I'm creating this blog is to focus on my desire to create, process ideas, brain storm and obtain constructive criticism as well as over all feedback. I am beginning to write the first of a few short stories that I hope will eventually culminate into a novel including all of them. My desire to create this is based on the selfish need to have more palatable science fiction content out there. More over to contribute to a subject that has over the years brought me great joy in reading, and viewing.
This is a science fiction story based far into Earths future and will involve space fairing civilizations. Really original right? Well perhaps this well has run dry, but one of my goals is to reinvigorate the subject as best I can. However, how the hell do I create a story for a subject that seems to have an infinite number of possibilities but has also been ran into the ground for years. Another huge hurdle will be creating a unique story line while trying to avoid integrating ideas from movies, t.v. shows and other stories. I do not want to revisit many of the familiar themes, techno babble and ideas this is a distraction to readers and can be a huge pitfall in developing a story in this genre. I suppose this can be true for most if not all genres, but it seems to be pervasive in science fiction. For instance something like faster than light travel has often been referred to as warp drive, hyper drive, worm hole, light speed, etc. Granted there are only so many ways to attack a common theme or idea but the application of to many of those again can be a distraction to a reader.
I will begin this story by developing a macro historical view of the universe the story will take place in. So hopefully in the next day or so I will be able to post again with some ideas and developments for the story. So if you stumble upon this blog and care to post please by all means do so and in the future as this all unfolds.
P.S. No, Silliest Goose is not the title of the story. That would just be silly!
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More than anything else I could advise would be that you find an idea and stick with it. Stay focused or you'll appear lost and undecided in your writing. Nothing frustrates the reader and ME more is when you are reading something and it is obvious the writer has not decided exactly where his story is going. Most times going without a destination does not end up good. It probably has the same good outcome ratio of going into a woods in the dark. If you don't have an idea where you are going, hoping it will end up in a great place, you are most likely going to end up in a ditch somewhere, shivering in the rain!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea about having characters roaming in and out of other stories; this is one of the things I love about Lost (the ABC Show). I know you don't watch it -- you should since it would give you an idea on how to incorporate different story lines with differing characters at the same time... All seasons I believe are on DVD now. It also is cool when you see a character doing something unusual and outside the particular character's story line and only you as the audience knows why. "Oh yeah, that's when Jack was doing that..." you think to yourself while you are watching Kate go through her story.
As far as keeping it "fresh"; it's going to be rough as Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and various other shows have beat this down and rode the dead horse for ages. I guess that isn't fair -- its not a dead genre just stale. My suggestion if you want originality, I wouldn't go with an "interstellar war" concept personally. How about a retro look at the human race from an older alien perspective? Or something that we mistook as our innovation being an actual alien introduction into our history? It has been talked about and often laughed about, but if it was done right and seriously, it would be really neat. Something that could have just a nugget of plausibility makes it much more intriguing. That's why the whole "exploration in the unknown" is intriguing because it has the plausibility factor.
Sorry if this is long-winded or even preachy. Not trying to be -- just offering views and possibilities -- and you asked for it! haha.
And by the way, the Chronicles of the Silly Goose Starfreighter has potential. Again joking!
Good luck with this! DB
Thanks Derek for your addition to the blog. This was perfect and no it wasn't preachy. I was hoping for people to throw me as many angles to consider as possible as far as writing as well as literary device.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the beginning of your comment I could not agree with you more. Nothing drives me crazier than a story that could be a great story but stumbles from plot to plot like a drunken whore.
As far as the reference to Star Trek and Battle Star they are hard acts to follow. Frankly anyone who assumes that they can even come close to this is being a little self involved with their own talents. I mentioned in the middle of the post I would love to merely be able to contribute to a genre that I love and nothing more.
I do want the story to have a life of its own and a an audience that will read a story and want more. So I hope through this blog and of course with the creation of my story I will be able to entertain people. I realize my goal is mildly grandiose but hey we all need to have goals. Thanks again for the great information. That should be a signal to the rest of you slackers to POST HERE! :p
I was wondering... if you aren't posting your story material here, then how do we continue to help and advise. Are you posting it pubicly somewhere or do I have to come, roll for pick locks, roll for move silently and either sneak attack your ass or hack into your computer and get past your extensive porn collection to find your notes? You have already accomplished one of your goals -- you've made me intrigued and want to see what you come up with as a reader/writer myself! So cough up the goods! hehehe
ReplyDeleteI'll be making the story available to people I know just not online that's all. Hopefully in the next week I should have most of the first story completed so I will share it then.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you ought to be concerned what has been written before. Every writer is influenced by what they have read. Go inside and come up with a concept of the universe you want to write about. Actually you will know when its yours when the words literally pour from your head to the paper. Plans less flow more. Uncle Ira
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, you're right I probably should just start writing and worry about the technical components later on. I guess I just like to plan things out when in situations like this. I should not plan as much and just as you said "...flow more".
ReplyDeleteOne way to help with the explanation of the universe, or to set the story, is have your main character(s) "remember" a war story or something which would be in a cronological order of when it happened.
ReplyDeleteSay your main character is about to engage in a battle, it could bring him back to a battle straight out of the "imperial naval academy" and he lost his best friend, or whatever, fighting X enemy in year ______. It was a turning point for ______ civilization etc.
Later,
Dan
Planning has it's place in the world but I think that a story should start as a story. I would start with a character. Is it going to be written in the first person or as a narration. If it's first person than you need to see "who is that person". Male or female. Young or old. One of the greatest things about writing is that you can change whatever you want whenever you want. I vote with Ira - stop worrying about time lines and plans. Who is telling the story and what is the story? The rest can be filled in later. Also, don't worry about what's been done before. As the bard said There is nothing new under the sun. Your spin will be just that - yours.
ReplyDeleteThe time line is for the story's development. I want there to be a history of events available to draw from. My intention is not to have everything planned out just to have a baseline. One of my major pitfalls in story writing is a lack of planning. I find that when I allow myself to just flow for a while and have no real direction all goes well for a while but then when I hit that wall I tend to give up. I think if I plan a little but not to much I will be able to craft a solid story with good character development and plot. I know there isn't much I can do about rehashing old plots are rewriting certain ideas but I want enough of an original spin for the story that a reader doesn't get bored or distracted by it.
ReplyDeleteI think sticking with the storyline/history first is the better idea. Like I told you about Battletech, the whole history is there- IF you want to read that much, but characters are placed IN the history/story. I love the battletech universe because it is as complete as the reader wants it to be. I think basing things off a character leaves the world very empty- as it is just about the one guy.
ReplyDeleteLater,
Dan