Fellow writers, heed my call: any tips on writing a fantasy/sci-fi novel?

Anyposs · December 23, 2016, 02:45:13 PM

So I'm writing my second novel (the first one is forever lost in a hard drive that is FUBAR (long story short: be careful with modding Minecraft)) and I'm kind of stuck. I have an outline written up, but I don't know if it is cohesive enough. I know the "what," but not so much the "how." Are there any pointers you can shoot me? (Outline in spoiler below)

Spoiler

Chapter 1: Introduce main characters, meet Cassandra, engage in chase, wake up, find gloves

Chapter 2: A day in the City in the Ground, go to sleep, wake up in freefall, save the day, explain to Cassandra and Yu about dream Cyde had from his new narcolepsy, a day in the City in the Clouds

Chapter 3: Wake up, have day off, contemplate dream, go to market, buy sleeping drugs, go back to sleep for rest of day

Chapter 4: Meet Master Silver, learn again what it means to be a Samaritan, tell Silver about dream, learn what it means to be a reviver, Cassandra explains how bad guys are sent from her father

Chapter 5: Wake up, go to work, accident happens, frontlines are cleared, overhear higher-ups talking about a way to the surface, have mind blown, begin plan

Chapter 6: Go to sleep, get attacked by bad guys while trying to find Cassandra’s sister, fight off a few, escape, learn power of gloves and why bad guys want them so bad, have moment of romance ruined by Yu

Chapter 7: Wake up, skip work, go to market, buy more sleeping drugs, ask around the Pit for a weapon, return to quarters, pass out

Chapter 8: Back at Tassuru the dojo is compromised, Silver sacrifices himself, escape, find safehouse

Chapter 9: Wake up in hospital, learn G has brain cancer, go to the Pit, receive weapon, begin construction of parachute, learn that G is now a fugitive for missing so many days of work, enter scuffle with Minotaurs, escape to secluded alleyway, take sleeping pills

Chapter 10: Joyful and bonding moment with Yu and Cassandra, learn news that Cassandra’s sister is dead, Cassandra runs away, chase after her, get captured by bad guys

Chapter 11: Wake up to man stealing G’s shoes, man gets away, G contemplates his plan and situation, decides to continue, surprise attacks a lone Minotaur, steals Minotaur’s uniform, finds abandoned apartment, goes to sleep

Chapter 12: Tied up by bad guys, learn that Cassandra’s sister is behind it all, sister killed her father and took his place, sister is about to kill Cyde when Yu rescues him, fight off some bad guys, escape, return to safehouse, find Cassandra there

Chapter 13: Wake up, disguise self as a Minotaur, sneak into nuclear power plant, scale tower, use parachute to float up exhaust pipe, hit ceiling, fight off Minotaurs with weapon, reach surface, meet the Queen of Gain, get tranquilized

Chapter 14: Wake up in safehouse, learn that narcoleptic episodes are getting worse, explain to Cassandra about her sister and father, she sheds a tear while holding back more, she sings her mother’s song, touch her face, kiss, “It’s gonna be okay.” Pass out.

Chapter 15: Wake up in throne room (possibility 1: Queen is Cassandra as a cyborg, her brain being the only organic thing left. Possibility 2: Queen is Cassandra’s sister. Possibility 3: Queen has nothing to do with Tassuru) 1: Cassandra recognizes G as Danko/Cyde, confesses love and how long she has waited for him to reincarnate, G accepts love, swears he will save her this time (she was nearly killed in Tassuru), she promises to heal his brain cancer—(or G rejects love, escapes to surface and finds paradise (or not, but now he is free until the brain cancer kills him)) 2: Sister challenges G to a duel, awesome fight ensues, G wins but not before Queen initiates the self-destruction of throne room, G escapes to surface, is now free 3: Same as 2 but without sister—all end with him going to sleep one last time

Chapter 16: Wakes up in Cassandra’s arms, breaks link with G using gloves, assault on sister’s fortress in the Garden, reach sister through skill, magic, and a ton of luck, Cassandra kills sister, Cassandra becomes leader of bad guys, Danko and Cassandra get married by Yu, live happily ever after… or Cassandra says she is done with love and family and will rule on her own, letting Danko love from afar

EDIT: I just realized how incoherent my outline must sound. I'll work on a better pitch for y'all to understand. Until then, please share any wisdom you have.

More Than Mortal · December 23, 2016, 03:01:20 PM

fucking newfags

Dietrich Six · December 23, 2016, 03:43:45 PM

That's quite a lot going on. The ending is a pretty pivotal point and should be one of your main objectives when telling a story.

What story are you trying to tell?

Doctor Doom · December 23, 2016, 04:04:21 PM

Not sure what kind of tips you're looking for, but the greatest advice I've ever received in regards to novel-writing is to make sure four out of every five chapters end with the protagonist worse off than they were before. This helps prevent you from getting stuck halfway through the story and unable to decide what happens next, as well as keep the action flowing.

Also, little details matter. Maybe mention what the extras are doing around the protagonist, or what a character likes without it being relevant to the plot. This makes it feel like a real, lived in world. Not everything that gets mentioned has to be important.

BaconShelf · December 23, 2016, 05:06:02 PM

Project Rho is pretty essential if you want to make your spacecraft at least seem realistic (Even if it's just smaller details of life on a spacecraft or ideas for colonies without doing the actual maths).

Verbatim · December 23, 2016, 05:08:21 PM

Yeah.

Don't write a sci-fi novel.

