What Are Your Intentions?

[McCovey Cove]

This was born out of a thread in Trek Literature that Mistral went and started by asking the pro writers to come here and read our stuff. Of course, they legally cannot, to prevent the notion of idea theft (not that they would do it, but because it leaves open the possibility and it only takes one nut from the "Sue Me" state to throw down). Within the thread, the authors have taken to discussing how to get published and what routes to take, pitfalls to avoid, etc, and it was an interesting read to say the least.

My question is this... how many of us here are intent on eventually writing for Pocket? Further, how many of us are content to simply write fanfic and release it for free? And if you're in between there... explain.

-- ZC

 

[Mistral]

Right now I write Trek as 1.-Fun 2.Practice-I have no particular interest in writing for Pocket-I'd rather reach a point where I felt I could write saleable original fiction. Frankly, the original post you are referring to was my ego looking for stroking-It would tickle me pink to have a published writer read/comment on something I've written. That being said-some of the advice they have given is useful indeed.

 

[Wowbagger]

I don't technically write fanfic--I do a fan production. But I think this is a question I can answer anyway.

My eventual objective is to write an episode for a Trek TV series. I think one would do it. If not that, then, certainly, several novels for Pocket. I'm content producing my content for nothing and releasing it for nothing, but, frankly, I'd like to be able to live off doing this (not just Trek, but fiction in general), and I'd like even more for my work to be seen by more than a couple hundred people.

 

[hellsgate]

I'm content to remain on one side of the fence, writing & releasing fan-fic for free as a hobby-writer / non-professional. I'm hoping the work I've put into "Star Trek: New Worlds" will be used for benevolent purposes, (English as a second language courses, high school english / creative writing courses, etc.)

 

[captcalhoun]

i'm writing an original SF anthology atm. i hope to then be able to write a Trek novel in the future.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

A part of me would love to write for publication. The realist in me is content to write fan-fic as a hobby - writing when the mood strikes, unencumbered by deadlines, editors, etc.

Perhaps, one day . . . ?

 

[RobertScorpio]

I actually submitted two scripts when TREK allowed free lance writers to submit material. One of them they put on hold, the other they didn't like. Nothing ever came of them, but they liked the concept of the first one. But when DS9 changed it's format in season four, my story, which was really rooted in Bajoran politics, was kind of out of place..and I understood...

Then I submitted a script to DEAD ZONE. I still think it was better than anything from season three onward. They thought it was to dark for that show. But, oh well..

Here? at TREKBBS? The Weer Family is my own escape. It's really just a soap opera that takes place in TREK's universe. I have no idea what is going to happen so I keep writing, really, for my own fun. Probably no one is reading it but I don't care. I can't wait to see whats going to happen next!!!

I enjoy reading the other fanfics when I have time. There are some really good writers here. If given a chance, i am sure they could do a far better SCIFI show than some of the stuff thats out there now..

Rob

 

[DavidFalkayn]

This is just fun for me--I don't really have any plans to do this professionally.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I write Trek fan-fic for fun, but it's good practice to hone the craft and I do have an idea for a full-length Trek novel for Pocket, but I'm taking my time on developing it since I'm also working on a couple of original fiction projects.

Hopefully my stuff will appear on the bookshelves one day...

 

[Starkers]

Writing fanfic for me is practice, ideally I'd like to be published some day (and have writen 2 novels) but I'm not that interested in actually writing a proper Trek novel- when I do get published it'll likely be an original novel, probably sci-fi or horror related, but not Trek.

 

[TerriO]

I'm always intrigued by the amount of "for fun" writers I see versus the "want to be published" writers. I cut my teeth on fanfic, but for me it was never anything other than wanting to be published. If anyone actually wants to read it, the first Trek story I ever submitted to Strange New Worlds is on my old website right here. I'm still trying to turn the first Trek story I ever wrote into a professional sale, so that one's still tucked safely away.

If you want to be published, it's certainly not impossible. Difficult, yes, but not impossible. If you want to write a Trek novel, though, I'd highly recommend establishing yourself as an original fiction writer first. Without Strange New Worlds, it's much more difficult for a new writer to break in. And, for the record, if you're trying to break in, you definitely are better off with an agent. Hence my recommendation of getting yourself established as an original writer first.