tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406419060193144228.post7446080087139330685..comments2022-02-09T03:06:58.862-08:00Comments on KL's Writing FAQ's: What Makes Science Fiction Different from Other Literary Genres? #SFWAproKathryn (KL) Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01801435890997786332noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406419060193144228.post-44761889713216635282015-03-16T05:11:37.463-07:002015-03-16T05:11:37.463-07:00Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, Anne. I don&#...Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, Anne. I don't think what happened to you was an isolated incident, but I also don't think it is that common, at least not in literary or serious science fiction. I now have a trilogy out, but I never intended to write even a sequel. I explain how it happened in an earlier post--but basically my editor made me change the ending of the original book at the last minute, which then left things open for a sequel. The third book in the series, Pandora's Promise, was written thirty years after the first two. In each book I strove to tie up EVERY loose end, and in the third one worked hard to make it accessible to people who had not read the first two books. The only science I assume my readers know is basic, elementary genetic theory such as is taught in high school biology.Kathryn (KL) Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01801435890997786332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406419060193144228.post-54415398148230980532015-03-16T04:07:35.648-07:002015-03-16T04:07:35.648-07:00I enjoyed your breakdown Kathryn. What you say is ...I enjoyed your breakdown Kathryn. What you say is absolutely true and it's one of the reasons I've always struggled to read sci-fi. I love mysteries so 'puzzles' aren't out of the question for me but so many sci-fi authors assume their readers know far more than they really do. I learned this lesson handily a few years back. <br /><br />I used to have a book review website. A debut sci-fi author approached me to read his book. It was good and, of course, like all good sci-fi stuff it ended in a cliffhanger and set the reader up for the sequel but I was also left with some very nagging questions after book one that were never answered anywhere in the book and that didn't seem to be fodder for a sequel either. I questioned the author about those things and was told that for paperback publication size restrictions, publishers like to see about 100,000 words. His original manuscript had been 150,000+. He'd had to trim 25,000+ words to appease the publisher and most of the information that I felt was lacking was a part of what was cut to meet publication restrictions. Maybe dedicated sci-fi readers don't mind stuff like that but if you're trying to pull in a more mainstream audience, leaving out information that will help them get into your story probably isn't the way to go. <br /><br />Is what I've described an isolated incident in the fantasy or sci-fi realms? I'd be willing to bet that it isn't. Anne Haganhttp://www.annehaganauthor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406419060193144228.post-28646865797461415982015-03-15T16:50:26.064-07:002015-03-15T16:50:26.064-07:00Exactly, Kate! Well put! I think that knowledge of...Exactly, Kate! Well put! I think that knowledge of science per se is not nearly as important in reading sf as a willingness to use your own imagination and enter into the story with the author. Similarly with mystery fiction.Kathryn (KL) Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01801435890997786332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406419060193144228.post-39429237457108245502015-03-15T14:39:00.160-07:002015-03-15T14:39:00.160-07:00It's true that a big part of sci-fi's appe...It's true that a big part of sci-fi's appeal is puzzle-solving, filling in the blanks. In other genres, there are no blanks to fill. We already know the basics of 1930 Chicago or mid-1800s rural England, so all we have to do is sit back and have the author tell us a story. Which is OK, but it lacks the fun of those Aha! moments in mysteries or sci-fi.<br /><br /><br />Katenoreply@blogger.com