Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 238 Future Nations

29 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 238 Future 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.

So, I don't think we can count on the USA producing another real space program any time soon.  It is in an exploratory death spiral and will likely not pull out without some great changes.  Europe isn't heading that direction either.  Russia doesn't have the prerequisite wealth, freedom, or desire.  China has some possibility, but without wealth in the hands of the people, freedom, or a strong desire, it doesn't have the capability to succeed in space.

A nation that will move into space will look like the USA during the time before Johnson.  Before it started to transfer money from the productive to the unproductive.  It will be willing to spend large amounts of money on exploration and technology.  It will work with business without regulating to prevent space flight or space operations.  It will allow the use of surplus and military technology and systems.  Such a nation is not the USA today nor is it Russia or China.  The question isn't what such a nation will look like, but what nation on the globe today can act in such a capacity--perhaps the only hope is writing science fiction and not actual expectation of a future 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 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 235 more Extrapolating Nations

26 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 235 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.

As I mentioned before, nations need a strong and wealthy group who can afford to absorb new technology.  Without this group, there is little purpose in developing technology.  The reason for this was obvious too--most technology development is for entertainment purposes.  Much of it is also related to pornography, but that is an entirely different discussion.

If you look back at the true space age in the US and the world, at the time the government had money to spare--JFK had convinced the Congress to reduce taxation on the wealthy and business.  This caused billions more to come into the treasury.  It was a time where the USG was much smaller, before baseline budgeting, and before many social programs existed at the federal level.  The influx of tax dollars due to the tax cuts and the revitalization of business and personal finance gave a surplus that the government could spend on JFK's moon project.  This was government exploration, which I mentioned before is a wonderful capability that governments have that businesses and individuals can't do as well. 

The exploration powered by government dollars, political will, and mutual ascent by the people, resulted in the exploration of the moon.  At the time, the extra money in the pockets of the wealthy resulted in technology transfer from the space program into the society and the extra dollars in the hands of business and individuals allowed those technologies to quickly benefit society.  There was also a strong labor pool because of the lack of government social programs.  And then the USG decided it would move into progressivism and the end of the space program began.

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 79 and yet more FTL (Faster than Light)

18 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 79 and yet more FTL (Faster than Light)

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.

Remember, there is a limit (as far as we know) at the speed of light. If you don't understand this and e=mc^2, you definitely need to do some studying.  Don't even begin to write science fiction about FTL if you don't understand why we need to talk about FTL at all. 

In The Ghost Ship Chronicles I go into detail about the FTL drives and the operations of the systems.  In The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox, it is extremely dangerous to move a ship in Null space near a gravity well--based on the theory of the FTL systems I develop.  The characters of Dragon and Fox use this risk to bring their ships more quickly into battle and turn the tide against the Imperial forces.  In Ghost Ship the method of FTL is shutter drives that bring the ship in and out of null space every minute or so.  In Ghost Ship, the limit is that the astrogator has to set up the initial entry into null and the exit from null space.  This works great for technological and cultural shaping.  In other words, I technologically shaped the FTL systems to match the theme and plot of the novels.  Culturally, the operations for space have created a process or education for astrogation.  In Ghost Ship, I show you that whole education system.  The Ghost Ship novels are really fun to read--I like discovery novels where people discover their full capabilities in the novel.

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 78 yet more FTL (Faster than Light)

17 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 78 yet more FTL (Faster than Light)

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.

Remember, there is a limit (as far as we know) at the speed of light. If you don't understand this and e=mc^2, you definitely need to do some studying.  Don't even begin to write science fiction about FTL if you don't understand why we need to talk about FTL at all. 

Since the speed of light is a limit, you need to discover a means to move within the galaxy that doesn't depend on the speed of light.  In my novels, I progress from FTL that is a single transition in null space to systems that shutter in and out of null space.  In the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox and The Ghost Ship Chronicles, the method of FTL is through null space.  Null space is the straight line distance between systems.  The assumption is that null space allows travel through the gravity waves that fold space.  The Chronicles don't go into as much detail on the operations as the mechanism.  Ghost Ship goes in depth about the operations and not so much the mechanism.  Null space allows relatively quick travel between solar systems.  In Ghost Ship, the travel has progressed to shutter null drive.  The ships move in and out of null space at specific intervals.  In both series, the transition through null space requires special training and individuals.  In Ghost Ship, I go into detail on the methods and training.

If you are moving inter-solar system relatively quickly, for your universe, you need to develop some means of FTL.  The means needs to fit some known or unknown extrapolation.  Warp drive won't cut it.

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 76 FTL (Faster than Light)

15 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 76 FTL (Faster than Light)

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.

If you want to get anywhere in the universe, you need some method of moving Faster than Light (FTL).  In extrapolating science we can see means of non-FTL transportation.  The most obvious are those that have worked in our solar system--hydrogen/oxygen rocket engines.  There are many others such as solar sails, fusion acceleration, fission acceleration, electromechanical, photon, particle acceleration, there are more and more to be discovered.  If you are working in the intra-solar system regime and 100 to 1000 years in the future, you will want to explore these methods.  You will also want to apply complete orbital dynamics to your universe.  In a universe where fuel for movement isn't a big deal, the orbital dynamics should be less of a problem.  In any case, if you are moving around in space and from a planetary surface into space, you need an understanding of orbital dynamics, gravity, and atmospherics.  You basically need to understand what it takes to get into space, achieve orbit, and return to a planetary surface.  Start studying.

The trick is what to do when you move more than 1,000 years into the future.

There are still other areas of extrapolation to exploit.

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