Fiction A Writer's Guide- By Drew Wagar

[Cmdr Andy B]

Having now spoken with a few people who want to write fiction set in the Elite/Frontierverse, I would strongly recommend giving Youwriteon a go. It'll likely be a brutal experience at first (it was for me) but you do learn so much from the exposure and the critical feedback is away from potential readers that would be on here.

Certainly with my work, I'd happily share samples of things I'd write in the Elite/Frontierverse on here, but I wouldn't want you poor folk to be subjected to the rubbish early drafts. That's what a writing website is for.

I stress that's my view, no criticism intended.

constructive suggestions and personally i have looked into a youwriteon submission and the guide length for a novel is 5000-7000 words.

i would't want to submit something there until i felt it was well polished and proofed and so without any form of feedback prior to submission it would never happen.

Don’t proofread your own work. It’s pointless - Drew

again a writing website is a valid suggestion for someone already a member of one and this is also something i've looked into and found not to be feasible in the near term for two reasons:

1. before you can post a piece of your work on most writers forums to gain feedback to have to review at least a few other story's first and to pass muster each one would take a few hours. although this is good experience its time i feel better spent running drafts of my first two chapters through autocrit and doing rewrites for youwriteon.

2. although said forums have sections specific to fan fiction within their sci-fi forum it is unlikely that i would find someone as able to point out if i called an extra energy unit a recharge pack or if my space station references are in keeping with the universe.

as for subjected i disagree, if an affront to the English language is posted that makes someone want to claw their eyes out the wound is a self inflicted one as nobody forced them to look at someones work

just my two cents worth

 

[Cmdr Andy B]

Some fantastic suggestions there Drew. I've suggested a few things to people who've asked me which come from my years of teaching writing and critiquing submissions for literary agents.

If you've never heard of the website Autocrit (http://www.autocrit.com), go take a look. It'll help no end. I put everything I write through it. Doesn't mean I agree with everything it tells me though!

Just discovered a grammer checking site http://ed.grammarly.com it's paid only unfortunately as unlike autocrit there is no 400 word freebie but there is a 7 day free trial (on it myself now.)

anyone else have any experience of the site? looked to be mainly focused on education but it has a creative setting

 

[Darren Grey]

Just to add to some of the great guide stuff written above, there was a great radio series on the BBC recently called "The Sins of Literature":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0380rw8/episodes/guide

 

[Listeri69]

A guide to writing News style....

Is it an innuendo
Is it a double entendre
Can this name be deconstructed into being just slightly wrong

On no accounts use any rude words, the dirty mind is the listeners and the listeners alone.

all names must be realistic in nature i.e usually containing a real first name.

Mianus is a real place in Connecticut (look it up )

Stringed together puns/innuendo are encouraged.... the more you can get in a row the better.

The other characters are just if not more important than you are so make sure they have at least as many laughs as you do (also its funny listening to psykokow slip up over a particularly long Mianus gag)

probably most important when writing any comedic script always have a theme, not everyone will like your theme but that's the nature of comedy. If you can make just one other person laugh its a success. The first couple of News scripts I wrote were ok but it wasn't till episode 3 that we found the theme we wanted to go along.

And finally other people are funny too. Infact some of the best bits I think have come from the editing process with Mr Kow so like any writing style don't be afraid to be self critical and if someone comes up with a good suggestion don't be afraid to change it.

I'm not even in the same galaxy as the Elite Dangerous book writers. but when you get a comment from Drew saying he nearly crashed his car..... That made my week, I must be doing something right

 

[Frank]

Mianus is a real place in Connecticut (look it up )

I'll take your word for it. I'm not going to look up Mianus.

Thanks for the script, and sorry for what I did to it. I might have mangled your words beyond recognition but I had fun doing it.