Reader magnet ideas for sci-fi authors

Science fiction readers love a world. They'll happily read about a ship, a station or a city for the sake of how it works, who runs it and what it costs the people inside. That makes sci-fi a good genre for a reader magnet: if a reader enjoyed your universe, there's a lot they'll want to see more of.

This guide covers the reader magnets that work best for sci-fi, ideas by subgenre, and where to put your signup link. For other genres, see our guides for fantasy, mystery and thriller, romance and nonfiction, or the general reader magnet ideas.

The best reader magnets for sci-fi

1. A prequel set before the story

Sci-fi worlds usually have a history: a war, a collapse, a first contact, a launch. A short story set before book one shows readers how things got that way, and lets them meet your world with nothing to catch up on. It's a low-risk first taste of your writing, which makes it a good fit for the front of a series.

2. A story from a minor character's side

Readers often fall for the engineer, the smuggler or the rival who only appears for a few scenes. A short piece from that character's view gives them more of someone they already like. It also shows a new side of your world without having to write another novel.

3. The first book in the series, free

The most generous offer, and often the strongest one. Sci-fi readers tend to read in series, so a free first book can bring in people who'll go on to buy the rest. It works best when the series is long enough for the giveaway to pay for itself.

4. An in-universe file

Something that feels like it came out of your world: a ship's log, a corporate memo, a news report from the colony, a recruitment brochure, a field guide to the aliens. These are quick to write, fun to read, and different from what other authors offer. Keep them short and lively.

5. A guide to your universe

A glossary, a map, a timeline, a who's who of factions, or a short explainer of how your technology works. These suit big, complicated series where readers like to keep track. They tend to appeal to people who've already read you, so pair one with a story-based magnet if you also want to reach new readers.

6. A deleted or alternate scene

A cut scene, a longer version of a favourite moment, or an alternate ending gives readers something they can't find elsewhere. It works best for readers who already love the book.

7. A short story set in the same universe, but standalone

If you write several series in one setting, a standalone story set in the shared universe can introduce readers to all of them. It needs to make sense without any background, so avoid in-jokes and unexplained terms.

Ideas by subgenre

• Space opera: a prequel about the war or the founding of the fleet, or a short story from a crew member who isn't the lead.
• Hard sci-fi: a short piece that digs into one idea, such as the problem the crew solves in chapter one, told from the engineers' side. Readers of hard sci-fi enjoy being shown the working.
• Cyberpunk and techno-thriller: a job that went wrong before the book begins, or a day in the life of a minor fixer. A corporate memo or leaked file suits the tone.
• Dystopian: a story from the time just before things changed, or a document from the regime's side.
• Military sci-fi: a short battle from a different unit's point of view, or a recruit's first day.
• First contact and alien worlds: a short scene from the aliens' side, or a field guide to their biology and customs.
• Post-apocalyptic: the first day, before the main characters meet, or a letter left behind.
• Time travel and alternate history: a short story from a different era in your timeline, or "the version where it went differently".
• LitRPG and GameLit: a stat sheet or build guide for the main character, a short side quest, or a primer for readers new to the form.

Where to put your signup link

For sci-fi, the best spot is the last page of the book, straight after the ending. A reader who has just finished a story set in a world they enjoyed is the most likely to want more of it, so a line like "Want to know what happened before the Collapse? Get the prequel story free" lands at exactly the right moment.

Also place it in the front of the book (briefly), in your social profiles, and in any author communities where you take part. You don't need a website: a hosted signup page works anywhere you can paste a link. If you want to reach readers beyond your own, see our guide to newsletter swaps and group promotions.

Make it match the book

• Match the tone. A grim dystopian fan who gets a jokey free story may feel misled. Keep the voice and the stakes consistent.
• Don't spoil. If the magnet sits at the front of the book, make sure it doesn't give away the ending. A prequel should add to the first book, not undercut it.
• Explain as you go. New readers don't know your terms. Introduce names and technology the way the book itself does.
• Design a cover for the genre. Even a short piece deserves a cover that looks like it belongs on a sci-fi shelf.
• Say exactly what they get. "A prequel: the night the station went dark" beats "Join my newsletter for exclusive content".

Then keep in touch

A reader magnet starts the relationship; your emails keep it going. A short welcome sequence that introduces you and your other books turns a new subscriber into a regular reader. Our welcome email sequence guide has a simple outline. Once your magnet is live, check whether it's working by looking at views, signups and downloads.

Frequently asked questions