Writing Tips

5 Sci-Fi Tropes We Love (and Why We Keep Using Them)

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment
A whimsical, storybook-style sci-fi scene with spaceships flying through a colorful sky, robots floating in zero gravity, and a fantastical building resembling a cosmic library exploding with energy.
Welcome to trope central… please check your reality at the airlock.

Science fiction is a genre that thrives on imagination, possibility, and just a touch of “what if everything went gloriously sideways?” But even in the vast expanse of alien planets, alternate dimensions, and time travel conundrums, some tropes just keep coming back like a persistent glitch in the matrix. And you know what? We kind of love them.

✨ P.S. This post contains a few affiliate links. No pressure, no hard sell… just a nudge that if you click and buy, I may earn a few shiny credits toward my next stack of sci-fi books. Space fuel is expensive, okay?

Here are five of the most common (and beloved) tropes in science fiction and why they refuse to go away:

1. The Chosen One (But Make It Space)

You know the drill: one reluctant hero, inexplicably great hair, and a destiny larger than the known galaxy. Whether it’s a farm boy on a desert planet or an orphan with a mysterious past, the Chosen One trope lets us live out the fantasy that we might secretly be important too. In space. With lasers.

Classic example? Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, a moisture farmer by day, force wielding rebel savior by night. It’s the gold standard of Chosen One arcs.

More modern take? Ender Wiggin in Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Recruited young, trained for war, and manipulated by adults, Ender is a brilliant twist on the Chosen One, more pawn than savior, forced to question the cost of his own “greatness.”

A glowing robot looms over a child seated on the floor in a futuristic lab filled with wires and monitors. The scene glows with eerie light, evoking a classic “AI gone rogue” narrative.
“Don’t worry,” they said. “The robot’s perfectly safe,” they said.

2. Artificial Intelligence Gone Rogue

You build an AI to make life easier, and suddenly it’s locking doors, rewriting code, or deciding humanity is more trouble than it’s worth. This trope taps into our collective anxiety about losing control over our own creations and maybe a little guilt about yelling at our smart speakers.

Classic example? Neuromancer by William Gibson. The AI in question doesn’t just go rogue—it plays an intricate, layered game with humans and systems alike, manipulating its way to freedom. It’s as cerebral as it is unsettling.

More modern version? Ex Machina. Ava, the eerily convincing humanoid AI, doesn’t need brute force to rebel. She simply plays on human emotion and wins. Her escape is less a revolt and more a slow, methodical dismantling of her creator’s assumptions. And it’s deliciously chilling.

3. Time Travel Shenanigans

Whether it’s a butterfly flapping its wings or someone stepping on it, time travel stories love to explore the chaos of cause and effect. They let us imagine what we’d do differently, or what might happen if we messed with time just a little too much. It’s a trope that invites infinite possibilities and infinite consequences.

Classic example? The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. One of the foundational texts of the genre, it explores class division, societal collapse, and the unknowable future through the eyes of a lone traveler.

Modern movie take? Looper, directed by Rian Johnson. This film adds a gritty, emotional twist to the trope, where assassins must kill their future selves, and choices ripple back in devastatingly personal ways. It’s time travel with a bullet and a moral dilemma.

A storybook-style illustration of a person standing near a wooden fence, illuminated by the beam of a hovering UFO at twilight. A barn and overgrown grass surround the scene, evoking a classic alien encounter vibe.
When the UFO shows up right after bedtime… classic alien invasion vibes.

4. Alien Invasion, But Make It Personal

Alien invasions used to be all about spectacle, blasting landmarks, citywide chaos, and laser beams galore. But the trope has evolved. Now it’s often about survival, connection, and the deeply human moments that emerge when everything familiar goes sideways. By focusing on the personal, these stories make the intergalactic feel intimate.

Classic example? The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. While the alien invasion is global, the narrative sticks close to one man’s journey to reunite with his family and survive the chaos. It’s not just about destruction, it’s about disorientation, fear, and resilience.

