Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 239 Extrapolating the Future

30 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 239 Extrapolating the Future

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

What will the future look like and how can a science fiction writer extrapolate the future.  I've spent 239 days explaining these ideas.  I'll give it one last recap day to conclude, but I'll spend today going over the point of this whole exercise.

I want to help current and future science fiction writers from producing science fiction that is patently absurd or not based in science (or both).  I made the point that it is impossible to write science fiction without science, and further, to write science fiction, you must be able to extrapolate technology.  Technology is the practical use of science.  It is what your characters in a science fiction universe will use for day to day actions and operations.  The development of this technology must come from the mind of the author through the extrapolation of science into usable technology and then produced in the writing as usable devices.  The example I gave from my own writing was the ebook which I wrote about in 1984 in a book which was eventually published in 2008.

If you want to write science fiction, you must understand and be able to explain science.  It does no good to try to write science fiction if you don't understand science and you can't explain science to others.  My ultimate purpose was to show you how to develop a science fiction theme and turn it into a plot.  I tried to give you many pointers in this direction.

More tomorrow.

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 237 even more Extrapolating Nations

28 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 237 even more Extrapolating Nations

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

If you want technology and freedom, you need exploration.  A nation that focuses on exploration is not spending money to support a worthless or dying civilization.  Exploration is powered by government because the costs are usually too great for private groups to accomplish.  This isn't always true however.  In the case of the British East India Company and the Hudson's Bay Company, the return from exploration was high enough for private businesses to handle the costs.  This could be true in the future as long as the government makes military surplus and technology available to the public.  This can't work if the government does not encourage and deregulate the business of exploration.

Freedom is the other part of this equation.  No private person is willing to risk their lives in exploration without some high degree of return.  This high degree of reward for risk is called capitalism.  Capitalism is the only means to get people to be willing to put their money and their lives at risk in exploration.  I know you can appeal to patriotism and you can reward people and you can make space programs, but look what that has achieved in the case of the USA.  In the USA, the space program is a joke--it once had the Saturn Five and moon capable ships--not anymore.  It once had Space Shuttles--not anymore.  It once had a space station--not anymore.  All the US has is a part in the International Space Station and no way to put astronauts there or bring them home.  It is a joke.  This is no way to encourage or build exploration in space.

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 236 yet more Extrapolating Nations

27 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 236 yet more Extrapolating Nations

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

If you want exploration and technology, you must first have a wealthy class who can absorb the technology.  We saw this in the 1960s to 1980s where there was much money available and lots of research.  Without money for research and a wealthy class to absorb the technology, you can't get it into the society.  Now about research.  When I mention research most people think of government research.  This isn't the kind of research that builds new technology--not without a couple of transfers happening.  The majority of research in most industrial countries comes out of industry and not the universities or government.  I'd peg the ratio at 70 to 30, but it is likely closer to 80 to 20, for business research to government/university research.  You also need to realize that a large proportion of university research is funded by industry.  Industry and not government is the fundamental power behind technology and science development. 

The point here should be obvious--if you want more technology in your science fiction universe, you need more industry and wealth (they go hand in hand).  You can extrapolate the future of a nation by the industry and the wealth.  There is another block in this power I put in the first paragraph--exploration.

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