Hi! :-)
Yay for better weeks! The pregnancy part has been difficult still, but most everything was manageable. I think I'm going to be sick most of this pregnancy - already halfway through - and my doctor agrees. Sigh. Hypoglycemia and Epstein Barr make life pretty difficult sometimes, but especially while pregnant. But oh! Oh! Guess what?!?! We find out if the baby is a girl or a boy next Wednesday! I'm so excited!
Just for fun (and because I'm in charge - muawahaha), if you'd like to make a guess on the baby's gender, put it in a comment below. Also, we haven't decided on names, so put suggestions (both serious and silly!) in your comment if you'd like. :-)
Anyway. I've been dealing with my grandpa's death well, and things are moving to better times there. Spending time with family has helped a great deal.
I'm really looking forward to getting back to our fiction genre prompts. I received request for more genres, and those are reflected below. Remember, if you requested a genre, you'd darn well better participate! :-) (Wow. I'm a tad snarky today... I apologize. :-))
I haven't yet tried to search for prompt responses, but last week was able to hunt down a few and comment. Still not able to feature, but at least I could read! And thanks to Pam for forwarding links to me! Hoping I'll be able to feature again and soon.
On to the prompt!
We're focusing on specific fiction genres each week. We've covered:
If you want to write something regarding one of the above genres, click on it, read the prompt, write your post, and link to it in a comment on today's prompt. (I won't find it otherwise, even if you tag it correctly, since I don't monitor the tags after their due date.)
The order in which these genres will be covered:
- Science Fiction and Fantasy (today)
- Thriller (July 20)
- Crime/Detective, etc. (July 27)
- Inspirational (August 3)
- Humorous (August 10)
- Westerns (August 17)
- Short Fiction (August 24)
If I've missed a genre, see my previous post here regarding how to submit ideas for more genres. Leave a comment on this prompt, letting me know that you've submitted an idea.
Today's Prompt:
I absolutely love the science fiction and fantasy genres! Most everything I write (okay, all of it except one novella) has either a touch of, or is complete science fiction or fantasy. I've been in love with magic and other worlds and space since I was a little girl. I even planned on majoring in physics, with an emphasis in astronomy so I could become a Mission Specialist for NASA. :-) My tastes changed somewhat, and I did start out in that major, but switched to Audiology instead--the physics of hearing. Pretty fascinating, and still a field in physics. :-)
Anyway, science fiction is defined as "a form of fiction that draws imaginatively on scientific knowledge and speculation in its plot, setting, theme, etc." (from dictionary.com.) And fantasy is defined as "imagination, especially when extravagant and unrestrained." (Also from dictionary.com.) Basically, if magic is involved, it's fantasy.
The Phantom Tollbooth was one of my favorite stories as a child. I read it over and over again. And as a teenager, Michael Crichton books were my favorite. I rarely read anything else. Except thrillers. I love thrillers too. :-).
Ways in which you may respond to this prompt:
- Post something in the science fiction/fantasy genre you've written
- It can be any section of your work, and that section doesn't necessarily have to be an "example" of scifi/fantasy, so long as the work in its entirety is considered to be that genre.
- It can be any of the subgenres within the scifi/fantasy market.
- It can be something you're working on and for which you're needing feedback. (Specify if you want critiques. I recommend the first few paragraphs of your book - those are the ones that usually need the most strengthening.)
- It can be something you've already finished/published/don't want to work on more.
- Don't make it too long (if posts are too long, people are discouraged from reading them and lose interest).
More ways to respond:
- Respond to all (or some) of the questions below, giving short answers
- Respond to one of the questions below, giving a long answer
Questions you could answer as a possible prompt response:
- What is your absolute, all-time favorite fantasy book? Science fiction? If you don't remember, what are some of your favorites? Or books that stand out to you?
- Have you read any books in this genre lately?
- What are the main characteristics of mystery?
- Who is your favorite author in this genre? Why?
- For those of you who write in this genre (or these), when did you decide to write it?
- What was the first science fiction/fantasy book you remember reading?
- What is the most difficult part of writing science fiction and/or fantasy?
What other questions do you want answered or do you think I should ask? Put them in the comments below, or ask and answer them in your post!
Remember:
You have until Thursday, July 19, 2012 at midnight to write and post, and it can be in any format.
I will read, comment on, and feature your responses a week from today.
* Have your title say FWE or Friday Writing Essential, and have the initials "LFSF" (Let's Focus on Scifi/Fantasy) in it.
* Make sure to post to the Writing Essential Group.
* Put FWE or Friday Writing Essentials and the initials "LFSF" in your tags. (I won't find your post without these tags.)
Have a great week! :-)
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Comments: 24
Thanks for posting a link to yours! I really appreciate it.
I'm currently writing the fifth book of my sci-fi series here on Gather. Here's the link to the most recent chapter, and there's an index of the previous chapters at the bottom of it:
The Hannaria Series: Where the Oasis Blooms Chapter 14--Alex Verin
What I love about writing sci-fi is its flexibility. I can draw from elements of other genres and have a range of growth in my characters by putting them in a variety of situations.
Have a great night!
Tricia
Girl.
Cassidy.
For a male's name, I really like Ethan, Nathan, Chris(That's my older son's name), and well, I can't think of anything more for some reason.
And a boy - got you down for that! :-)
My favorite fantasy writer is Mercedes Lackey and I have read almost every book she's written. My special favs are all her Tales of 500 Kingdoms and the Elemental Masters series. She is brilliant, funny, witty, and offers stories with great plots, interesting and engaging characters, and dialogue that is never stilted or forced! I am SUCH a fan!!!
And you're right - Emmalena is sooo pretty! Sad day - one of my siblings named her daughter Emmalee, and one of my husband's sisters named her daughter Emma. They'd probably think I was trying to be like them. :-) But Emmalena is so very pretty! I'm going to see how my husband feels about using it as a middle name or something.
Great prompt, Andrea. There should be exciting responses.
Happy surprise to you next week!
The irony here is that the amount of effort I have put into create this fictional "world" supported by actual scientific studies, theories, and facts is like researching for a thesis. So the "nutty" part is not the characters or the storyline, (I could set such a drama in the here and now, with a lot less effort) but the amount of work that goes into creating a believable sci-fi world and having the readers feel that they could actually live in this world.