editor who lives, breathes, and eats everything weird , I can help. Proud weirdo here!

For books like yours, you need someone who can understand the complexities of world-building and won't ask why you're always writing dark stories (all hail the horror enthusiasts!).

You won't get the normal "You too like winchi-winchi things" statement, and since I read speculative fiction, I can understand the ever-changing nature of characters, dialogue, languages, and ideas in these stories.

So for the love of everything magical, please summon up courage, finish your manuscript, and let's get you out there.

Send a message (or email to blackcalicong[at]gmail.com) if you'd like us to discuss your work (the idea behind it) before I start editing. This service is free.

Here are services I currently offer:

1. Manuscript Evaluation -- In Pidgin English....Make we see if your work even make sense first.
2. Editing -- Proofreading, line-editing, and developmental editing.
3. Beta Reading --You're ready to publish, but you'd like a first reader to get a feel and let you know how your audience might take it.

Ready to disrupt the world? Leave a comment, send a Nairaland message, or email me at blackcalicong[at]gmail.com.


P.S If you're still writing and need inspiration, start with the greats.

a. Sci-fi folk should read Octavia Butler, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury's books.
b. Horror-- please go to Anne Rice, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P Lovecraft, and Shirley Jackson
c. Fantasy folk--do I really need to tell you about Lord of the Rings? (This book will make you sweat profusely. My friend, sit down and continue reading)
d. Magic Realism...Go to Franz Kafka and Gabriel García Márquez.

Some of these books are not easy reads, but they'll help you see the basics. There are African writers too in these genres... please, search for them. For now, I'm mentioning the ones that readily come to mind, but I could also recommend Black writers if you want.

Good luck!

Before I proceed, here's what speculative fiction is:

"Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing narrative fiction with supernatural or futuristic elements. This includes, but [is] not limited to the genres science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, science fantasy, horror, alternate history and supernatural fiction, as well as their combinations" -- Wikipedia

Speculative fiction isn't new to Africa (see Amos Tutuola, Ben Okri, and Fagunwa), but for some reason, many people (the West and even some Africans) have somehow come to the conclusion that speculative fiction is new on the continent. They might have a point if they're talking about science fiction, but that's not the point. I'm sure someone, somewhere was doing the most in their own little way. They probably were not recognized.

Anyway, that's not my problem. What matters to me is that we need to find a way to push our writing (especially in this genre) out to the world.

See what Nnedi has done with her books (and Black Panther). N.K Jemisin, too. Look at Wole Talabi. Chikodili Emelumadu (she used to write the most amazing blog posts. Nominated for Caine). Lauren Beukes. They're making us proud.

It's time we started showing the world that magic, technology, and the most amazing worlds live in the minds of Africans.

-------

If you have a manuscript that contains elements listed in the Wikipedia description and you need an editor who lives, breathes, and eats everything weird , I can help. Proud weirdo here!

For books like yours, you need someone who can understand the complexities of world-building and won't ask why you're always writing dark stories (all hail the horror enthusiasts!).

You won't get the normal "You too like winchi-winchi things" statement, and since I read speculative fiction, I can understand the ever-changing nature of characters, dialogue, languages, and ideas in these stories.

So for the love of everything magical, please summon up courage, finish your manuscript, and let's get you out there.

Send a message (or email to blackcalicong[at]gmail.com) if you'd like us to discuss your work (the idea behind it) before I start editing. This service is free.

Here are services I currently offer:

1. Manuscript Evaluation -- In Pidgin English....Make we see if your work even make sense first.
2. Editing -- Proofreading, line-editing, and developmental editing.
3. Beta Reading --You're ready to publish, but you'd like a first reader to get a feel and let you know how your audience might take it.

Ready to disrupt the world? Leave a comment, send a Nairaland message, or email me at blackcalicong[at]gmail.com.


P.S If you're still writing and need inspiration, start with the greats.

a. Sci-fi folk should read Octavia Butler, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury's books.
b. Horror-- please go to Anne Rice, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P Lovecraft, and Shirley Jackson
c. Fantasy folk--do I really need to tell you about Lord of the Rings? (This book will make you sweat profusely. My friend, sit down and continue reading)
d. Magic Realism...Go to Franz Kafka and Gabriel García Márquez.

Some of these books are not easy reads, but they'll help you see the basics. There are African writers too in these genres... please, search for them. For now, I'm mentioning the ones that readily come to mind, but I could also recommend Black writers if you want.

Good luck!

You've got a good story buried somewhere, but, like one of the posters said, your words are coming across as pretentious. Characters seem to have no depth. Too much time is wasted on nothing.

The first rule of fiction is 'Show. Don't tell.'

The second most important rule (as far as I am concerned) is to leave out all unnecessary things when you're writing. If a word or scene or action does not enhance or advance the story in any way, leave it out. There should be no unnecessary parts in a book. Long-winded dialogue....cut it. Unnecessary smells and sounds....cut it. Cut out stuff till tears come to your eyes.

There's nothing wrong with writing like Soyinka or Joyce, but you have to remember that those people (sometimes) had intellectual ideas running through their pages in addition to whatever prose was there. This is not to say that science fiction does not have intellectual ideas, but you have to understand that it is easy for your audience to get lost in terms and words instead of understanding the complexities of whatever world you're building. Things are already complex on one end. Don't make things hard(er) for your audience.


Kudos for trying to write sci-fi. It's not the easiest genre out there to write (or master), but I'd advise that you read more books. Look for stuff from all sorts. Nnedi Okoroafor has found how to write in an uncomplicated way. Ben Okri's writing is sublime. Yes, it's easy to get lost in his complex creations, but when you emerge, it will be with the understanding of how to merge hard with easy.

Check Amos Tutuola. Read Wole Talabi's stories (he will go very far in the sci-fi world). Enid Blyton's books with magic in them (this might appear simplistic, but you'd be surprised at how much went into building worlds in her books. Check the Faraway Tree stories). Read the Replica (Marilyn Kaye) series. Ray Bradbury's books. Orson Scott's stuff. Everything by Isaac Asimov (the original Baba the Baba of the sci-fi realm). Please, please, please...go and read his Foundation series.

Google literary journals like Apex Magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Clarkesworld. See how people weave short stories. When you're done, start your stories with that much oomph and then go from there.

The long and short of this...please don't try to write after watching sci-fi movies. Those things are adapted to appeal to sight and sound, hence the word choices, sounds, actions...etc. Read voraciously, and as you do, you'll get better.

I'm currently reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy. You should read that too.

If you need someone to evaluate your story before it goes up, get in touch. I won't edit anything because that's a paid service, but I can tell you what to tweak.