So I recently read the Turkey City Lexicon, and one of the problems it said to watch out for was reinventing the wheel, or coming up with details for a scifi world that has already been created and used in other stories. Since I'm a relatively new scifi reader, and someone who thinks it's important to create worlds and characters with detailed backstories, I feel like I'm likely to fall into the Reiventing the Wheel trap. That being said, there are two things I want to ask:
1.What are some important or overused scifi ideas I should know about?
2.What books/stories can I read that originated or use these ideas?
Thanks for your help!
Posted by NMgal (Member # 2769) on :
There is a book called "Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy" that contains essays by pros such as Asimov and Heinlein. There's an article in there somewhere that states the overdone ideas in sci fi. I tried looking for the exact page, but I'm falling asleep here. By the by, the book has other fantastic bits of advice on writing sci fi. I highly recommend it.
Becky
[This message has been edited by NMgal (edited August 05, 2005).]
I suggest you focus more on what publishers DO want. Here is a list of markets. Check out their websites and their recommended guidelines. You may find they give you an idea or two: http://www.fictionfactor.com/fiction2.html
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
The Grand List of Overused Science Fiction Clichés gets posted pretty frequently. One should keep two things in mind. First, the list is not complete. Second, it contains a number of items that were put on the list by people that do not understand the basics of certain sciences, including the social, physical, and martial sciences.
For example, "Single female monster ISO single human male. Object: Mating" is listed as unconscionably sexist along with "Alien races that find our women attractive, while we find theirs to be repulsive" and "Extra breasts on the alien women." But none of these items is marked as being even slightly implausible.
On the other hand, "A smart, courageous, gorgeously attractive woman who is rarely if ever asked out." is listed as an outright impossibility, as is "A large nuclear explosion can be obtained by putting several smaller devices together."
And even if the list were perfect in some abstract sense, it wouldn't replace real knowledge and experience of the genre. It is better to have read a good few good SF stories and get feedback on things you're actually writing from other experienced readers.
Posted by Elemeno (Member # 2752) on :
Thanks guys, those links were pretty helpful. I especially like Heinlein's five rules-very concise and practical.
