I wanna write Star Trek fan ficition based ont he animated series, whats the best way to get started?
getting started
- Thread starter lordsofelsewhen
- Start date
1. Think of a fun/exciting/dramatic story idea
2. Sit down at your computer
3. Start writing
Some people like to plot out every detail of what happens, when and to whom in their stories, others like to wing it, just start off and see where things go from there. It's up to you how you do it, just give it a shot.
Using one of the series' will help cut down some development as you don't need to spend time working out your characters, but does mean you have to stick to what is known about them and how they'd react to whatever situation you put them into.
Good luck!
2. Sit down at your computer
3. Start writing
Some people like to plot out every detail of what happens, when and to whom in their stories, others like to wing it, just start off and see where things go from there. It's up to you how you do it, just give it a shot.
Using one of the series' will help cut down some development as you don't need to spend time working out your characters, but does mean you have to stick to what is known about them and how they'd react to whatever situation you put them into.
Good luck!
1. Like Darkush said, try and watch some of the episodes of TAS.
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q_Po_ZVO70[/yt]
2. Pick a favorite character from the show.
3. Start small. Write a short story featuring your favorite character. Send him on shore leave and write about who he meets or separate her from an away team and pick some challenges for her to face.
4. When that's done pick two characters and send them on a mission together and write how they get along going and coming back.
5. Keep going and steadily adding until you're writing full-fledged quadrant-spanning trek epics!
The nice thing about TAS was that it introduced Arex and M'Ress, as well as a few other crewmembers and aliens, all of which are left as blank slates that can be worked on and developed further.
I've no real experience of this myself but if I was to undertake such a project, I would prospect from the entire cultural spectrum.
I wouldn't limit myself to Trek. I'd mull over novels, movies and TV of whatever genre that have inspired/delighted/shocked/unnerved audiences and jot down possible plot twists and see if you can spin a new angle on them.
Then I'd watch a little bit of Trek and gently remind myself of the perspectives of the main heroes. I would mull over the ethos of the Federation and find ways to test those principles and perspectives in difficult scenarios.
I'd put all the elements on a mind map, refining stuff I liked whilst crossing off stuff I didn't like/that was irrelevant..
I'd write a small synopsis. Just a paragraph and make some alterations in the margin. Then on a point by point, step by step basis chart out how the story would unfold -- again making alterations in the margin.
It's only then I'd get the laptop and start typing. And I'd get used to printing whatever drafts you've got, writing in the margins and then retyping and beginning the cycle until a final draft. Critical is getting other people to read over the stuff as its only other people who can spot problems/possible improvements you can't see.
That's the kind of thing I'd get up to if it was me.
I wouldn't limit myself to Trek. I'd mull over novels, movies and TV of whatever genre that have inspired/delighted/shocked/unnerved audiences and jot down possible plot twists and see if you can spin a new angle on them.
Then I'd watch a little bit of Trek and gently remind myself of the perspectives of the main heroes. I would mull over the ethos of the Federation and find ways to test those principles and perspectives in difficult scenarios.
I'd put all the elements on a mind map, refining stuff I liked whilst crossing off stuff I didn't like/that was irrelevant..
I'd write a small synopsis. Just a paragraph and make some alterations in the margin. Then on a point by point, step by step basis chart out how the story would unfold -- again making alterations in the margin.
It's only then I'd get the laptop and start typing. And I'd get used to printing whatever drafts you've got, writing in the margins and then retyping and beginning the cycle until a final draft. Critical is getting other people to read over the stuff as its only other people who can spot problems/possible improvements you can't see.
That's the kind of thing I'd get up to if it was me.
A few things.
- Do some research by watching episodes. There aren't many of them, and they're short. This can help as you might be mis-remembering something. Take notes if you're so inclined.
- Memory Alpha is another resource.
- Brainstorm, either with someone or just by writing stuff down on your own. E. g. you see, I don't know, Robert April and his wife (I have forgotten her name - but that's what Memory Alpha is for). What parts of their story is not told on screen? For one, how did they meet? That could be the basis for a story unto itself or just a scene or a conversation within a greater whole.
- Repeat with other ideas.
- I think at least the semblance of an outline is a good idea. Bare bones at the very least, and make yourself a timeline, too. Timelines are helpful because you get things like how old someone is at a particular time or whether two people could have met (were they at ___ at the same time? The timeline will tell you or at least you'll know if it was never actually spelled out anywhere). It can be something like -
- Robert April is a young Starfleet student and has to take an art elective.
- He's doing badly and gets a tutor, a lovely young woman named __ (see, I've still forgotten her name. Sarah?).
- She has a boyfriend, who Robert saves from drowning in the school's swimming pool.
- The boyfriend sees this as a religious epiphany and says goodbye and takes a vow of chastity and joins a monastery.
- Robert and his lovely tutor fall in love.
- The end.
- This little outline might even have too much in it to start. You might even just start it with, they meet, there's a complication of some sort, and they overcome it.
- Write! As quickly or slowly as you like. This is fanfiction; it doesn't really have a deadline.
- Set your work aside for a few days or so.
- Pick it up again and edit it. Check for typos, yes, but also for sense. If someone is left-handed on page 1, and is right-handed on page 4, then you need to correct either of these, or delete one or the other if the story still makes sense, or declare the character ambidextrous, or avoid the issue entirely by never mentioning it. Check for character language. Is your character well-educated (April certainly is)? Nasty? Young? Caitian? All of these things will change how the character uses language.
- Post, if you feel ready. Be prepared for criticism. I think most of us who write try to be kind, as we have been in your position many times. Anyone who's overly nasty you can always ignore. There are ways to critique a piece without tearing someone a new one.
- And -
- Have fun with it!
