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

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.