WRITING SFU FICTION
A guest blog by Michael Grafton:
I wrote a story for Captain's Log, the chronicle of the Star Fleet Universe, and I am writing others because I want to tell stories. I thought I'd present some of my rather limited insights into the process.
1. Have an idea. Yes, you may present the greatest tactical genius in history, but if there is no interesting thing about the people (aliens are people, too), event, or process, then the story won't scan.
2. Remember that your characters don't have your omniscient knowledge. They will have foibles, plans that fail, distractions, and everything else. Good captains are masters of adapting to what they see and having the flexibility to win despite the other captain not being a moron.
3. Don't expect to become instantly rich and famous. You should be writing because of a desire to write.
4. Remember to check the SFU history first. While ADB has excellent editors that are keen on making sure that you aren't violating the rules of history, try to make it easier for them. I know I messed up at least a bit (OK a huge thing), but they caught it. Because nothing is more humiliating that getting email ragging on your story because you violated the continuity of the universe.
5. Your submission is just that. You are asking the Steves to accept your writings into a scheme, history, and game system that they have spent literally decades on. So don't get too teary if they change something.
6. It's not your firstborn child. Let it go.
7. Be different.
8. And finally, remember that while SFB and the SFU is about combat between ships, it is the characters on those ships and the background of the combat that make the difference between whether we care or don't. Even people on "the dark side" have reasons for what they do, why they do it, and such. Not all Lyrans are insane cannibals under some random noble's crazed whims. Not all Klingons have goatees or long to torture their crews in the booth. The "good guys" sometimes lose. For that matter, not all Orions are pirates!
I wrote a story for Captain's Log, the chronicle of the Star Fleet Universe, and I am writing others because I want to tell stories. I thought I'd present some of my rather limited insights into the process.
1. Have an idea. Yes, you may present the greatest tactical genius in history, but if there is no interesting thing about the people (aliens are people, too), event, or process, then the story won't scan.
2. Remember that your characters don't have your omniscient knowledge. They will have foibles, plans that fail, distractions, and everything else. Good captains are masters of adapting to what they see and having the flexibility to win despite the other captain not being a moron.
3. Don't expect to become instantly rich and famous. You should be writing because of a desire to write.
4. Remember to check the SFU history first. While ADB has excellent editors that are keen on making sure that you aren't violating the rules of history, try to make it easier for them. I know I messed up at least a bit (OK a huge thing), but they caught it. Because nothing is more humiliating that getting email ragging on your story because you violated the continuity of the universe.
5. Your submission is just that. You are asking the Steves to accept your writings into a scheme, history, and game system that they have spent literally decades on. So don't get too teary if they change something.
6. It's not your firstborn child. Let it go.
7. Be different.
8. And finally, remember that while SFB and the SFU is about combat between ships, it is the characters on those ships and the background of the combat that make the difference between whether we care or don't. Even people on "the dark side" have reasons for what they do, why they do it, and such. Not all Lyrans are insane cannibals under some random noble's crazed whims. Not all Klingons have goatees or long to torture their crews in the booth. The "good guys" sometimes lose. For that matter, not all Orions are pirates!
posted by Federation Commander at 8:51 PM
<< Home