A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

I haven't seen this topic approached in any other thread, and if it has, I apoligize for wasting bandwidth.

I am impressed with a great many of the Fan Fiction authors and the work they labor over. I find myself drawn to SEIV much more with each story I read.

What I would like is for the authors of such Fan Fiction to post tips on how they do what they do. What is the process they go through when creating their stories? What is the hardest part? What do you try to avoid?

Are big games with hundreds of systems unworkable, or are smaller games better for stories?

I think tips, suggestions, or any insight others can give will only lead to more Fan Fiction for all of us to enjoy.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Hello, welcome to the forum.

I haven't seen this topic before. It's been mentioned before, but never in a dedicated thread.

Before my own 'war for the stars' story, I had never written any fiction. I had written a few articles for local game magazines and translated some game-related material. About the closest I had come to fiction was a few introductory paragraphs for homemade game scenarios.

Then I read Sachmo's "Rise of the Remorhaz Society". It gave new depth to the game. This was a typical standard SEIV game, but with real, living characters to which you became gradually attached. And you knew that this wasn't a television series or movie in which the main characters never die. On the contrary, they may die suddenly and unexpectedly the next time the author clicks on the 'next turn' button. This was something I could get into.

But I didn't start writing right away. This idea took shape over several months, until one day I woke up and said to myself, "I can do it. I can write a Space Empires story."

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Fear not! If a thread like the Name-changing thread can exist here, you can rest assured that you're not going to be looked down upon for bandwidth usage http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...;f=23;t=006550

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

I have enjoyed, and been impressed by both your thread Erax, as well as the Sachmo's work. You both are doing an excellent job.

I myself am contemplating doign something similar, for exactly the reasons you cite- the lure of a story where the unexpected is all to possible.

What do you do to prepare for your installments? What kind of notes do you take? Do you write as you play, or do you play several turns, then write?

How do you keep track of all the characters?

Is a strong AI opponent better in terms of creating a dynamic story, or is a lower level AI preferable?

Thanks for the welcome and the replies!

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

First, Erax, if my story inspired you to write yours, then my whole effort is truly worth it! Thanks for saying that...it made my day.

Clark,

I don't do much in the way of preparation. I just play a turn and watch how it comes out, writing as I go. SEIV is Alt-Tab friendly, so it allows me to switch over to my Word doc quickly. I have story threads in my mind (which, oddly enough, usually come to when while I'm brushing my teeth and shaving in the morning?) but as Erax said they can change in the blink of an eye. So they key for me is to be flexible and have fun. I find myself being overly cautious at times, hoping that my main characters don't get vaporized, and I take less risks in the game.

To keep track of my characters, at the end of my story I have an information section with all sorts of notes about the galaxy. It lists character names and details, military structure, system information, ship losses to date, and a host of other things. I generally check here to ensure that I don't suddenly replace one ship's captain with another.

As I read back over Remorhaz, I find it interesting to watch how the writing itself shaped the story...I started out with a narrative that had many references to the game, and then moved to an event by event format, to now what is basically a novella. Who knows how it will turn out, but the biggest key for me is that I have fun doing it, and that people are enjoying and responding to it. After all, writers write for their audience, no matter what they say. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Good luck and I look forward to reading your work!

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

It depends if you are basing your story off a game. I've based my story off the space empires universe but there's no game behind it, whilst sachmo's and erax's are based on a game.

I keep a word file with all sorts of trivial notes in, going from month by month including when charcters are introduced/killed off, battles, facilities constructed, captains for ships etc. Thats the easiest way to keep track of things

I'm guessing that a large quadrent would be overkill. The best thing in my opinion is do a small or medium galaxy. For my story i drew out a map of systems and at max there are 20. Big maps things start getting confusing for the reader http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Anything else just ask, all us writers will be willing to help! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I have to admit Sachmo, it's not only erax you inspired to write a story. You and Atrocitie's great stories inspired me to write my own, i can remember the very night i read most of your completed chapters on Spaceempires.org and it fits together beautifully http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ June 18, 2003, 18:36: Message edited by: Senator Raging Deadstar ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

For my story (End of the Line), I used a 2-system hermit empire...
It was a valiant struggle against overwhelming numbers and tech, just to survive in a hostile world.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

My first story was a 256 systems map...
A grand epic saga! (NGC2)
I had help by the other co-authors, our stories influenced each others, our main characters interacting.
So sometimes I would put the words in the mouth of the other authors charachters and sometimes they would do the same with mine, real fun.

The story could suddenly take a whole new turn, to bad most of my characters died http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Thank you all for your input so far, but the interrogation, "She must continue!" (imagine a thick german accent)

I have downloaded the TDM mod, so I think I have quite a few races to work with, but are there certain ones that might make better opponents or foils for a story based SE4 game?

