... soldier with a rifle, and the rifle experience is nothing like that of facing war in a jet plane. For both these reasons describing a military experience is describing something which both has enormous variety and can be interpreted quite differently between writers and readers. Because of these deep differences writing military stories should be very tough to do. The only reason it isn't tough is that many people have an emotional fascination with things military. But, that emotional basis for interest also means that big differences in interpretation between experiencers, writers and readers will be normal. For this reason ... be very tough to do. The only reason it isn't tough is that many people have an emotional fascination with things military. But, that emotional basis for interest also means that big differences in interpretation between experiencers, writers and readers will be normal. For this reason, if you're writing a story about a military environment (not a report) keep emotion first and foremost in your mind -- if what you write feels good to the reader, it is good. (In truth, I kind of hate saying that, because I'm a fact-liking guy, but in this environment, like in ...
Tags: military experience | writing military stories | technofiction writing tips | technofiction | SF writing |

... -urgent. These are some characteristics of stories in an STL universe. They will come out very differently from stories in an FTL universe, and for that reason they can be very interesting. If you want more information on STL story making check out the non-fiction section of Tales of Technofiction on White World ( http://www.technofictionland.com ) ... Writing space travel stories without using the warp drive plot device to speed the story along... is a real challenge! It can be done, but you as a writer have to restructure your story-making a lot. The first thing that you have to change is the time and distance scale ...
Tags: warp drive | space travel | constant acceleration | technofiction writing tips | STL travel | science fiction |

... telling right now? The alternative is to take your economy seriously, and reveal what differences technology and economy make to how people live. That will provide you with an endless variety of new stories. I find this a lot more fun. One last pitfall to note, this one being about writing about real economies: There is a lot of disagreement among readers about how an economy should function, and that disagreement is based on emotion. This is why it's easy to write completely preposterous stories about evil bankers and evil rich businessmen and have many readers enjoy the result. But ... ? Where are the merchants getting their supplies from? What is the town shipping out to bring those supplies in? In sum: Who's paying for what? This is the full-face economic problem. Once again, for some kinds of stories it is ignored. But if you ignore it, you are writing a fairy story or a parable. And the problem with that is there are only seven story types, so you are going to be doing a retread of someone else's retread. Your challenge becomes a fashion challenge: Can I write what is fashionable in story telling right now? The ...
Tags: building believable economic systems | technofiction | writing tips | writing hard science fiction | |

... ?" message and get a reply? So if you take on the challenge of STL space travel, you end up with very different stories, and that can make them groundbreaking -- you will be writing in a style that few other people are currently embracing. The other advantage is that what you are writing about doesn't have to be fantasy. You can be writing some real science fiction, you can be writing about a real possible future. How are aliens different from humans? This issue is as big an intellectual field as any can be. Alien portrayals can range from being just like humans, to ... of your story? So let's go there now. What's the point of the story? Why are you telling this story? What is it that you want your readers to get from this story? You should be thinking about these at the beginning, middle and end of your story writing. It is all important....However, the answer to these questions can change. You can change your mind has your story evolves. But, you should always have an answer, and it should be a short and snappy one. o Is this about a neat science idea? -- Mommy, Why Am I here ...
Tags: first contact | first contact stories | aliens | science fiction | Technofiction | hard science fiction |