Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.
Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:
1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.
I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction. I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.
By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated. Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.
Star Trek-Into the Darkness is just more Star Trek dreck. Also, in Star Trek and Star Wars, why is everyone an officer. Are there no noncommissioned officers (NCO) or enlisted people. That either shows a gross disregard for a whole group of very important people in the military or a gross misunderstanding of how things get done. The mission could never get done in the military without the direct support of the enlisted and NCOs. In the Navy, the tip of the spear happens to be the Marines. Why no space marines. If you really want to see how space marines might work, read Star Ship Troopers. Don't see the movie, read the book. Star Ship Troopers is one of the best books that extrapolates military systems and military ideas into the future.
If you want to see how space wars might be waged, read my novels The End of Honor and The Fox's Honor. These novels try to capture the extrapolation of combat into space. There isn't as much discussion about the ranks or rank structure, that is a cultural shaping I used in the novels. In other words, I assumed a military structure similar to that in the current militaries of the world. There was just so much that was wrong in the latest Star Trek it is hard to put all the problems on paper. Someone should run a contest to identify all the bad science in each of the Star Trek and Star Wars movies.
In your writing, make certain, your science is correct. Better yet, don't write about anything you don't understand--that will solve a host of problems. I'll look at extrapolating military technology next.
More tomorrow.
Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
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