Do you play differently in terms of what you research in the game, or in other words, do you alter your strategy to fit into your developing storyline?

My main issue is I have a tech strategy that I consider optimal for my playing style, however, early introduction of certain weapons (like the phased polaron) can make for unbalanced tension in the story. Part of the draw to some of these fan fiction stories (for me) is the "impposible odds" as your race is confronted with Organic technology while all you have is a DUC.

In your opinion, am I better served trying to actualy role-play the game to the point where I determine stragey from the perspective of the characters and the universe?

IE- not really reserching weapons technology until you encounter a real need for weapons tech (like the Rage)?

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

You could always have a militant or paranoid race...

With mine, I was bent on terraforming my universe to perfection, and stacked up 3000 mines to keep the AIs from bothering me while I did it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

All that research into planet improvement left me with a huge military deficit, and my LCs had to go on some tech raids against the ever-present dreadnoughts roaming the badlands beyond the minefields. And all with the minesweepers continually bashing away at the fields, providing that countdown to Doom.

[ June 18, 2003, 19:09: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Hello and welcome,

I don't know if you have read the story I am writing or not, but I figure that since I have written one I could offer some advice.

I started writing a while back first with the Cleansing stories, (Star Trek based) and later with the Once Upon The Starts (OUTS). I started OUTS after reading Sachmo's "Rise of the Remorhaz Society" and fell in love with his concept of using SEIV as a story base. Yes Sachmo inspired me as well to write. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I wanted to do something differant and make it the story more involved than just the standard 'we did this this turn' format. I wanted my story to more drama and suspense.

When I sit down to write I always have a basic concept of what it is I want to accomplish for the segment or chapter. After that its all comes out as I type. The story seems to take on a life of its own, sometimes it can be exciting, other times a bit boring, but in the end, it is all good. (Or so I hope)

I do what many writers do with a lot of characters, I have a seprate information page. Each character, item, place, etc is listed on this information page and with it a brief description or back story.

I write because I enjoy it, and even though my work is appreciated by a few people, according to the recent pole, I keep writing because it is enjoyable.

If I had one peace of advice to give it would be to just write and not think so much about what it is your writing, let your imagination do the work and you sit back and enjoy the ride. Good luck and I do look forward to reading your work. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ June 18, 2003, 20:06: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

OK, I told you how I decided to sit down and write a story, now I'll tell you the choices I made before I started typing away.

I knew I was going to write a turn-report kind of story, because I liked ROTRS so much. But it also had to offer something different, something the other stories hadn't touched on before. I had been playing around with the Crossover mod some time before and I love Star Wars, so I decided to start a game as the Star Wars Empire and give every other race standard SEIV tech. I believed conflict and interaction between the different tech trees would be fascinating (and it is, but I've discovered it takes second place to role-playing the Empire).

In my special case, I knew my tech tree would be a challenge in itself (small ships initially, expensive weapons research, few opportunities to steal alien tech), so I set the AI at an easy level - medium difficulty and no bonus.

As for the story format itself, I wanted it to be different too. I got the idea for the 'war diary' format from Dracula (of all things). It is a challenge to write the battle scenes in this format but it makes the standard 'we did this and this happened' part much easier.

The initial Posts were actually quite easy, they practically wrote themselves. I checked my thread and discovered I did 13 story Posts in the first three days. After that things started slowing down, the game and the story became more complex and I eventually settled down to a routine of one post a day, five or six a week (although this week I've missed two days already and I am angry at myself for it).

More about how I write up each 'diary entry' later.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Ok, well I'm going to put in my over-rated 2 cents worth. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Oh, and I will also jump on the bandwagon that Sachmo's story inspired me to write. His along with Atrocities and also the first History of the Galaxy thread.

But I just as everyone else have another word document with all information I need. Names of my characters, what their position is, names of ships/bases. Sometime I'll have planet names there too whenever my story develops some colonies.
As far as how I write and wether I have the plot line laid out. Right now I am only 3 turns into my game and I have a few chapters out. It takes me a few chapters before I can advance the game another turn. So I play and write at the same time really. I do as Sachmo does and use alt-tab alot back and forth. When I start writing a chapter I just have a general idea of what I want to do with that particular chapter. Then as I go along things just keep coming and I add to the chapter to get the end result.

As for how I play the game. I usually play it close to how I normally would but the game story that I am writing now calls for me not to. The people I write about (Hevordians) did not believe in other planets or anything other then their single planet inside this nebula, they do not think there are any other races out there either. They are a highly research devoted people and so I am playing the game at this point by not developing any weapons until I meet another race. Which will be awhile as its a medium galaxy. So I'll be behind as far as weapon technology goes but that will only add to the story and make things more interesting. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

But I just suggest you find what works best for you and stick with it. We all have different writing styles and that's what makes all of our stories unique.