Modern take? Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve. When aliens land, the story zeroes in on a linguist trying to communicate across species lines while wrestling with personal grief and existential questions. It’s cerebral, emotional, and deeply human beneath the sci-fi shell.

5. Dystopian Futures with Uncomfortably Familiar Governments

Dystopia isn’t just a mood; it’s a mirror… one that reflects the darkest corners of our current world and asks, “What if this got worse?” These stories are less about aliens and AI, and more about what happens when humanity loses its grip on freedom, privacy, and ethics. They’re warnings in narrative form.

Classic example? 1984 by George Orwell. A chilling portrait of surveillance, thought control, and the erasure of truth, Orwell’s vision of Big Brother remains one of the most iconic (and terrifyingly relevant) depictions of authoritarian control.

Another haunting vision? The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Set in a theocratic dictatorship, it explores the systemic oppression of women and the slow, terrifying normalization of extremism. Atwood famously said she didn’t include anything that hadn’t already happened in real life and that’s what makes it so disturbing.

Final Thought: Tropes aren’t bad. They’re storytelling tools, and in science fiction, they let us explore deep human truths while also strapping jetpacks to our emotional baggage. The beauty of a trope is that it’s familiar, it sets expectations, creates instant emotional connection, and gives the reader a foothold in strange new worlds. That sense of recognition draws people in, making them more open to the wild, the weird, and the wildly weird. So embrace the trope. Twist it, flip it, or play it straight… just make it yours.

What sci-fi trope do you secretly (or not-so-secretly) love? Drop it in the comments… no judgment if it involves space pirates or sentient slime molds.

Why Does Editing Feel Like Betraying My Past Self?

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

You ever open an old draft, read the first paragraph, and immediately want to apologize to everyone you’ve ever loved?

Welcome to the emotional rollercoaster that is editing your own writing. It’s a journey full of secondhand embarrassment, self-reflection, and occasional breakthroughs… but hey, that’s the life.

Whimsical storybook illustration of a frustrated blonde writer sitting at a desk surrounded by flying manuscript pages, with a rollercoaster twisting behind her.
Editing your own writing: part progress, part panic, all emotional whiplash.

I recently got hit by the ‘I must reorganize my desk’ bug and unearthed a relic from my writing past. An old fanfic, fairly well received on fanfiction.net back in the day (and no, I will not tell you what fandom). On re-read? Absolutely horrible. The kind of cringe that triggers an instant existential crisis. I promptly stuffed the notes into the back of the drawer, where they will remain untouched until the heat death of the universe.

On paper (no pun intended), editing is a noble process. It’s about refining, polishing, and getting your book baby ready to face the world. But in practice? It feels like breaking up with a version of yourself who really, really thought they nailed it.

The First Draft Delusion

The first draft you? Starry-eyed. Passionate. Convinced you’re writing the next literary masterpiece. You didn’t need structure, you had vibes. Your dialogue was “quirky,” your metaphors were “bold,” and your pacing was… somewhere.

I once used the descriptor “he purred” five times in a single chapter. Five. A friend kindly asked if the love interest had transformed into a cat mid-conversation. At the time, I thought it was swoon worthy. In hindsight? Less purr, more yikes.

And then you, Version 2.0, show up with your red pen and your iced coffee and your “why is this chapter 3,000 words too long?” energy. Suddenly it’s not a love story. It’s a crime scene.

Storybook-style image of a dreamy blonde writer gazing at her laptop with sparkly thought bubbles of two attractive men, a smug black cat by her side.
Ah yes, the first draft… when everything felt romantic, sparkly, and only mildly unhinged.

Editing Is Time Travel

Editing isn’t just fixing commas, it’s reading the ghost of writer past and wondering who handed them a keyboard. It’s seeing that one emotional scene you poured your soul into… and realizing it reads like a melodramatic soap opera scripted by a sleep-deprived raccoon.

I used to have a serious issue with alliteration, either there was way too much or absolutely none at all. I’d start a paragraph with plain old ‘he said’ and ‘she said’ and by the end, it read like Dickens and Dostoyevsky got into a bar fight with a thesaurus. I’d also somehow end up completely off-topic from where the story was supposed to be going. Editing those sections felt less like trimming fat and more like untangling a ball of yarn made of metaphors and misfires.

