Just back from a speculative fiction con with some thoughts about hope. Several cons I took part in this year had panels on dystopias, on hopeful fiction, and adjacent topics.
A non-scientific analysis of panels in 2025 (meaning: my personal takeaways), show that fewer writers are interested in writing hopeful works than dystopias and grim fiction in these troubling times.
During panels I heard a range of thoughts including:
- I try to write hopeful stories, but they always seem to skew dire
- Hopeful stories aren’t interesting
- Hopeful stories feel like fluff or wishful thinking
- I’d rather shine a light on all that can go wrong so readers will take action
- Writing dystopias are more exciting
- I don’t know how to write climate stories that are hopeful
- Readers want cataclysms and dystopias
- I’m not hopeful, so how can I write hope?
Perhaps it’s easier to write bleak outlooks than hopeful ones.
We live in dystopian times. (Note that many people have lived in and through dystopias for centuries, especially those marginalized, enslaved, robbed of their land.)
I want more hopeful fiction, especially climate fiction! It need not be labeled solarpunk. Or hopepunk. It can be post apocalypse or can ward off an apocalypse. It can be futuristic or contemporary.
There’s evidence supporting the need for hopeful stories to fuel action and weaken despair and helplessness:
“By emphasizing success stories, these eco-innovations can contribute to inspirational narratives that go beyond doom-and-gloom, potentially mobilizing people to take positive steps to combat climate change.” (from a University of Virginia study led by Benjamin Converse, associate professor of public policy and psychology.)
“… a growing body of research suggests that if you want to cultivate positive change—in yourself, others, or society—restoring hope is a vital first step.” (from “Hope as the antidote” by Ashley Abramson in a 2024 Monitor on Psychology.)
“Hope provides a haven from pessimism, fear, and dread. It galvanizes our courage and mobilizes our energy and vitality. It enhances our mood and focuses our creative thinking.” from “Hope: A Human Need and a Powerful Force” by Saul Levine in a 2022 Psychology Today.)
Trajectory to regenerative futures
Many of us writing hope find it easier to imagine the more distant future than the present and near-term that show us how to get there.
While we have to first imagine wonderful futures before we have any chance of getting there, we also need to lay the groundwork, imagine the paths. I’m challenging myself to play with trajectories to the futures I desire.
Others have recognized this need. For instance, Tomasino offers Solarpunk Prompts podcast based on Paweł (alxd) Ngei‘s prompts and Storyseed Library to help us imagine and write the missing pieces.
My novel The Working is an example. It’s set in our present day featuring five coveners and friends grappling with this problem in the physical and metaphysical world.
If you’ve read good examples work that envisions paths to just and regenerative futures, let us know.
And I hope you’ll write some!