Spec Fic for Newbies:
A Beginner's Guide to Writing Subgenres of Science Fiction, ​Fantasy, and Horror
​by Tiffani Angus and Val Nolan

Ranked a #1 New Release on Amazon US!


Have you ever wondered just HOW to get started writing SF, Fantasy or Horror, or were curious about tackling certain subgenres or tropes? This book is for you! Chock-full of info on 30 different subgenres or major tropes, it contains:
  • a quick history of each subgenre/trope
  • a list of things to watch out for
  • an explanation of why that subgenre/trope is fun to write
  • other info such as spotter's guides and writing element spotlights
  • and activities to get you started.

Written by Tiffani Angus (that's me! PhD in Creative Writing) and Val Nolan (PhD in Contemporary Literature), who have combined their two decades of experience teaching writing--with a huge focus on SFF/H--along with their experiences as workshop attendees and published authors. 

The Table of Contents includes:
  • Spaceships
  • Apocalyptic Fiction
  • Military SF
  • Body Horror
  • Paranormal Romance
  • Sword & Sorcery
  • Zombies
  • Solarpunk
  • Witches
  • Gothic Horror
  • and 20 more subgenres and major tropes!

Listed as one of Fantasy Hive's Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2023!

Author Pete Sutton in his Writing About Writing About Writing review says: "there's a sense of fun and exploration that you don't always get from dusty 'let's teach you how to write' books."

Co-author Val and I did a podcast with Dan at Coffee in Space! We nerd out about apocalyptic fiction and toilet paper, word count restrictions, the subjectivity of squicking people out, the permeability of subgenres, considering your audience and genre context, the fact that ancient humans weren't idiots, theme (which we cover in the book intro!), how our conscious and subconscious minds don't play together well, and having too many writing projects at once.

We did a videocast with Lauren McMenemy at Horrortree, where we talked about writing the book, how subgenres are porous (they're rivers, Val insists!), and how writing SFF/H is really writing about us now. 

Spec Fic for Newbies is available in paperback and eBook in the UK and US. Click links below to get your copy! Find various places to order on this linktree or follow the links below:

Luna Press: paperback
Amazon UK: paperback / Kindle
Amazon US: Kindle
Waterstones in UK: paperback
Blackwells in UK: paperback
Barnes & Noble in US: paperback / eBook for Nook