tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post6877859236002778830..comments2024-03-29T03:45:01.236-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Designing a StoryJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-19061916970539885002008-12-30T11:11:00.000-08:002008-12-30T11:11:00.000-08:00Juliette,Thanks for the encouragement, and for the...Juliette,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the encouragement, and for the book title. I'm not actually as frustrated as I might sound; just like to kvetch. 8)Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-73683593516052169392008-12-29T17:26:00.000-08:002008-12-29T17:26:00.000-08:00Hi, Catreona!I'm glad to see that you're thinking ...Hi, Catreona!<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to see that you're thinking a lot, and sorry to hear that it's frustrating. All this stuff you're mentioning is really good to know as background for a story, so I don't think you're doing the wrong thing by thinking through it. You might look Mary Doria Russell's <I>The Sparrow</I> for one treatment of how different planet species might be edible one by the other (it also has a really interesting angle on religion, which might intrigue you if you haven't already read it). I think you can probably look up what happens with introduced species yourself, but it's a tough balance when there is no natural predator to eat the species or keep it in check. <BR/><BR/>As far as the things your characters might have learned in school, that's another issue. If you can think through the attitude and goals of the original settlers, you might find ways to reflect that in your characters' life philosophies. Maybe the goals of the original settlers have established a set of ideals that are valued in different ways by their distant descendants, who may not have to deal with exactly the tough things their ancestors did. You might want to check out my post entitled "Don't make them all the same" for more details on that. <BR/><BR/>To make a long story short, I think you're doing the right thing, and the more relevant you can make it to the current story, the better off you'll be. The things you know will come to be reflected, even unconsciously, in the way you write the characters, and suddenly they'll <I>feel</I> like inhabitants of another planet, and won't so easily be misconstrued as British-sounding occupants of a fantasy world.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure the story will grow better and better as a result.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-66393363658470154302008-12-29T15:36:00.000-08:002008-12-29T15:36:00.000-08:00Poo! I'm nowhere close to finishing my tale set on...Poo! I'm nowhere close to finishing my tale set on Nova Britannia, and here you have me thinking about ancient history - when the Settlers came, how they initially interacted with the indigenes, how the two groups might have established initial communications. <BR/><BR/>From your darned questions during the workshop you've already got me thinking about ecology and introduced species. That is, the Settlers probably brought at least some plants and animals from Earth. How might these have integrated with the existing planetary ecosystem? Here on Earth, the paradigm seems to be that introduced species always harm the ecosystem into which they are introduced. But, is this a universal truth? Might Earth species find niches in a new planet's ecosystems without wiping out local species? I know zip about ecological science, but the question intrigues me.<BR/><BR/>Come to that, how would the Settlers integrate into the existing planetary ecology and economy? Would they use a Europeans in the Americas type model, or something else entirely? This ties in with communications, of course. And the Earthmen are the "aliens" in this case, so it behoves them to learn and adapt rather than expect the indigenes to adapt to them.<BR/><BR/>But, darn it, all this *is* ancient history. It all took place hundreds of years before my tale. And, I'm having enough trouble with that. Why do you want to go and get my juices flowing on something my characters might not so much as remember learning in school? :P 8)<BR/><BR/>Hate it when people expect me to *think*! :lol:Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.com