Post by Uncle Bob on Aug 11, 2008 15:31:04 GMT -5
Glows have always been somewhat of an interest to me. One of those odd little things we take for granted in Pern Writing and never really think about. (Hence – ‘take for granted’ – duh, Bob) The DLG points to four or five fitting in a man’s hand.
Seems to me that most fandom reference many years ago, when I was last active, is about the same as today; “they are a lot like mushrooms”. That opens up to several questions; are there different species resulting in different sizes and luminance; can they be cultivated, and how many does it take to supply a weyr or hold?
Now, before we go any further, I am not a complete anal moron obsessed with useless details. No, really I’m not!
Where most, if not all, of this ‘questioning what we take for granted’ stems from is a workshop I attended where the author presented an axiom to which I have clung. It is simply this, “The more logical and consistent the writer makes the smaller details of a Fantasy or Sci-Fi story, the easier it is for the reader to suspend belief for the larger details.”
A good example of this is found in Star Trek. Captain Picard steps to the “food replicator” and orders up a cup of Earl Grey tea, which seems very logical for an Earthling of Franco-Anglo descent. That makes the “food replicator” much easier to accept than if he had ordered up a cup of Saluguian Bio Muck. Also building on this ‘consistent logic’ premise, especially for those immersed in the Star Trek setting, is that the food replicator reconstitutes atoms on a sub-atomic level to achieve this feat; can you say "protein resequencer” or “how do you rid the ship of the waste products of over 400 people?”
Now, you are most likely wondering, “What does any of this have to do with Writing Pern?” The answer lies in the question of “Why are you Writing Pern?”
If you joined StarRise and are Writing Pern as a fun social activity (and there is certainly no problem with that), then this article does not have any application to your writing. You are writing for your sole enjoyment and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Go For It and Enjoy It. On the other hand, if you joined StarRise and are Writing Pern as a way to develop the ‘Art of Creative Writing’ in a group environment with a shared story setting, then this may be something that you will want to incorporate into your writing.
Along with the above axiom follows another, “The more believable it is to you, the more you will be able to convince your reader it is believable.” I seem to recall this was pertaining to the actions of a character, I think it can also apply to the setting of a story. In many ways, especially in Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres, the setting can also be considered a character... in an odd Uncle Bob sort of way.
Seems to me that most fandom reference many years ago, when I was last active, is about the same as today; “they are a lot like mushrooms”. That opens up to several questions; are there different species resulting in different sizes and luminance; can they be cultivated, and how many does it take to supply a weyr or hold?
Now, before we go any further, I am not a complete anal moron obsessed with useless details. No, really I’m not!
Where most, if not all, of this ‘questioning what we take for granted’ stems from is a workshop I attended where the author presented an axiom to which I have clung. It is simply this, “The more logical and consistent the writer makes the smaller details of a Fantasy or Sci-Fi story, the easier it is for the reader to suspend belief for the larger details.”
A good example of this is found in Star Trek. Captain Picard steps to the “food replicator” and orders up a cup of Earl Grey tea, which seems very logical for an Earthling of Franco-Anglo descent. That makes the “food replicator” much easier to accept than if he had ordered up a cup of Saluguian Bio Muck. Also building on this ‘consistent logic’ premise, especially for those immersed in the Star Trek setting, is that the food replicator reconstitutes atoms on a sub-atomic level to achieve this feat; can you say "protein resequencer” or “how do you rid the ship of the waste products of over 400 people?”
Now, you are most likely wondering, “What does any of this have to do with Writing Pern?” The answer lies in the question of “Why are you Writing Pern?”
If you joined StarRise and are Writing Pern as a fun social activity (and there is certainly no problem with that), then this article does not have any application to your writing. You are writing for your sole enjoyment and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Go For It and Enjoy It. On the other hand, if you joined StarRise and are Writing Pern as a way to develop the ‘Art of Creative Writing’ in a group environment with a shared story setting, then this may be something that you will want to incorporate into your writing.
Along with the above axiom follows another, “The more believable it is to you, the more you will be able to convince your reader it is believable.” I seem to recall this was pertaining to the actions of a character, I think it can also apply to the setting of a story. In many ways, especially in Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres, the setting can also be considered a character... in an odd Uncle Bob sort of way.
" That nifty California Gal
(Now, understand, I am very good at that, and it's a useful skill...but it leaves something to be desired on an artistic level.) And, belatedly reading your article, I'd have to agree with your premise. The more we understand, and breathe Pern, the more our writing conveys that reality that can be truer in books than in life. God is in the details. 
(I believe that quote predates the excellent "To Say Nothing of the Cat", but I have no idea where.)
Thanks to another member over at MoM