Random Fate

April 29, 2005

Fiction:

A poll for my regular readers

By Jack Grant

After working on the first blog-novella instigated by Christina at Feisty Repartee, I have discovered that for me to truly learn how to write fiction, I need external limitations imposed so that I can work within those limitations.

Oddly, the limitations free me in a way to finish what I start.

Perhaps one day I can impose those limitations upon myself, but until then, I will impose upon you, those who actually READ what I post here, to leave comments to help me decide what to write.

So, here's the deal:

I will put up a series of polls on what genre, theme, and other details for a fiction story that I will post in serial form here at Random Fate. I will do my very best to write and post something close to half a chapter a week. Through this I hope to both get the practice and the discipline necessary to write fiction that can actually be sold for money.

The first poll: What genre would you like my serial fiction on Random Fate to be? I will limit it to the areas I feel I can write within that do not require so much research that it would take me months to get a start.

So, choose from these genres (with examples):

hard science fiction (Arthur C. Clarke: 2001: A Space Odyssey)
science fantasy (George Lucas, et al.: Star Wars)

generic science fiction (Gene Roddenberry, et al.: Star Trek)

legendary fantasy (J.R.R. Tokien: The Lord of the Rings)

generic fantasy (any of the Dungeons and Dragons based books, the Robert Adams Horseclans books, the Thieves World compilations, a personal favorite for the early books of that series)

police procedural/detective fiction (it it ain't obvious to you, you won't know the references...)

alternate history (Harry Tutledove: The Guns of the South)

modern literary fiction (John Updike: any of the Garp novels)

historical fiction (none come to mind, but fiction set in events in actual history with no change of events, perhaps Ben Hur is the best example)

I will NOT try to write a Harlequin romance or something similar. I don't want to hone my skills using a bodice-ripper...

Nor will I enter the genre of the fanboy erotic science fantasy of the Gor series, not in public without a pseudonym anyway. If you don't know about those books, don't ask... It will take you to realms best not explored if you haven't already heard of them.

Leave your vote in the comments or by email. I'll post the results and the follow-up poll in a week, where I will ask about the theme of the work.

Posted by Jack Grant at 23:59 on 29 April 2005

Comments

generic sci/fi or detective fiction would be my preferences to see you write.

Posted by: vw bug at April 28, 2005 11:17 PM

Generic sci-fi like the little morality plays of original Star Trek and Twilight Zone.

Suggest starting with short stories, especially online. I hate to begin reading something only to find the author quit writing.

You write really well in your blog.

Posted by: mollymcrae at April 28, 2005 11:26 PM

Well, I miss hard science fiction. I'm never been a fan of alternate history, but Turtledove's Great War series has had me engaged for the past couple of months.

Historical fiction: have you read "Sarum" by Edward Rutherford? Excellent.

I've tried my hand at some light fiction, but it mostly confused the few readers I have. You can check out my Kudzu Stories category.

Posted by: Harry at April 28, 2005 11:45 PM

I'd like to see you go for science fantasy in the style of Peter F. Hamilton's "Night's Dawn Trilogy", but a short would probably work better.

Posted by: Dustin (Point Progression) at April 28, 2005 11:46 PM

detective or historical fiction.

Posted by: caltechgirl at April 29, 2005 12:06 AM

Oddly enough, one can combine detective and police procedurals (see Dell Shannon's Luis Mendoza novels).

Combining genres can give you some interesting starting points.

There's fantasy/detective novels (see Harry Turtledove's "Case of the Toxic Spell Dump") or fantasical elements set in the real world (see the "SERRAted Edge" and "Harry Potter" series).

I'd probably go with the hard science fiction idea, but leaning more towards "Foundation" rather than "2001" (I guess that'd be poli-sci/fi, wouldn't it?).

btw, did you have to mention Gor? I read the first one and was tempted to use it for barbecue starter. How Oliver Reed and Jack Palance got talked into doing the movie version, I'll never know (oddly enough, the movie was actually worse than the book).

Posted by: Doug McKay at April 29, 2005 12:27 AM

You really should read Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. If your book is going to have any kind of stance on politics of the time (as set by your book), then I REALLY suggest you read it. And I'm sure that people probably recommend books to you all the time, so what's different about this book?
Tolkien created a wonderfully descriptive world. Martin creates a wonderfully descriptive world, and captures the essence of humanity: the continuum of grey.

Posted by: arianne at April 29, 2005 02:29 AM

I'm just stuck on the fact you're not going to write about sex. Damn.

Seriously, you write, I'll read, I don't have an opinion. Just finish what you start so I don't end up with some character stuck in some situation and not having a clue what happens to them. I hate it when that happens.

Posted by: Boudicca at April 29, 2005 03:00 AM

I would lean towards the fantasy or science fantasy genres, and I am just reading (and enjoying) the Martin series that Arianne mentioned. For Sci/Fantasy I like the Pern series.

Posted by: Barb at April 29, 2005 03:01 AM

I'm with Bou on this one.

You know I think you write fiction beautifully.

I will read each and everything you post. I'm delighted to see you undertake this.

Thank you!

Posted by: Christina at April 29, 2005 03:03 AM

Hmm - I see you writing best in the generic sci-fi or the detective/police genres - perhaps you could even combine the 2 - leading to a sci-fi/detective story.

The best part about any sci-fi you would write would be that you would stick with real science or anything created would stick with scientific principles. I can suspend disbelief up to a point - then I just get annoyed. *grin*

No s-e-x??? *sigh* Oh well, if you insist I guess it's okay. Can't wait to see it when you get going on it!

Posted by: Teresa at April 29, 2005 04:26 AM

hard science fiction

Posted by: Ron Beasley at April 29, 2005 06:36 PM

science fantasy with a mix of detective fiction... a whodunit with space ships

Posted by: Shawn Liu at April 29, 2005 08:16 PM

Historical fiction, I say. That way, you don't have to create a starting point!!!

Posted by: Sam at April 30, 2005 12:28 AM

.. I agree with Sammy... Historical Fiction... lay it on us, bro...

Posted by: Eric at April 30, 2005 06:27 PM

police procedural/detective fiction

Posted by: Allan at April 30, 2005 07:46 PM