I certainly look forward to your future work. Oh, and welcome! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

For OUTS, I had the whole concept already planned out in my mind before I started writing. I did make some changes along the way, and added and subtracted things.

I was targetting about 75k in words for the first full segment of the story, I.E. everything prior to 2400.0.

The segment, originally intended as one chapter, tells the back story and provides hints of other stories that I have tried to intertwind with the over all story. You know, to add a bit of drama and mystery to the story.

In retrospect, I wish I would have started the story off differantly and filled in some of the technobable a bit more carefully and explaining things more clearly, but what the hell, live and learn I guess. I can always rewrite the beginning.

It is a rewarding experience to read peoples thought and comments on your work. I am an amature and my grammer and spelling skills are not all that great so writing is also a learning experience for me.

I guess the point to writing is just to write and let your thoughts flow. It can be a lot of fun, but typing for hours on end can be a bit much at times.

I do most of my writing in the morning from midnight to about 5 am.

I like the night because it is peaceful and relaxing. No phone calls, no unexpected visitors, no intruptions, and no noise.

SEIV is such a great platform for creative writing that Aaron should list is as one of the game features. I wish that all of the stories generated by this game could be polished up and put on the SE V CD for people to read.

In fact, it would be a great if some of us could write for SE V the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sachmo, you are most welcome. I had never read good fan fiction before ROTRS, just some rather bland SW and ST stories. Because of your story, I went on to read excellent stuff by Atrocities and others, which I would have missed otherwise.

Now on to how I write. I always keep the game ahead of the story; sometimes it's a single turn ahead and sometimes as much as six. Unlike Sachmo and Rags, I use old-fashioned pen and paper for my notes. I try to put as much info as I can on characters, organizations, etc. on the thread itself so I have access to it whenever I am Online, but I am reaching the point where I too will need a separate 'fact sheet'.

The story adds many limitations to the game. One example : I can't simply raise units in a captured world, I have to import them from my loyal colonies. The game allows me to do it but there would be no reasonable way to explain it in the story.

I write from my notes directly into the 'post a reply' screen. I reread my entries two or three times, then hit 'add reply'. I always read the entry one Last time after it's been posted (and I often catch mistakes there, as you can see by the number of edits I do).

The hardest part for me is giving every character a unique 'voice'. I'm keeping the number of main characters down to a minimum because I am not fully satisfied with this aspect of the story yet.

There's something else I've been meaning to say for a while... writing turn reports is an easy way to start. The game tells you the what, when and where, so you only have to worry about who, how and why. Freestanding fiction - like Once Upon the Stars - is much more difficult.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

I admit, I have yet to read any of these stories. Mostly because I didn't want to read about yet *another* races introduction to the cosmos. But now that there's a thread about them I feel compelled to sit down and read one or two of them and see what it is that everyone is talking about.

*Goes off to sate his curiosity*

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

These are some great tips, keep it up!

Anybody have experience, or insight into developing alien socieities? Or even as enemies?

Also, if anyone has this offhand, I know I could benefit from a galactic measuring stick for the game.

What is the distance of one space in the solar system view?

What is the distance of one sector between solar systems (a solar system is one sector big)

What is the distance of one movement in tactical?

Or does it matter?

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

To create good aliens, you might want to read stories by writers who make good alien races. I suggest Larry Niven, Hal Clement and James White. There's also an excellent book called 'The Alien Way', but I don't remember the author.

These are all oldies from my father's SF collection, but they're probably still in print.

Edit : The system maps in SEIV are not astronomically accurate. I suggest you make up your own units to describe them - Sectors, Standard Units, whatever works for you.

I see the quadrant map more as a representation of the warp paths between the systems, not as an indication of their physical location in space (although there is the issue of distance for warp point openers and such).

I personally try to avoid using 'north-south-east-west' for directions in space, these terms are meant to be used on a planet's surface.

[ June 19, 2003, 14:25: Message edited by: Chief Engineer Erax ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

What is the distance of one space in the solar system view?
Variable. Using our solar system as a rough guide, each ring out from the star is twice as far as the next one in.

What is the distance of one sector between solar systems (a solar system is one sector big)
10 light-years, according to the warppoint opener components. And don't forget Pythagorus for diagonal trips.

What is the distance of one movement in tactical?
As far as you want it to be.

[ June 19, 2003, 14:21: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

my 0.02:

Writing is great fun, just dive in and do it. If you find the idea of a whole game's worth a bit unnerving, start with some short stories (a few pages or so) and work your way up.

All my writing so far has been SE4 based, but not related to any actual game. I've just started some game-based writing and I have to say it's pretty daunting. I prefer the freedom of not being limited by game events, game maps etc.

