#IWSG–When does technical become boring
This post is for Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group (click the link for details on what that means and how to join. You will also find a list of bloggers signed up to the challenge that are worth checking out like Kate and Rebecca who inspired me to begin). The first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for fellow writers.
This month’s insecurity – I put a lot of science in my stories because it is so gal-darn amazing. In my recent WIP, I have
invisibility cloaks (based on metamaterials)
DNA virus (that infects a computer)
finding anything iron by their magnetic signature
It’s always based on fact, just extrapolated from there. I call it ‘Star Trek Science’ or ‘Scientific Fiction’, but others simply call it boring. Too complicated.
Yet I can’t seem to stop. Every plot line aims like a yellow brick road to a science complication. Sure I can steer it a different direction, but when I listen to my characters and/or follow the flow of the story, I end up adding amazing science that makes it all work–like Vulcan kal-tow.
What do I do? (Here’s a background piece I wrote 6 years ago–same story! Sigh)
More IWSG articles:
Am I good enough? Does it matter?–#IWSG
Fear of Saying Dumb Things Scares Me to Death
#IWSG–The World is Changing–Can I keep up
Will I Find Employment if I’m an Older Job Hunter?
Jacqui Murray is the author of dozens of books (on technology in education) as well as the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: plot, writing Tagged: insecure writers group, iwsg, opinion, scientific fiction, writers
