posted
Is any one here going to be entering? If so we could start a group. The deadline is June 1st. We can organize once we see if anyone is interested.
Posts: 1888 | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
We've discussed it before on Hatrack. My big question is: "Reflecting the spirit, ideas, and philosophies contained in the works of Robert A. Heinlein"--what does that mean?
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posted
Sounds pretty open to me. I figure if it's sci-fi they'll probably take it. Wikipedia looks like they have some general info on what the story might need to include. Sounds like fun. I might jump in on this. Have a sci-fi that could use a little work, but that just might fit in with this contest. And hey, no entry fee. Can't balk at that.
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posted
That's true. Seems all I churn out is fantasy. I guess a pro could control their creative process instead of allowing it to control them.
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posted
Well, I doubt if they're looking for writings that are exactly like Heinlein's stuff...besides, Heinlein's stuff varied considerably over the years and most of it doesn't much look like anything eles in his oevere. (If that's how that's spelled.)
Sounds like an interesting contest, though...good luck, you guys.
posted
Heinlein's works pre-dated my interest in Sci-Fi. I read Job: A comedy of justice when it debuted but little else. I am familiar with Starship Troppers and much of his other work is well known. Is Job a good indication of his style? Is there another author that you could compare him to? Harry Harrison, for example? I got a couple of things in mind, but I would like to comply with the spirit of this competetion.
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posted
Job is a good example of his style, but not the best by far. It is hard to compare his earlier works with anything else. He and Asimov brought me into the Sci-fi world with titles: Have Spacesuit will travel Starbeast The red hills of Mars Farnhams Freehold and Asimov's I, Robot Caves of Steel
If I were to compare him to anyone it would be early Asimov, although Asimov and Clarke were more "Hard" in the Science Dept.
I would recomend sampling some more of his works- even if you don't enter the competition. It is classic.
posted
Job is representitive of Heinlein's "late" period---say, from Friday to To Sail Beyond the Sunset---that is, to the bitter end. Heinlein, apparently, liked to "mix it up"---experiment with and publish different kinds of storytelling. (I only enjoyed the second half of Job and To Sail---nothing much of any of the others.)
But I wouldn't start with them. I'd start either with his 1950s work---either his so-called "juveniles," or his adult novels. There are a dozen or so of the former---you should be able to find Red Planet or Time for the Stars or Space Cadet, recently back in print, or maybe a few others. For the adults, try Double Star or The Puppet Masters. (Beware when reading the latter---a great deal of it has been borrowed or ripped off in later SF and horror, books and movies.)
If you do get hooked---it's likely---you'll want to move on to his other stuff, from his 1940s shorter work through his Sat. Eve. Post-era shorts to his later and longer work like Stranger in a Strange Land. Save everything after Stranger for the end.
Comparing Heinlein to anyone...well, it's hard to say, 'cause he's influenced so many people in the SF field. I wouldn't compare him to Asimov and Clarke. Perhaps Spider Robinson might be a good bet (he recently completed a Heinlein juvenile from an outline left behind---I must really read it one of these days), though Robinson was influenced maybe as much by Sturgeon as by Heinlein...
posted
We can use the WOTF model. First list who is in.
Bent Tree Snapper
If anyone else wants in paste these names onto your post and add your name. We need to set some deadline dates. One is for early, first draft crits and a second for line crits. Whoever wants in agreeds to crit everyone else's submissions. How about these dates for deadlines to send your stories out to be reviewed. April 7th first drafts May 7th line crits
Should give us enough time to write, crit, fix, and send something by the June 1st deadline. What do you think?
posted
Can we add an early date for outline/summary/plot critique, or is it not Kosher? I would hate to develop a seriously flawed idea. I am a newbie.
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posted
That sounds fine to me, although that is generally what we do for the first crit. We could move that up if you like or you can just send me what you got whenever its ready. I already have something that is in the first draft stage. I need to make some changes and do a better editing job on it, so I should be ready before april anyway. I'm open to whatever you want to do.
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posted
I think I might try to give this a go. I've been kicking around a story idea for a while that might work.
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posted
Hello. I know, I'm monstrously late (Only joined Hatrack today), but I would still like to be in on this group. Wouldn't be surprised ya'll said no.
I know a lot about Heinleine and have, since this morning, created a complete storyline and written 700 words toward that story.
posted
Hey Guys. So Far it is only Snapper and I. The deadline is June 1st, so there is plent of time. We have been busy with WOTF. I don't even have my first draft done. You have been added to the list. Stick to the dates. They are important.
