Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 94 more Chaos Entertainment

2 November 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 94 more Chaos Entertainment

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 92 more Probability Entertainment

31 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 92 more Probability Entertainment

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

We don't usually think about the world being governed by probability.  Now probability is very different than luck.  A wise person maximizes probability--you do it unconsciously.  For example, if you want to get a certain job, you go to school, you study for it, you learn everything you can about it, you maximize the chance you will be able to compete for that job.  If you don't get it the first try, you try again until you achieve your goal.  All this is based in probability.  In a roleplaying game and indeed in any computer game, the game simulates real life through probability.  For example, in a tank fighting game.  You must aim the gun at the target.  Their is an inherent probability based on distance that the gun will hit the target.  The better the aim, the higher the probability.  The closer, the higher the probability.  The lower the wind, the higher the probability.  The gamer doesn't see all the math the computer does to calculate the probability of a hit.  The gamer aims and pulls the trigger.  The result is a hit or not.  There is much more to these computations.  The second problem is penetration.  If the round hits, depending on where and how it hits, there is a greater or lesser probability of penetration.  Finally, the results of the penetration.  Depending on where the round penetrated and how it struck the tank affects the last result.  The point is that for every shot, the computer game software makes these computations and determines the results of the event.  This is true of every game and every event.  The world is all about probability, and games simulate this probability through math.  The next part of this is chaos theory.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 91 Probability Entertainment

30 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 91 Probability Entertainment

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

It isn't that the world is based in probability that makes gaming so interesting, but rather that because the world is based in probability that game that are also based in probability are more entertaining.  Chess vs. football for example.  People don't understand the probabilistic nature of the world very well at all.  There really isn't any such thing as luck--there is greater or lessor probability.  For example, if you study like crazy, there is no guarantee that you will get a top grade.  You might study the wrong material or not the right things. You might forget key information or misread the questions.  Studying doesn't mean you will get a high grade, but the more you study and the better you study, the higher the probability that you will get a good grade.  In role playing games, this is simulated by the dreaded die-roll.  The game master might give you 10% per hour you study.  If you study for 10 hours, he would still not let you get 100% without some risk.  A proper die roll would be two fifty sided die added together with a modifier or some variant of that kind of roll.  The reason for two dice rolled together and added together is to produce a bell curve.  Everything in real life is based on a bell curve--everything.  In many role playing games three six sided dice are used--these give a great bell curve.  In the real world, your grade is based on a bell curve--you are a single point on the curve, but the more you study, the smarter you are, the better prepared you are, the better the chance you are at the good end of the curve.  Just like a well prepared test will give results on a bell curve, your result will be somewhere on that curve.  This is true about everything in the world.  Everything is on a bell curve.  

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 89 Gaming Entertainment

28 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 89 Gaming Entertainment

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

Board war gaming began the individualization of entertainment especially in gaming.  I'll get to how war gaming began to shape the next level of gaming in computers, but another invention in gaming came directly out of war gaming.  Role playing was developed by scale model war gamers for the purpose of replaying the Lord of the Rings novels.  They achieved something more spectacular.  Role playing allows a person to participate in and develop a story themselves and with others.  This is individualized entertainment beginning to be perfected. 

Role playing took off with board war gaming.  The next step was the advent of war gaming and role playing in computer gaming.  In fact, the first serious computer games were war games.  I'm writing about the UNIVAC computers.  The first real game of note was a huge war game.  The computer played one side and the player the other.  It can be found for more modern computers and was akin to Civilization (the game).

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 88 yet more Entertainment

27 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 88 yet more Entertainment

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

The individualization of entertainment means not just that you can see the entertainment when and where you wish it, but rather ultimately, it means you can make entertainment yourself.  Ultimately, the point of human entertainment is self directed.  I put to you as an example games.  Board games started as a simple way to while away the time.  They were probability based but allowed the players to have some feeling of accomplishment in spite of actually doing nothing.  That is really the ultimate of entertainment.  It isn't the total goal we would wish for entertainment, but it is an extreme.  Board games became in the 1970s the ability to reproduce warfare.  The ability to simulate a past, present, or future event has been a human desire--the ability to do so in an entertaining format was a great leap of invention.  Most of these war games were based in war game theory the military practiced to a limited degree.  In fact, the military learned a lot from the war game development in the 1970s. 

The advent of computers and computer gaming had a more dramatic influence on this mode of entertainment.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 65 Game Theory

4 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 65 Game Theory

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

Gaming with and without computers is an extrapolation concept.  With it, you can simulate any possibility in life.  You can recreate any incident in history.  Theoretically, if you properly control for the macro possibilities, you can achieve similar results.  You can also achieve different results.  In general, simulations are based in logic theory and in probability theory.  If you can also apply chaos theory, you would perfectly simulate any situation in the past or the potential future.  Game theory allows you to extrapolate any possible future or past.  This is much more than simply literature that provides a basis for alternative reality.  Game theory potentially allows an interactive interpolation of the past or an extrapolation of the future.

In engineering science, we use logical theory (mathematics), probability theory, and chaos theory, to reproduce the physical world (in all its complexity).  With game theory, you would be able to do the same for history--either past of future.  This is essentially what a science fiction writer does.  Instead of computer models, however, a science fiction writer uses logic to delve directly into potential futures.  There is great power in game theory--and the world is just beginning to see those advantages. 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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 64 even more Computer Science and Technology

3 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 64 even more Computer Science and Technology

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

Part of the earthquake of change was from games.  Computers made games available to people that were outside of human imagination not even 5 years before their advent.  Before the rise of computers, role playing and military games were in ascendancy.  Computers gave life to role-playing and military type games like nothing else could.  Games ushered in violence that had never been imagined before in human entertainment, but it was controlled.  There is also a pornographic and sexual side to computer gaming. 

The world changed because simulators went from events to life.  Games simply are life simulators.  The life or lives they simulate are as varied as science fiction.  There has been a blurring of simulation and the real world.  How much this blurring will continue is entirely in the realm of science fiction.  Remember Tron and the redo.  Not the greatest movies, but if Disney is doing it, it can't be that unique or great.  Gaming is having an effect on the world that is little understood even by those involved in the transition.  This is a great area of potential extrapolation.  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