Whether or not you're using an actual game as a guide though, I think the most important thing is to put some thought into your characters and their setting.
Always be asking "what would my character really do in this situation?" If you don't know, then you need to think harder about your character. It's a great way of building the characters up and avoiding unbelievable/ unrealistic scenarios.

If you have believable characters in an interesting universe (one with lots of scope for exploration, conflict and general scifi wierdery) then the story will simply write itself. Your head will fill up with great events and your only problem will catching them all on screen before they get forgotten again=-)

Finally, get as many ppl to read it as you can. Not just us lot here, but also your friends, family, colleagues... anyone who can give you an opinion and suggest improvement. Try the http://www.speculativevision.com/forum/ forum, it's a place dedicated to offereing constructive criticism to authors.

The wider the spectrum of readers, the broader your universe will become.

On that note:
Have you read Othaglot and Cane? Read it today! Just click the banner below for an interstellar tale of murder, betrayal, intrigue and a gratuitous alien shower scene.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

This was posted by CNC Raymond on another thread, but I feel it would be more appropriate to answer it here.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A) Hey, it's free therapy (at least for me).
B) I am training my writing skills so I can write better and faster when I DO get paid for it.
C) My work may inspire others, who will begin their own stories which I will read, so ultimately everyone gains.
D) Recognition by one's peers is a form of payment. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

I fully agree with you Erax, and I am proof that others work will inspire some to take to the pen... err, I mean the keyboard. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I might also add, and this is merely a warning to all other authors who have addicted me to their stories (which is all of you, bastards!), I plan on getting you all hooked on my stories.

At which point, I will require payment from all of you in the form of UPDATES to your very own stories. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[evil grin] "Ve ave vays of making you talk." Muhahahaha.

Beware, you have been warned.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">*Slowly backs off from Clark.* Uhh, ok, I think I'll be going now. *Takes off running away.* No! I can't do it! I'm too hooked on your story! *Returns and rereads the first two chapters.* Whew, I feel better now.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

I am working on Chapter 3, which should be posted later toady... I have a little more time, so it should be a little more 'addictive'.

"Come on man, just read another one, it won't hurt ya. Everybody is doing it. You know you want it."

I have a few more questions for the Professors:

Which do you find to be more enjoyable, or 'better' in terms of story progression?

Exposition driven- where descriptions of events move the story along,

or

dialogue and character driven, whereby the story is primarly moved via character interaction and dialogue?

Or, as always, a combo of the two?

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'd say deffinately a combo of both. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Mine has no dialogue at all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

But my advice is, use whatever seems to work best for any given scene.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Hey Erax, don't worry, you're doing very well without it- you have a different angle (good!), and I would hate to see you change it unneccessarily!

Besides, I must admit, I have tried my hand at screenwriting a few times, so I tend to be more comfortable with light exsposition and heavy dialogue to move a story along. I anm trying to work on that though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I posted chapter 3, so I am looking forward to more customers for my dru- er, I mean readers for my non-addictive and totaly 'free' story.

And Ragnaork, you can run, but you can't hiiiiidee...

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

What caused me to start writing?
Obviously the earlier stories I've read here.
But also something that I though was funny.
One of my neighbours in a game wanted to make a trade, and I could accept that trade even though I didn't have what he was asking for, I though that was kind of sneaky and started writing:
<font size=1>
Weyrlings
Mon, Nov 18 at 07:33:30 EST

WEYRLINGS 2403.4
================
"-Sire", the colonel was always afraid when he approached the God Emperor Ruatha, you never knew what humour he'd have, sometimes it amused him to chop off heads before lunch.
"-Yes, What is it", Ruatha answered impatiently, wifting his tail high in the air.

"-The Sons of Thunder has asked for a trade, they want Ice colonization tech from us, they will give us plenty in return".
The Colonel had his tail pressed to the ground in the humiliating ritual that the God Emperor Ruatha demanded of all subjects that approached him.

"-What is the problem then, make the trade"

"-But, but.. We don't have Ice Tech, Sire"

"-Well, do they know that? If so why do they bother us, anyway they should be destroyed, kill them all!"</font size>


But I'm currently thinking that the Last installment I made in NGC3 is the best I've made so far http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif
I'm thinking of the line:

We stand with our feets at the edge of the abyss, we need to take a big step forward to ensure our safety. And that ..."

[ June 20, 2003, 19:46: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Thank you! LOL.

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope you're not thinking of the giant letters that recently visited this thread...a <font size=8> big </font size> mistake... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: A guide for would be Fan-Fiction Authors
 

Ha, no. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Remember, it's not the size of your text that counts, it's what you say with it, and who you say it to, that count.

Oh yeah, a mild foot fetish dosen't hurt either.