Writing a Trek novel...

[BrotherBenny]

But warp factors are a completely different ballgame entirely. There's nothing to even work from since even on-screen goes at speed of plot (see ENT for numerous examples).

Let's not pick on ENT; the problem goes back as far as TOS. "That Which Survives" asserted that the ship could cover 990.7 light-years in 11.33 hours at warp 8. That's about 766,000 c, but warp 8 is supposed to be 512c. So the stated warp velocity is about 1500 times higher than the published scale alleged it to be.

I'm too young to have nitpicked TOS to that degree, Christopher, but I take your point. The point I was trying to make however, is that there is no basis for warp speed calculation, and that site to linked to is one I have used myself for fanfic, but even so I had to fudge it for speed of plot. I suppose that the calculation is useful to start from, but if you need to fudge it, you need to.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Is it possible to submit just the idea for the story to the editor, then, without actually wishing to write the story myself?

No, because ideas are the easiest part. The editors can generate hundreds of alternate ideas that would be just as compelling as yours, not to mention the incoming pitches from the regular stable of established ST writers.

 

[Christopher]

Is it possible to submit just the idea for the story to the editor, then, without actually wishing to write the story myself?

Therin's right -- that's simply not the way it works. That's like saying you want to suggest surgical techniques to doctors without studying medicine yourself, or that you want to propose ideas for buildings without being a trained professional architect. Why would any employer want to take suggestions from an amateur when there are experienced professionals available?

I think a lot of fans fail to understand just how different writing as a profession is from writing as a hobby. It takes a lot of work, training, and dedication, just like any other serious profession. There's a lot of competition for the finite number of publishing slots, and to earn one of those slots, you have to rise above the pack. You can't just get an opportunity handed to you. You have to work for it and earn it.

If all you want is to tell one story and you aren't interested in doing the work to become a professional, then just write it as a fanfic and post it in the appropriate online forum. Professional writing is a whole different ball game.

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

Is it possible to submit just the idea for the story to the editor, then, without actually wishing to write the story myself?

Therin's right -- that's simply not the way it works. That's like saying you want to suggest surgical techniques to doctors without studying medicine yourself, or that you want to propose ideas for buildings without being a trained professional architect. Why would any employer want to take suggestions from an amateur when there are experienced professionals available?

I think a lot of fans fail to understand just how different writing as a profession is from writing as a hobby. It takes a lot of work, training, and dedication, just like any other serious profession. There's a lot of competition for the finite number of publishing slots, and to earn one of those slots, you have to rise above the pack. You can't just get an opportunity handed to you. You have to work for it and earn it.

If all you want is to tell one story and you aren't interested in doing the work to become a professional, then just write it as a fanfic and post it in the appropriate online forum. Professional writing is a whole different ball game.

Good post...

 

[Rush Limborg]

^And I suspect that's why you are to send, along with the synopsis, your first three chapters. They want to see if you can write, and not just come up with ideas.

 

[Christopher]

^And I suspect that's why you are to send, along with the synopsis, your first three chapters. They want to see if you can write, and not just come up with ideas.

Exactly.

 

[Warp Rider]

Since it seems to be suggested that we'd have to write a novel with an already established crew/ series, I guess I could probably write up an ST: ENT story. If I ever tried my hand at making a Trek novel that is.

Though I'd love to be able to write my own title someday. It'd be cool, though a lot of work, yes, but still it would be... fun. :P

But for now I can still do so for a fanfic, without having a deadline on my back too. XD

 

[Jbarney]

I have really enjoyed this thread.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I have really enjoyed this thread.

Me too...

I hope this thread continues, and I can hear of how other writers and their projects develop.

For me, I have came up with three ideas. Two are going in my Book of Ideas (basically a database of notes for my film/writing career)...and the one I'm working on currently.

I set myself a deadline of Oct 3rd to generate my idea: Synopsis (8-12), 3 chapters...(All the while balancing..uh..'reality' i.e. UC stuff going on, job, etc...)

It's going to be fun....

I have my pile of Star Trek novels from the library on the floor right now. (Three from the series I'm going to be working in, are at my side)....

May the force be with me....(Yes, wrong universe...but you get the idea).

 

[BrotherBenny]

Since it seems to be suggested that we'd have to write a novel with an already established crew/ series

Just a 10 page synopsis and three sample chapters, not the whole novel.

And yes, I am loving this thread too. But I'm working on a historical novel at the moment. Though I do have an idea or two for a Trek novel.

 

[Rush Limborg]

I have a ton of ideas in my Big Black Books...and only a few aren't Star Trek.