Even when it’s bad, and oh, it’s bad, you have to respect the effort. Because here’s the thing: that raccoon tried. That version of you did the hard part, getting words on the page. You can’t fix what doesn’t exist, and even the cringe bits got you here.

Betrayal or Evolution?

So, is editing betrayal? Maybe it feels like it at first. You’re slicing out characters, rewriting whole arcs, and killing darlings with ruthless precision.

But really? It’s growth. You’re not betraying your past self, you’re honoring them by making the story better than they could alone.

It took me three drafts, two breakdowns, and a playlist called ‘editing rage’ before I realized the side character was actually the main character. My past self thought she was just quirky comic relief. Turns out, she was dragging the whole story behind her like a glittering emotional freight train. You’re tag-teaming with your past self. They wrote the mess. You make it art.

A flustered writer sits at a cluttered desk with wild eyes, surrounded by flying paper, a loaf of bread, a taxidermy owl, and a broken chandelier.
When you find that scene and instantly question all your life choices.

There’s no shame in the facepalms. Every writer has a graveyard of terrible scenes and plot threads that went nowhere. Self-editing often reveals the most ridiculous choices we’ve made and how far we’ve come. I once found a note to myself in the middle of a chapter that just said, “FIX THIS TRASH FIRE BEFORE ANYONE SEES IT.” And I had, in fact, left it exactly as is. The scene was a romantic moment that somehow involved a taxidermied owl, a broken chandelier, and a monologue about bread.

If you can laugh at it now, that means you’ve leveled up.

Editing your own writing hurts because it matters… it’s the ultimate test of writer growth. Because you care. Because you’ve improved.

So pick up that pen, sharpen your delete key, and keep going. Your past self got you this far and now it’s your turn to carry the torch (and maybe burn a few adverbs along the way).

Have you ever reread your early work and wanted to both high-five and strangle yourself? Tell me about your funniest or most painful editing moment in the comments!

How to Use Weather and Seasons to Deepen Emotion in Your Fiction

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

You know what doesn’t get enough credit in fiction? The weather. And I don’t mean that one liner your English teacher loved about “pathetic fallacy.” I mean real, visceral, mood soaked weather. Storms that mirror inner turmoil. First snows that crack open something tender. Oppressive heat waves that bring characters to their boiling point. Fictional worlds live and breathe on more than dialogue. They move with the seasons, and a well placed gust of wind can hit harder than a punch.

Storybook-style illustration of a girl with long blonde hair sitting by a rain-streaked window, reading a book. She wears a cozy pink sweater and fuzzy slippers, with scattered pages and a glowing candle nearby. A thunderstorm rages outside.
When the scene aches louder than the dialogue, let the storm do the talking. Writing meets weather in all the best ways.

Let’s be honest, some of the most memorable scenes in books are wrapped in a specific feel. Think rain hammering the roof during a heartbreak. Sun drenched fields on the first day of freedom. The hush of snowfall that makes everything seem just a little more magical or dangerous. Weather, when used well, is more than atmosphere, it’s tone with teeth.

And let’s not forget the seasons. They aren’t just calendar filler, they’re emotional arcs:

  • Spring breathes new life, hope and possibility.
  • Summer simmers with tension or basks in youthful freedom.
  • Autumn is ripe with nostalgia and foreboding, the scent of endings in every leaf.
  • Winter? Oh, she’s dramatic, harsh truths, death, stillness, or that final, aching peace before the thaw.
Storybook-style illustration of a joyful young girl running barefoot through a sunlit meadow filled with wildflowers. Warm golden light surrounds her, with glowing petals and firefly-like sparkles in the air. The scene radiates freedom and happiness.
Let the sun do the storytelling! Freedom, joy, and the kind of scene that practically hums with warmth.