Bent Tree Snapper Kahlan Patrick James
If anyone else wants in paste these names onto your post and add your name. We need to set some deadline dates. One is for early, first draft crits and a second for line crits. Whoever wants in agrees to crit everyone else's submissions. How about these dates for deadlines to send your stories out to be reviewed. April 7th first drafts May 7th line crits Postmarked Manuscripts before June 1st
If anyone finnishes there drafts early, and wants an earlier crit in addition to the first draft crit on April 7, feel free to send them to me. Welcome guys...Happy writing.
posted
If anyone wants to send their ms., to me go right ahead, though I warn you; I have never critiqued before.
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posted
Yeah. I'm thinking about finishing the clean-up on my honorable mention and sending it in to this one.
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posted
Bent Tree Snapper Kahlan Patrick James KayTi
I am definitely in. I have a story from last year that's already written that is a great fit, so I am planning to enter it, but it needs more eyes on it.
I am a huge heinlein fan, though I did not read many of his YA stuff, in fact somehow missed it.
My all time favorite and the one I recommend to most people is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I have used it as inspiration for my YA NANO novel project last year, that needs my attention now that I think of it. Great story.
I would say the things about Heinlein that set him apart are general optimistic plots, liberal sexual practices (some would find these disquieting, I think they get more out there in his later works), importance/role of family, adventurous main characters, strong females but somehow still in somewhat stereotypical female roles (remember he wrote much of his stuff in the 50s and 60s I believe.) He did a lot of near-earth or earth-set sci-fi (moon, stranger in a strange land). He did some alternate universe stuff (farnham's freehold).
OK, there's more, but that's a start of my personal brain dump about heinlein. There are often cats in his books. Redheads too. Cloning. Meaning of death. Delaying of aging. Long-life. Family. Lots of family (as I scan my bookshelf I keep lighting on the fact that family seems a theme in every single book...)
posted
Glad to have you KayTi. Farnhams Freehold is one of my favorites as is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
I enjoy his love of cats. The way he characterizes them is second to none. Although I am allergic, so I haven't had the opportunity to befriend many. I too have an affinity for redheads, so I can appreciate his taste and descripions of them.
I grew up on his YA; to me it was an awe inspiring introduction to sci-fi. Without it, I would not have been sucked into the genre.
Since your piece is done, feel free to send it over if you want an early look.
posted
So, I'm thinking that I'd like to at least try to get in on this contest. My next WotF story is coming along well enough that I think I'll have time to adapt an older story of mine to this contest nicely. So, count me in. Here's a new list of participants:
Bent Tree Snapper Kahlan Patrick James KayTi WriterDan
And thanks for all of the Heinlein info KayTi. Have only ever read Stranger/StrangeLand of his before.
Jump in IAB!
Probably won't have my first draft done before the first deadline though. Still have polishing to do on my WotF entry for this quarter. So, see you all then.
[This message has been edited by WriterDan (edited March 14, 2008).]
posted
Word count doesn't matter at all, other than how well the story is told. It would be an issue if it were 10k and could have been written more concisely at 7k.
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posted
Whole story outline complete. I have stalled out at 3,000. I'll pick it up agian and get another 2,000 words in today, though.
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posted
I have plotted it, but haven't written anything down yet. Last week was insane at the office, and the weekend was consumed by the NCAA tournament. With the transactions publicly announced and my alma matter out of the tournament, I guess I now have some time to get moving.
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posted
I'm cheating and using my last WotF entry. All I have to do is trim the hell out it, and add a little more.
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posted
I will be, probably on Tuesday. I'm a trade show and contest now. (My works has already won two more awards--bringing the total to 149--and the major contest day hasn't even arrived yet. It's tomorrow.)
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posted
I've returned from my show (won 6 more awards--bringing the total to 154), and can begin exchanging stories now.
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Are you still in this? Kay, I need your address if you are. I haven't received anything form WriterDan, KayTi, or Khalan. IB are in this? Are you planning on submitting and critiquing?
posted
Sorry all. For some reason thought that today was the day of our deadline instead of yesterday. Anyhow, I'll send the first draft of my story out later on. The beginning still needs some work, but a deadline is a deadline. Looking for everyone else's stories. Bring em on!
[This message has been edited by WriterDan (edited April 08, 2008).]
posted
Hey, IAB. What are all those awards you're winning? Need some more input so I can feel the appropriate amount of jealousy. Sounds like you did quite well regardless of what they were for. Congrats.
Posts: 599 | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
Cool blog. Sounds like your a regular artist. Have you ever thrown anything into the Illustrators of the Future contest? There have been a couple double winners in the past (writer and illustrator). Do you have a posting of some of your work? Couldn't find one from the links on your blog for one. What I saw looked pretty cool. I've always wished that I could draw. But, alas.
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