The Terry Pratchett Prize, Round Two...
- Thread starter Quatermass
- Start date
Heh.
Hey, JVQ, did you find it difficult to write within the confines of the contest? I have to confess that I did for two reasons: the need for realism, and the minimum word limit of 80K words. The former precluded my using a number of ideas, and the latter stymied more than one idea that did get through.
And then, when I came to read Apocalypse Cow and Half-Sick of Shadows, I was annoyed, particularly at the latter. Because in the latter, there is time travel (it even says so on the blurb), and while that doesn't technically fall under physically impossible, I had resolved to avoid as much as possible any Clarke's Law handwaves.
On another note, I have many books in the works, including a new take on my postcyberpunk one, another one that could be called a urban fantasy horror book, one of the novels I had intended for the TP Prize back in 2010, and a historical science fiction novel that I am having second thoughts. Oh, and a sequel to that rewritten ovel I said I finished recently. The rewrite gave me the confidence to start on the sequels. I have a better idea of where the sequels are going...
Hey, JVQ, did you find it difficult to write within the confines of the contest? I have to confess that I did for two reasons: the need for realism, and the minimum word limit of 80K words. The former precluded my using a number of ideas, and the latter stymied more than one idea that did get through.
And then, when I came to read Apocalypse Cow and Half-Sick of Shadows, I was annoyed, particularly at the latter. Because in the latter, there is time travel (it even says so on the blurb), and while that doesn't technically fall under physically impossible, I had resolved to avoid as much as possible any Clarke's Law handwaves.
On another note, I have many books in the works, including a new take on my postcyberpunk one, another one that could be called a urban fantasy horror book, one of the novels I had intended for the TP Prize back in 2010, and a historical science fiction novel that I am having second thoughts. Oh, and a sequel to that rewritten ovel I said I finished recently. The rewrite gave me the confidence to start on the sequels. I have a better idea of where the sequels are going...
Really liking that vid! :clap:
I did and I didn't find it difficult to make the criteria in that it's so geared towards being an alternate Earth and obeying the same laws of Physics that really anything that's fictionalised to some extent will fit. My own story will get published whatever and I was close to completion when I decided that it could qualify in this competition more or less even though there's little of the fantasy or sci-fi element in the theme (some myth and folklore aspects). It deals with social and cultural elements and emotional health post-war/violent trauma with a 'names changed to protect the innocent' approach to fictionalise actual conflicts in West and Central African locations (Biafra for real and the Rwanda genocide reworked) and the only true alternative element is in featuring a Utopian community solution under the auspices of a UN style project with fictional aid/relief organisations woven into efforts that are actually being attempted in the real world.
I think for this compy they did revise the criteria slightly and certainly the novel size (I think it was between 70 - 120K previously) so that the parameters of the science side of things was more proscribed so that people were having to write not too far from reality, which has some merit in that, if you can't write coherently about things that actually are (or could easily be) how can you write about things that really aren't? Even fantasy has to have some rules I guess but how that's interpreted for this contest may be open to argument as to how far you can roam around reality and I know I haven't departed too far from that line to the extent that maybe I don't truly meet the criteria that well or at all. :shifty:
As for future projects - I'm working on a more classic fantasy series that has some sci-fi origins (it's got some nods to Darkover, Earthsea and Dune/Arrakis) but concerns an archaic but high-functioning civilisation and some supernatural aspects
I'm not writing too much for it yet but I have been having some fun mapping the world it all happens on so once this month is over and I know what, if any, success I've had with the finished novel I'll be working on the new stuff more or less full time 
I did and I didn't find it difficult to make the criteria in that it's so geared towards being an alternate Earth and obeying the same laws of Physics that really anything that's fictionalised to some extent will fit. My own story will get published whatever and I was close to completion when I decided that it could qualify in this competition more or less even though there's little of the fantasy or sci-fi element in the theme (some myth and folklore aspects). It deals with social and cultural elements and emotional health post-war/violent trauma with a 'names changed to protect the innocent' approach to fictionalise actual conflicts in West and Central African locations (Biafra for real and the Rwanda genocide reworked) and the only true alternative element is in featuring a Utopian community solution under the auspices of a UN style project with fictional aid/relief organisations woven into efforts that are actually being attempted in the real world.
I think for this compy they did revise the criteria slightly and certainly the novel size (I think it was between 70 - 120K previously) so that the parameters of the science side of things was more proscribed so that people were having to write not too far from reality, which has some merit in that, if you can't write coherently about things that actually are (or could easily be) how can you write about things that really aren't? Even fantasy has to have some rules I guess but how that's interpreted for this contest may be open to argument as to how far you can roam around reality and I know I haven't departed too far from that line to the extent that maybe I don't truly meet the criteria that well or at all. :shifty:
As for future projects - I'm working on a more classic fantasy series that has some sci-fi origins (it's got some nods to Darkover, Earthsea and Dune/Arrakis) but concerns an archaic but high-functioning civilisation and some supernatural aspects
I'm not writing too much for it yet but I have been having some fun mapping the world it all happens on so once this month is over and I know what, if any, success I've had with the finished novel I'll be working on the new stuff more or less full time
You were pretty good to think up a relatively mundane alternate reality, although you did say there was some fantastical elements. I found it hard to write such a story, and had to set a relatively fantastical story (involving one mythological creature in particular being real, for a given value of 'real') in a more mundane setting. I wavered as to where and when I would set it, and what it would be about, but eventually I settled for England in the early 70s, albeit with influences from abroad. I also cherry-picked many real-life events and wove them together for the backstory.
It is pretty damn hard for me to write a story without fantastical elements, because otherwise, I get bored with the drama.
Oh, and JVQ? I think the word limits for the competition has been consistently 80K-120K words. I remember trying to build my novels for the first TP Prize up to 80K words, and despairing.