Anyposs · December 23, 2016, 05:30:55 PM

Quote from: Dietrich Six on December 23, 2016, 03:43:45 PM

That's quite a lot going on. The ending is a pretty pivotal point and should be one of your main objectives when telling a story.

What story are you trying to tell?

Ultimately a story about freedom. The main character, Danko, wants to be freed from his dismal, oppressive underground world, and Cassandra is his way out. The love Danko has for Cassandra is actually his longing for a life better than what he has now. In the end, I've decided that Cassandra realizes this longing in Danko and refuses to love him so that he may remain free. This decision Cassandra makes will set up the sequel I have planned.

Dietrich Six · December 23, 2016, 05:33:52 PM

Quote from: Anyposs on December 23, 2016, 05:30:55 PM

Quote from: Dietrich Six on December 23, 2016, 03:43:45 PM
That's quite a lot going on. The ending is a pretty pivotal point and should be one of your main objectives when telling a story.

What story are you trying to tell?
Ultimately a story about freedom. The main character, Danko, wants to be freed from his dismal, oppressive underground world, and Cassandra is his way out. The love Danko has for Cassandra is actually his longing for a life better than what he has now. In the end, I've decided that Cassandra realizes this longing in Danko and refuses to love him so that he may remain free. This decision Cassandra makes will set up the sequel I have planned.

There you have it. Ironing out what you want to do with the story is the most important bit. Now it's just down to making the characters likable and filling the world with interesting and worthwhile things.

Anyposs · December 23, 2016, 05:34:14 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on December 23, 2016, 05:06:02 PM

Project Rho is pretty essential if you want to make your spacecraft at least seem realistic (Even if it's just smaller details of life on a spacecraft or ideas for colonies without doing the actual maths).

Thanks! I'll definitely use this when I start drawing out vehicle designs.

Anyposs · December 23, 2016, 05:36:53 PM

Quote from: DIO on December 23, 2016, 04:04:21 PM

Not sure what kind of tips you're looking for, but the greatest advice I've ever received in regards to novel-writing is to make sure four out of every five chapters end with the protagonist worse off than they were before. This helps prevent you from getting stuck halfway through the story and unable to decide what happens next, as well as keep the action flowing.

Also, little details matter. Maybe mention what the extras are doing around the protagonist, or what a character likes without it being relevant to the plot. This makes it feel like a real, lived in world. Not everything that gets mentioned has to be important.

I read something like that. The idea of raising hope then squashing it. Taking two steps forward and three steps back. Thanks, I really appreciate the advice!

More Than Mortal · December 23, 2016, 06:09:37 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2016, 05:08:21 PM

Don't write a sci-fi novel.

gtfo

How goes your own, btw?

Verbatim · December 23, 2016, 06:49:41 PM

Quote from: 2016 A SHIT on December 23, 2016, 06:09:37 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2016, 05:08:21 PM
Don't write a sci-fi novel.
gtfo

How goes your own, btw?

It's evolved into a completely different story from when I first conceived it. Instead of being a blatant and frankly overwrought philosophical statement reflecting my own beliefs, it's become more of a character study. I'm heavily inspired by the likes of Camus, Salinger, and Palahniuk, and I think I make that too obvious at times. Rewrites are frustratingly frequent.

Dietrich Six · December 23, 2016, 10:34:35 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2016, 06:49:41 PM

Quote from: 2016 A SHIT on December 23, 2016, 06:09:37 PM
Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2016, 05:08:21 PM
Don't write a sci-fi novel.
gtfo

How goes your own, btw?
It's evolved into a completely different story from when I first conceived it. Instead of being a blatant and frankly overwrought philosophical statement reflecting my own beliefs, it's become more of a character study. I'm heavily inspired by the likes of Camus, Salinger, and Palahniuk, and I think I make that too obvious at times. Rewrites are frustratingly frequent.

I'd be very interested to read it, palahniuk is one of my favorites authors.

Sαndtrap · December 23, 2016, 10:55:43 PM

If its your first time writing a novel, I hate to say it, but it's likely that you wont make it unless your dedication to the idea and yourself is practically incorruptable and immovable. A common pitfall for new authors is over extending past their current abilities and approaching a novel with overenthusiastic naivety. I do support you in your writing. Before you tackle the monolith goal of writing a novel see if you can write your story first.

Korra · December 24, 2016, 01:02:02 AM

Um, just ask this to yourself...

What would Stephen King do? lol

BaconShelf · December 24, 2016, 04:16:15 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2016, 05:08:21 PM

Yeah.

Don't write a sci-fi novel.

What's wrong with scifi? I mean, you've got bottom tier crap like Independance Day 2 and shit but I don't see how that invalidates such a wide-spanning genre.

I'm curious as to what it is about it you dislike. I remember you saying something similar when I recommended Arrival.

Anyposs · December 24, 2016, 04:53:30 AM

Quote from: Sαndtrap on December 23, 2016, 10:55:43 PM

If its your first time writing a novel, I hate to say it, but it's likely that you wont make it unless your dedication to the idea and yourself is practically incorruptable and immovable. A common pitfall for new authors is over extending past their current abilities and approaching a novel with overenthusiastic naivety. I do support you in your writing. Before you tackle the monolith goal of writing a novel see if you can write your story first.

I did write a novel a few years ago, and this second novel is based on a short story I wrote. If you're questioning my dedication to the story, know that this story will probably receive the most attention out of all of my projects. I've been wanting to write it for ages now. I will write this book.
On another note, writing the story out before tackling a novel is probably the best advice I've gotten so far. So thank you in that regard. I will update the Flood when I have the entire book written.