Turning Short Stories into Novels.
It seems I am not the only writer with an inability to keep
a short-story short. I have just finished reading Aussie science fiction legend
George Turner’s collection of longish short- stories A Pursuit of Miracles. The
book’s 207 pages contain only eight stories, most of them novella length, three
of which Turner later turned into novels. One of the stories went on to become Genetic
Soldiers, which I mentioned in my last post. Another became his Arthur
C. Clarke award winner The Sea and Summer.
a short-story short. I have just finished reading Aussie science fiction legend
George Turner’s collection of longish short- stories A Pursuit of Miracles. The
book’s 207 pages contain only eight stories, most of them novella length, three
of which Turner later turned into novels. One of the stories went on to become Genetic
Soldiers, which I mentioned in my last post. Another became his Arthur
C. Clarke award winner The Sea and Summer.
One of the two novel manuscripts I have written started
off as a novella. Recently I managed to keep a short story to 7,000 words, but
my previous attempt blew out to 15,000 words. I think part of the difficulty
with writing short science fiction stories is creating a compelling world within
limited words. When I critiqued stories on critters.org I was always asking for
more detail about the world a writer was attempting to create.
off as a novella. Recently I managed to keep a short story to 7,000 words, but
my previous attempt blew out to 15,000 words. I think part of the difficulty
with writing short science fiction stories is creating a compelling world within
limited words. When I critiqued stories on critters.org I was always asking for
more detail about the world a writer was attempting to create.
The brilliant collection The Locus Awards – Thirty Years
of the Best in Fantasy and Science Fiction – has only 18 stories, most of
them novella length, in its 674 pages. In
contrast I have lost interest in magazines that are full of 2,000 – 5,000 word
stories.
of the Best in Fantasy and Science Fiction – has only 18 stories, most of
them novella length, in its 674 pages. In
contrast I have lost interest in magazines that are full of 2,000 – 5,000 word
stories.
New Divine Articles.
I have been
busy this week writing an article for
Divine Magazine. It is about how various organisations define disability. It
required a far bit of research of a pretty dry subject. I have been trying to
figure out how to write it in an interesting and enjoyable way. I am not sure
whether I have succeeded with the draft I completed on Thursday.
busy this week writing an article for
Divine Magazine. It is about how various organisations define disability. It
required a far bit of research of a pretty dry subject. I have been trying to
figure out how to write it in an interesting and enjoyable way. I am not sure
whether I have succeeded with the draft I completed on Thursday.
Meanwhile,
the editor of Divine is happy with my next two ideas for articles. And happily
for me, both will involve minimal research, as one is a review of a book that I
have already read and the other is from personal experience.
the editor of Divine is happy with my next two ideas for articles. And happily
for me, both will involve minimal research, as one is a review of a book that I
have already read and the other is from personal experience.
ReGenesis
Regenesis, a
new to Australia science fiction series, started on FX on Foxtel last week. I thought its writers must have watched the
movie Contagion as the opening of the first episode mirrored the
movie’s enthralling opening sequence showing how easily a virus can be spread.
But when I checked, Regenesis went to air in 2004, well before Contagion was
made. Regenesis is set in a Canadian bio-terrorism unit. Four seasons of the
series were made.
new to Australia science fiction series, started on FX on Foxtel last week. I thought its writers must have watched the
movie Contagion as the opening of the first episode mirrored the
movie’s enthralling opening sequence showing how easily a virus can be spread.
But when I checked, Regenesis went to air in 2004, well before Contagion was
made. Regenesis is set in a Canadian bio-terrorism unit. Four seasons of the
series were made.
Falling
Skies is Improving.
Skies is Improving.
I have been wondering whether the writers of Falling
Skies have been watching the brilliant zombie series The Walking
Dead. The Walking Dead is notable for the absence of gung-ho characters
and rebellious teenagers. I think its writers reckon that such foolish
characters would quickly be killed by zombies. In the last episode of Falling
Skies screened on Foxtel, one teenager died and one gung-ho character, whose
antics invited death, was expelled from the group of survivors.
Skies have been watching the brilliant zombie series The Walking
Dead. The Walking Dead is notable for the absence of gung-ho characters
and rebellious teenagers. I think its writers reckon that such foolish
characters would quickly be killed by zombies. In the last episode of Falling
Skies screened on Foxtel, one teenager died and one gung-ho character, whose
antics invited death, was expelled from the group of survivors.
0 Responses
Congrats on the Devine articles. That's great.
Haven't seen Regenises, or even heard of it.
Havent seen Falling Skies either. I'm afraid my time is limited. I barely get enough time for normal films and TV these days. My stepkids are obsessessed with reality TV crap. It's terrible.
My distance from sci-fi seems to be getting larger. About to undertake Game of Thrones Season 2 however.
Come back Anthony, come back to Science fiction, the genre that explores where we are and where we are going.