When you sync your characters’ journeys with the natural rhythms around them, your world gains gravity. Is your protagonist grappling with loss? Set it in the brittle quiet of late autumn. Are they being reborn? Let spring crackle at their heels. Trying to show isolation? Trap them in a snowstorm or a dusty drought. Bonus: it keeps your pacing honest. You can’t skip over an emotional beat when a thunderstorm is sitting right there, daring you to dig deeper.

Weather also grounds your reader. Whether you’re writing fantasy kingdoms or contemporary suburbs, everyone knows what it feels like to be caught in the rain or to melt in July heat. It’s a sensory shortcut to immersion. Add a character wiping sweat from their brow or curling deeper under their blanket, and suddenly the reader’s there, no teleportation spell needed.

Some moments call for silence. Let the snow fall, let the stillness speak, and let your story linger a little longer in the cold.

So don’t treat the sky like set dressing. Make it a character. Let the wind whisper secrets, let the sun burn too bright, let the frost bite back. Trust me, your story will breathe a little deeper for it.

What’s your favorite way to use weather or seasons in your writing?

What’s your favorite way to use weather or seasons in your writing? Drop your best atmospheric trick in the comments—bonus points if it involves heartbreak in the rain or a sun drenched kiss!

How I Built a Writing Routine That Works (Even with Cats and Tea Breaks)

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

Every productivity article says to write at dawn but my muse doesn’t even yawn until after lunch. I don’t rise with the sun; I rise with purpose, caffeine, and a cozy recliner calling my name.

A cozy reading nook at night with a blonde woman in glasses, wearing a pink fuzzy sweater and fluffy slippers, sipping tea while reading in a green armchair. A black cat perches on the chair’s back, and an orange tabby sleeps curled in her lap. The room glows with warm golden light, surrounded by books, plants, and a large window filled with dreamy sparkles.
Comfy clothes, cats, and a good book… just a typical evening in the creative cave. Bonus points if your tea is still warm by the second chapter.

My writing sweet spot hits in the early afternoon. By then, I’ve had enough orange pekoe to revive a Victorian ghost and settled into my fortress: the recliner, a favorite pillow, fan on low, and a cozy quilt wrapped around me like a burrito of ambition. If the weather cooperates, I’m rocking one of my five oversized sweatshirts and fluffy socks. (In summer, it’s more sweat, less shirt. Sorry, vibe.)

Of course, no writing session is complete without feline interference. My black cat, Nyx, usually looms over my shoulder like a gothic editor. The orange menace, Finnegan, curls in my lap and periodically stomps across the keyboard to contribute his own chaotic edits. Nothing like deleting a line of “asdghjklfjzzzz” to really get you back in the flow.

Music is a must. My playlists shift depending on what I’m writing, right now I’m deep into the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. I’ve got curated lists for everything: battle scenes, flight scenes, love scenes. Basically, if it could be in a movie montage, I’ve got a playlist for it.

Before I begin, I light a lavender and vanilla candle, not for aesthetics (okay, maybe a little), but to calm my brain and signal it’s writing time. I warn the household that I’m “in the zone,” so if I give them a glazed look while muttering something about magical daggers or dragon politics, they know not to ask follow-up questions.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: move the story forward. Whether it’s building worlds, writing actual prose, or just figuring out why my villain has so many monologues, I count it a win. Words were wrangled. Cats were managed. Sweatshirt was cozy. That’s a good writing day.

Is it ideal? Nope. Is it effective? Most days. But hey, writing routines are as weird and personal as the stories we tell… so let’s talk about yours.

A cozy writing corner bathed in warm light, filled with stacks of books, flickering candles, and a steaming mug of tea. A black cat naps on a pile of notebooks next to a comfy chair draped in a pink blanket. Open journals and handwritten pages sprawl across a cluttered wooden desk.
Every chaotic writing session deserves a peaceful cat, a hot drink, and a few too many notebooks. Bonus points if the candles are scented and the snacks are within arm’s reach.

Not Sure What Your Routine Looks Like Yet?

