Kevin's Watch

I'm just starting to write a Sci-Fi story (first time) for my school magazine, and wanted to know if there are any handy tips our there from my friendly Watch family. Anyone?

If you want the big epic stuff in SRD and Tolkien's vein, I can heartily recommend Dune, by Frank Herbert. If you're into the classics, take a gander at Heinlein or Philip K. Dick. That's about all I've read, though. Tons of other great stuff out there.

If you need to look at short stories I recommend Ray Bradbury (find The Vild or There Will Come Soft Rains), Philip K. Dick or Walter Jon Williams

Was never that keen on Bradbury myself, with some exceptions.

Asimov? Harlan Ellison's I have no mouth...?

But I'm not sure if Balon is asking for reading suggestions or writing advice though.

--A

Balon wrote:I'm just starting to write a Sci-Fi story (first time) for my school magazine, and wanted to know if there are any handy tips our there from my friendly Watch family. Anyone?

I see sci-fi as being explorational in theme and tone. And there are a number of 'modes' of sci-fi you can use: political, technological, sociological, even environmental. For instance, your story can be about the impact of teleportation within a futuristic setting (like The Stars my Destination) - thus technological/sociological; or exploration of an alien world/society (as in H.G. Wells' First Men in the Moon) - environmental/sociological. Star Trek works by being essentually political/sociological with occasional environmental themes placed in, whereas Star Wars (really is fantasy) is technological with bits of political.

Ask yourself, what message do you want to convey? Or in absence of that, what central idea do you have? Work around that. Never forget to explore the implications of the setting and its technology or politics. And importantly, despite the ideas of your story never forget to follow - not strictly, mind you - story structure.

My advice is to not seek out advice, just do it. To paraphrase a famous author that I think we all know: if you seek out help, you don't have what it takes. But you could also say the same thing as: trust your instincts, see where they take you. Use the force, Luke.

I say just wait for the KW Anthology to come out, and steal one of those short stories......Aww, who am I kidding? You'll be an old man by the time that comes out.

Thanks guys