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.
Games are based in Newtonian physics and math. They are also based in probability theory. Eventually, chaos math will make its way into gaming. Chaos math is misunderstood by many people especially those who are not experts in math or science. Chaos theory is not really described by the classic butterfly allegory--that is, chaos theory is not really the concept that a tiny change can have enormous consequences. A true picture of chaos theory is that chaos theory shows that even things that appear to be chaotic are governed by order, you just have to look deeply enough. Where this is used and seen is in turbulent flows and Brownian motion. Chaos math is why even though it is theoretically possible for all the oxygen molecules to move to one side of a room, in nature, it will never happen. Chaos theory is used to predict flows in nature that are unpredictable using Newtonian or probability theory.
As I mentioned, chaos theory will eventually find its way into games--it already has for scenery and landscapes. Chaos math is what makes large expanses of space like deserts and forests in simulators look correct to the eye. In my classes, I say that probability theory is why you won't ever make every 1 foot putt, but chaos theory is why you just might.
The real world is based in probability--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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