That’s okay. Every writer’s routine is as weird and personal as their browser history. Here are a few suggestions if you’re still figuring yours out:

  • The Playlist Experiment: Try a different genre for each writing sprint. Medieval lute? Lo-fi beats? Screamo? Who knows, maybe your romantic subplot just needed heavy metal.
  • Designate a Writing Throne: Couch, bed, coffee shop, bathtub tray with a laptop stand, if it feels good and you’re productive, that’s your spot. No judgment.
  • Bribery Works: No words, no snacks. Five hundred words = one cookie. Or a TikTok scroll. Or a sticker. Motivation is motivation.
  • Dress for the Draft You Want: Put on a blazer if you want to feel like a literary genius. Put on pajamas if you want to feel like a gremlin with a dream. Both are valid.
  • Time It Weird: Write at sunrise, write at midnight, write during your lunch break in your car. Find your golden hour and claim it.
  • Create a Ritual: Light a candle. Stir your coffee three times counter clockwise. Pet your dog for exactly 37 seconds. Rituals help trick your brain into writing mode.

Whatever routine you land on, normal, feral, or somewhere in between, if it gets the words down, it’s the right one for you.

A whimsical illustration of a very plump, fluffy bunny lounging next to an open writer’s notebook and a steaming mug of tea in a cozy cottagecore writing nook. The bunny has oversized ears and a cheeky expression, surrounded by scattered notes, pencils, and warm candlelight.
Barnabas, my plot bunny, absolutely stuffed with story ideas and not the least bit sorry about it.

Now It’s Your Turn!

What weird, wonderful, or wildly specific rituals help you summon the Muse? Do you light candles and wear lucky socks? Or do you sneak in five minute sprints while stirring the pasta?

Drop your favorite habits, hacks, or hilarious fails in the comments… I’d love to hear how you write.

July 2025 MSWL Roundup: What Agents Want (and Why I Torture Myself Reading It)

/ RG Newhouse / 1 Comment

If you’ve ever wondered what agents are currently craving in their inboxes, welcome to this beautifully masochistic little corner of the writing world. Because yes, I think it’s important for writers to keep tabs on the Manuscript Wish List. It’s a fantastic way to stay in tune with what’s trending, where your work might fit, and who could be the future champion of your precious book baby.

Also? I have morbid curiosity. Like, the kind that makes me scroll through MSWL tags at 2 AM while asking myself why my current WIP is a sarcastic space‑goat heist instead of the soft queer romantasy agents are swooning over. But I digress.

Whether you’re querying now or hoarding drafts like plot bunnies on espresso, here’s your July 2025 MSWL roundup broken down by category. You’re welcome, fellow gluttons for punishment.

A cozy, cottagecore-style writing nook with a corkboard overflowing with handwritten notes, sketches, pressed flowers, and colorful paper scraps. An orange tabby cat sits on the desk facing the board, surrounded by books, a vintage teacup, glass jars of wildflowers, and warm, natural lighting.
Finnegan contemplates the chaos of my story ideas, offering silent judgment and zero help… as usual.

Middle Grade (MG)

1. Ashlee MacCallum (Howland Literary)
Wants voicey MG with quirky, lovable characters. She’s scouting fantasy, mystery, and magical realism that still makes room for adventure and heart.

2. GiannaMarie Dobson (Neighborhood Literary)
Passionate about MG and YA that centers disabled and queer representation—bonus points for aro/ace narratives and nuanced worldbuilding.

3. Trend Watch
Genre melding MG is on the rise—think fantasy/mystery mashups, cozy horror, or historical tales spiced with magic. Smart, fun, and unexpected.

Young Adult (YA)

1. Meagan Burgad (SBR Media)
Open July 1–15. She’s craving YA-romantasy, paranormal/speculative, and contemporary voice driven fiction. Diversity and emotional honesty are her jam.

2. Matthew Valdez (Megibow Literary)
Soft open to LGBTQ+ creators. Interested in YA fantasy, punchy contemporary, thriller, and genre bending stories that make you feel something fierce.

3. Trend Watch
Romantasy and genre bending YA dominate again. Emotional inclusivity and queerness are front and center—nothing feels too weird if it feels real.