And those few...require a lot of research on the CIA, the FBI, the court system, that sorta thing. It's gonna be a long while before I get enough knowledge under my belt for that.

Some of my Trek ideas are now outdated (I had a concept for the Romulan War--which I wasn't really in love with, so thanks, Mike and Andy, for taking that off my chest! ), a few I've just abandoned--but the vast majority I'm still quite fond of.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I have a ton of ideas in my Big Black Books...and only a few aren't Star Trek.

And those few...require a lot of research on the CIA, the FBI, the court system, that sorta thing. It's gonna be a long while before I get enough knowledge under my belt for that.

Some of my Trek ideas are now outdated (I had a concept for the Romulan War--which I wasn't really in love with, so thanks, Mike and Andy, for taking that off my chest! ), a few I've just abandoned--but the vast majority I'm still quite fond of.

I'm pretty sure Tom Clancy had to 'fake' it when he was doing his Jack Ryan techno-thrillers....(Of course, he was able to get 'hands on' with his research for later novels as he became famous).

If you have a general idea of your storyline, I'm sure you can tweak things to fit depending if you want realism or if you want things to adhere to your storyline.

I wanted to point out John Grisham in regards to court related material, but he already had experience in the legal system. Regardless, I think it's based on the needs of your story...and the audience you're going for.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Well, in regards to Tom Clancy...when The Hunt For Red October first came out, a certain high-ranking officer stormed into the Pentagon (I think that's right), book in hand, and roared, "WHO THE CLEARED THIS?!?"

Tom later noted that he did do a lot of research--and that the info had been "cleared" already, and was available to anyone who wanted to check it out....

Thanks for the tips, though!

 

[TerriO]

Research can actually be fun.

My favorite so far has been researching Tuscan winemaking techniques.

The most inventive I've had to get, though, has to be with U.N. information. It's not exactly like they let you behind the scenes there with regularity these days. Fortunately, I work within a mile of the U.N. headquarters, and the bookstore there has been my friend.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

^Well, in regards to Tom Clancy...when The Hunt For Red October first came out, a certain high-ranking officer stormed into the Pentagon (I think that's right), book in hand, and roared, "WHO THE CLEARED THIS?!?"

Tom later noted that he did do a lot of research--and that the info had been "cleared" already, and was available to anyone who wanted to check it out....

Thanks for the tips, though!

That's an interesting story...

Good luck with the project though, and keep us posted on its progress.

Research can actually be fun.

My favorite so far has been researching Tuscan winemaking techniques.

The most inventive I've had to get, though, has to be with U.N. information. It's not exactly like they let you behind the scenes there with regularity these days. Fortunately, I work within a mile of the U.N. headquarters, and the bookstore there has been my friend.

Interesting...!

 

[TerriO]

Winemaking techniques in Tuscany circa 1460 were, to say the least, interesting.

And the U.N. is an intriguing challenge. I've actually had other writers come to me for U.N. info in the last few weeks. It's weird.

The trick is to not allow yourself to be distracted by side threads. It's really easy to get yourself onto endless tangents with research.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Well, in regards to Tom Clancy...when The Hunt For Red October first came out, a certain high-ranking officer stormed into the Pentagon (I think that's right), book in hand, and roared, "WHO THE CLEARED THIS?!?"

Tom later noted that he did do a lot of research--and that the info had been "cleared" already, and was available to anyone who wanted to check it out....

Thanks for the tips, though!

That's an interesting story...

Good luck with the project though, and keep us posted on its progress.

Thanks, and I will--as soon as I get it in gear!

 

[Warp Rider]

Since it seems to be suggested that we'd have to write a novel with an already established crew/ series

Just a 10 page synopsis and three sample chapters, not the whole novel.

And yes, I am loving this thread too. But I'm working on a historical novel at the moment. Though I do have an idea or two for a Trek novel.

A ten page synopsis? Aren't synopsis supposed to be a brief, and short description of the story?

I have never seen anyone write 10 pages for a synopsis before...

 

[Christopher]

^We're talking about a detailed outline for a whole novel. 10 pages is actually pretty compact for that.

 

[Warp Rider]

Okie dokie.

EDIT: Guess I got a lot of thinking and planning to do then. Though I find it rather draining on the creavtive juices to do outlines, and not wanting to bother with it later. That's the only down side for me, since it feels so restricting. And yes, I know I can go back and edit it to work for me later; which leads back to problem one. Hopefully I'll figure out a way to get passed these problems though. =3