So, your new novel is partly inspired by Dune? In a way, so was the one I recently finished rewriting. I was inspired by the cultural depth and complexity of Dune to try and write a novel that remotely approached the depth of that one. I don't think I succeeded, but even if I had, the novel would be clunky. Not that Dune is, I hasten to add, but that any attempt I make to emulate it would probably turn out clunky.
It is pretty damn hard for me to write a story without fantastical elements, because otherwise, I get bored with the drama.
Oh, and JVQ? I think the word limits for the competition has been consistently 80K-120K words. I remember trying to build my novels for the first TP Prize up to 80K words, and despairing.
So, your new novel is partly inspired by Dune? In a way, so was the one I recently finished rewriting. I was inspired by the cultural depth and complexity of Dune to try and write a novel that remotely approached the depth of that one. I don't think I succeeded, but even if I had, the novel would be clunky. Not that Dune is, I hasten to add, but that any attempt I make to emulate it would probably turn out clunky.
Well - I've been writing this last novel in earnest since 2005 long before this contest was conceived and I'd already hit the 130K mark for the word count in Feb 2012 before I even thought of putting this in for the TP prize
The new series has conceptual similarities with Dune and Darkover perhaps, but the focus is more on Celtic myth and a taboo against non-sustainable energy sources and keeping close to the 'natural order' in place of religion as cultural/tribal imperatives Maybe a hint of the Sevateem in there too...
The new series has conceptual similarities with Dune and Darkover perhaps, but the focus is more on Celtic myth and a taboo against non-sustainable energy sources and keeping close to the 'natural order' in place of religion as cultural/tribal imperatives
Maybe a hint of the Sevateem in there too...
Jan Van Quirm said:
Maybe a hint of the Sevateem in there too...
Actually, Louise Jameson is still playing Leela, alongside Tom Baker in the Big Finish Doctor Who audio plays. Unfortunately, her voice does sound old. But she certainly remains in character all the way. At the start of Energy of the Daleks, she launches into a brief endorsement of sneakers as practical footwear compared to high heels.
And she fights off Dalek conditioning every step of the way.As for your story idea, that's pretty high-concept. Me, well, I write a bit more like Terrance Dicks or Terry Nation. More high-concept than them, but while you seem to start with a high concept and build from there, I start with a low concept, and bolt high concepts on.
Well I'm of another generation and if Tolkien is my god, Austen is my muse in terms of tempering the storyline into something that works empathically for the reader. A bit of Pterry creeps in here and there in terms of humourous accents, especially on the Gaelic-style names I've used on the map I'm concocting with strong nods at the Orkneys and Hebrides
Dotsie said:
I learned long ago that once something is out of my hands, I can stop worrying about it. I'm not saying I don't stress, the things that are still my responsibility drive me mental
What's more, I've got [EFF!]ing writer's block. Situation normal: all [EFF!]ed up.
At least my downward spiral had the good grace to happen coincidentally while the latest episode of Dragonball Z Abridged came on. I found it very funny. Especially when this joke came up. (I chose the time to start at the beginning of the relevant scene)
Q - it's a block when you can't write a thing to the purpose for several months not weeks! What brief dry spells are for is to give your brain a rest and get some downtime to find more ideas to input so game playing's good and so's writing for other things (like a forum ) where your brain can reboot and have something different to do.
You're doing the right thing by taking consolation where you can and the only other thing you can do to avoid the worst of despair is to tell yourself there's life in your work after the TP Prize - if you don't make the shortlist it doesn't mean it's bad, just that they didn't see it as fitting their winning profile. If you need to do something else to keep your spirits up get working on Plan B and focus on how you're going to pitch it for more suitable publishers or literary agents (work on submission letters and a tight synopsis etc) if you don't make this next stage - not playing online Tarot like I do and getting shite cards that foretell doom and gloom...
What brief dry spells are for is to give your brain a rest and get some downtime to find more ideas to input so game playing's good and so's writing for other things (like a forum ) where your brain can reboot and have something different to do. You're doing the right thing by taking consolation where you can and the only other thing you can do to avoid the worst of despair is to tell yourself there's life in your work after the TP Prize - if you don't make the shortlist it doesn't mean it's bad, just that they didn't see it as fitting their winning profile.
If you need to do something else to keep your spirits up get working on Plan B and focus on how you're going to pitch it for more suitable publishers or literary agents (work on submission letters and a tight synopsis etc) if you don't make this next stage - not playing online Tarot like I do and getting shite cards that foretell doom and gloom... 
This from a well established Author on the problem of block. http://fantasy-faction.com/2013/creativ ... e-dead-end
Who's Wee Dug said:
Jan, you still play but you don't have to believe in the bad results you get as they are just playing on your fears.
I just like to wallow sometimes - also I do multiple paraphrasing on the same question (in the same sessions) and hey presto! Reversed Death and Hanged Men suddenly turn over again and I'm noticing patterns in what cards you get 'dealt' for certain phrasing What I like about tarot is the personification of life's hurdles and how ambiguous they are (like Death not being death but beginnings and letting go :twisted: and some of the symbology is interesting as well especially when you line it up with assorted world mythologies or simply when the Moon is rising (I'm a water sign and proud of it! ).That's a useful article on block especially the bit about reading and writing anything and also re-reading your faves genres and authors too if only to have a reason to read Nightwatch again... :clap:
You'll be pleased to know that I have a potential way around the writer's block. But I define it as an inability to write, either through motivation, or an inability to make plots and characters worth (or usually both).
Even so, I am still a little depressed, especially when I looked at the Doctor Who News Page this morning... :|
Even so, I am still a little depressed, especially when I looked at the Doctor Who News Page this morning... :|