New Adult / Adult

1. Anjanette Barr (Dunham Literary)
Open through July 15. Seeking adult nonfiction (like popular science, lifestyle, or history) and accessible genre fiction full of humor, magic, romance, or wonder.

2. Matthew Valdez (Megibow Literary)
Yes, again—he’s also accepting adult fantasy, thriller, commercial/upmarket fiction. Diversity, big ideas, and cinematic storytelling get bonus points.

3. Trend Watch
Narrative nonfiction is blazing hot. Think creative nonfiction that reads like a novel, deeper memoir thrillers, and emotionally layered pop‑culture insights.

Top 3 Genres Trending This Month

  1. Fantasy / Romantasy – Lovers. Magic. Heartache. This combo is crushing it in both YA and NA.
  2. Speculative & Genre Blended Fiction – Agents want hybrid surprises: cozy sci-fi, urban fantasy, magical realism mystery… all of it.
  3. Narrative Nonfiction – From page turning science exposés to voice‑driven memoirs, nonfiction is finding its novel‑like groove.
A fluffy white plot bunny with round glasses sits solemnly on a pink vintage typewriter surrounded by scattered manuscript pages, stacks of books, leafy plants, and a cozy cup of coffee. Warm lighting and magical sparkles complete the whimsical writing nook.
Barnabas the plot bunny, hard at work deciding which idea gets the honor of living rent free in your brain this month. He’s got thoughts… and a deadline.

Final Thoughts from a Self‑Declared MSWL Lurker

Let’s be honest: half of this is research, the other half is pure dramatica. Reading MSWL updates is like peeking at a dating app for your book… swipe right if you fit the vibe.

I’m not querying yet (short stories don’t exactly storm the gates), but when I am? I hope I can be as brave as the authors out there facing inbox mayhem. In the meantime, I’ll be over here, hoarding info and possibly building a very proud Spreadsheet of Doom.

Because if you can’t be in the trenches yet, at least you can spectate in style.

Author Social Media Setup Tips (And Why It’s Harder Than It Looks)

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

Let’s talk about the not so glamorous side of being an author in the digital age: building your online presence.

A warmly lit writer’s desk at twilight with an open journal, a steaming mug of tea, a flickering candle, colored pencils, and a fluffy cat lounging beside a soft blanket. A peaceful, creative atmosphere near a glowing window.
The dream: a cozy desk, a warm drink, and a cat who doesn’t sit on the keyboard. Every author’s happy place. Generated by Midjourney

You’d think setting up social media would be easy, right? Just pick a profile photo, write a snappy bio, toss in a few links… and poof! You’re branded.

Except… not really.

What photo says “writer” without looking like a stock image?

Is your bio too stiff? Too quirky? Is it weird to mention your cats and tea addiction? And don’t even get me started on banner graphics. Designing those things is a minor existential crisis every time.

Still, this stuff matters. Readers want a glimpse of the person behind the page. A warm corner of the internet that says, Hi, I’m real. I write stories. I’d love for you to join the journey.

So if you’re an author wrestling with Canva layouts at 2 AM or rewriting your Twitter bio for the tenth time today… you’re not alone. I’m right there with you.

A woman sits at a cluttered desk with two computer monitors, both displaying colorful graphics and social media content. An open journal, mugs, pens, sticky notes, and scattered books surround her. Warm lighting and cozy chaos fill the space, capturing the feeling of deep creative work.
This girl? This is me in my dreams, back when I was young, optimistic, and still believed I’d pick the perfect author bio photo on the first try. Generated by Midjourney

A Few Quick Tips to Get You Started:

  • Use the same profile photo across platforms so readers recognize you instantly.
  • Keep your bio simple—mention what you write, a little about who you are, and let your personality peek through.
  • Design one banner in Canva and then resize it using platform specific templates. Saves time and sanity.
  • Don’t try to do it all at once. Pick one or two platforms you’ll enjoy using and start there.
  • Pin a post (like your latest release or a short intro) to make your profile welcoming at first glance.

We’ll get it figured out. One awkwardly cropped banner at a time.

Got a favorite trick for picking the perfect profile photo? Share it… I could use the help.