Experience 
Sci Fi Writing
with Dennis Saathoff

It's saturday morning, you're sitting in front of the TV, watching Ninja Turtles, drinking coke and eating Nutella out of the jar (yuk), the next day and you're 41, married with children. Where did the time go? 

Why am I writing?
I always wanted to contribute to the world of science fiction. I came up with an idea that I thought was fresh and untouched. 
It developed over years and at the end of 2023 it was time to make it real. It invested my time and effort ever since and here I am. 

I noticed that as though I'm successful in my current business, it robs my energy, and my concentration is steered towards problems I do not enjoy solving (I do it though of course, that's my job). My focus becomes narrow and uncomfortable. 

In comparison, writing opens up my mind, it gives me motivation and energy, it frees me from the struggles I have to deal with in my daily life as I am in full control of what is happening. It is me vs me, not me vs another person's problem. Writing became a passion am I am pursuing the goal to get published.

I hope people will enjoy what I came up with. As a fan of science fiction and fantasy, I think I should know what works and what doesn't. After completing the book, if an agent likes it, everything could be possible!

What is good sci-fi to me?
For me, the sci-fi world building must flow unobtrusively into the story and must be plausible. The reader shouldn't even realize that things are happening hundred or even thousands of years in the future. 
If I as a reader am not drawn into this world, if it is not credible, or because it lacks logic, then the foundation of the story is shaky. A reader can tell whether you think they're intelligent or whether the science fiction you're presenting was written without sense and understanding. I think that as a new writer you first have to build up this trust with the reader.
 
 

Age
41

Occupation:
aspiring writer and entrepreneur  
 

Family status 
married, three children
 

Favourite books
20.000 Leagues Under The Sea (Jules Verne)
Conan the Barbarian (Robert E. Howard)
At the Mountains of Madness (H.P. Lovecraft)
 

Hobbies:  
sci-fi, fantasy, wargames, boardgames, cars