When I first sat down to finally write Galaxy’s Child, I thought I was just telling a story, something I had been daydreaming about for decades. What I didn’t expect was how much the process would teach me. Not just about writing, but about myself.
Science fiction challenges writers to imagine the future, but in doing so, it also holds up a mirror to the present. Here’s what that mirror reflected back at me.
I’m More Structured Than I Thought. I’ve always had a background in business and planning, but writing a novel was a different kind of discipline. Setting aside six hours a day, five days a week, for months on end, takes more than passion, it takes a plan. And surprisingly, I loved it. Outlining, building storyboards, refining character arcs, I found just as much satisfaction in the structure as I did in the story.
I Crave Clarity. I discovered that I can’t move forward in a scene unless I can clearly see it in my mind. This might sound obvious, but in science fiction, where the rules of the world are yours to invent, it becomes a discipline of its own. Every console, corridor, flight suit, and protocol had to make sense. What surprised me most, I genuinely enjoyed putting in the extra effort to make things feel real.
I Connect Deeply with Underdogs. Philip Anders isn’t a perfect hero, he’s messy, brilliant, conflicted, and constantly evolving. And I realized, as I wrote him, that I relate to that arc more than I expected. Apart from the messy! I’ve always admired the characters who grow into greatness, not those who are born with it. Writing Philip helped me explore the parts of myself I used to second-guess and made me see them as strengths.
I’m Passionate About Dialogue. Some of my favorite writing sessions were spent just listening. Not to music, but to the conversations my characters were having with each other. I came to realize that I’m not just interested in what happens, I care deeply about how characters talk, tease, argue, support, and challenge one another. It turns out, some of the best parts of Galaxy’s Child weren’t the big space battles, but the conversations in between.
I’m Just Getting Started. This book has been in my head for almost 40 years. Now that it’s out in the world, the most important thing I’ve learned is this; I want to keep going. There are still so many ideas, stories, and characters I’m excited to explore, especially as I start working on Book Two of the trilogy.
So yes, writing a sci-fi novel taught me a lot about storytelling, character building and pacing. But more than anything, it reminded me of who I am when I’m most fully myself, curious, focused and imaginative. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of a dreamer.
David P. Lloyd 