Science Stories That Fuel Science Fiction – Let me give you my ideas for fiction from recent scientific breakthroughs. Then you can tell me your ideas–and get free books for them.
Ready? Let’s go!
Here’s a great new image of Jupiter, taken with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST for short). How would I use this for fiction?
Imagine the infrared light revealing cities or satellites around the planet, inhabited by aliens. This would lead to a great story. What would you do? Let me know, and I’ll send you a free book. Just click here.
This’d make a great cover for that book or short story:
Jupiter to Earth size comparison
What’s Next in Science Stories?
How about this story?
Here we have a string of satellites visible from earth. I remember when Telstar was visible and used to relay signals from Japan to the US during the 1964 Olympics. I was 8 then.
How would I write this as a sci-fi story? One idea is to increase the size of human space structures until they’re as bright as the moon. What kind of space stations would they be? How would we use them? What would be the side effects, the social implications? This is a rich area of story fuel.
I already have a zombie turkey apocalypse series. How about a squirrel apocalypse?
This tickles my funny bone: squirrels causing the downfall of civilization. I can think of dozens of scenarios, including leveraging my zombie world that begins below:
Get your Zombie Turkeys here. You get a bushel of laughter with each book.
What is Novel Writing Like? Since I’ve written seven of them and I’m busy writing an eighth, it’s high time for me to share my experience with you.
In case you’ve forgotten, here are four of my novels:
Enjoy all four novels in audiobook, paperback, or Kindle format! Click to get yours.
But the one I’m working on is the third one in my disabled superhero series:
Secret Supers cover. Click to get.
Villain’s Vacation cover. Click to get.
Villain’s Vacation ended on July 4th at a coaster park. What could I possibly do for a third novel? Go to summer camp. But what would make it more interesting? Make it a space camp. The Space Camp.
You’ve never heard of Space Camp? Watch the video.
That’s my first step for any novel. Have a premise, a theme. Here are three examples:
Zombie turkeys: the book writes itself.
My Undead Mother-in-law: what’s it like to have zombies in your family.
Paranormal Privateers: Zombie pirates.
What Is Novel Writing Like? My next step to writing a novel.
My next step is from many years ago: high school English 101: write an outline.
Here’s my outline format. I do this in Excel.
Secret Supers in Space outline
I plan out the whole novel, scene by scene. I’m pretty comfortable starting any book. I always introduce my characters. I don’t assume anyone knows anything. My goal is to make any novel readable without the previous novels.
Here’s the opening page:
“What are you doing, Jeremy?”
Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.
“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”
“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”
“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”
Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.
“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”
“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”
“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”
And your’s and your dad’s. You were all excited, so I couldn’t help myself from taking a sniff from your mom’s nose. I didn’t snoop any farther than that.”
“I know you respect everyone’s privacy with your mindreading power.”
“Except maybe yours. You did give me permission to read you anytime. But I haven’t read your mind about what you’re concentrating on. C’mon, tell your old friend Dan.”
“Don’t tell anyone. This is a secret. I want to surprise the Secret Supers.”
“Of course not. Now I’m dying to know!”
“I’m applying to Space Camp.”
“What’s Space Camp? I can hear the capital letters in your voice.”
“What’s Space Camp? It’s the greatest camp there is! We’re all bored out of our minds this August and we want to do something. Space Camp teaches you all about our space program. You learn about astronauts and rockets. You go on a centrifuge, and experience zero-G and moon gravity.
The first scene, the first page is most important. You must capture the reader’s interest or go home. I assumed most people didn’t know about space camp, so they’d be curious about it.
I also revealed the Secret Supers’ powers in the first chapter. That’s always fun. In case you don’t know:
Jeremy Erickson – Telekenesis
Dan Elanga – Mind reading
Kayla Verdera – Thought and sensory projection into other minds
Aubrey Wilcosky – Super Strength
What do I do next?
Write each scene. I try to get as clear of a picture of it as possible. That includes:
Location
Characters
Point of view character
Desired effect upon reader
The last is most important. You need a reason for the scene and something you’re going to accomplish. Try to always reveal more about the characters and more about the plot and the conflict. Increase tension and excitement.
You need this clarity so you can concentrate on the important features of the scene.
But there’s more.
What Is Novel Writing Like? What My Biggest Distraction?
My biggest distraction is also an essential part of the process.
It’s research. I don’t know everything I need to know. I knew very little about space camp. Before I could write, I had to learn a lot. I know more now. And as you learn, you must research more.
I learned about SpaceX, NASA, Cape Canaveral, and details about the ISS, the International Space Station.
Part of my research
We’re Not Done! Look out, Villains Ahead!
Jeremy is captured by a robot in Villain’s Vacation
I had so much fun creating and writing about my villains in Villain’s Vacation, I decided to use them again in Secret Supers in Space. They’re up to no good and they’re worse than ever.
Taking Inventory of books – what does that have to do with being an indie author?
If you’re indie, that means you’re self-publishing. That means you print your own books. That means at the end of the year you have to file taxes–and tell the IRS about your inventory.
Who cares? You do, if you’re an author. And you do, if you’re a reader, because ultimately you pay for all the author’s inventory.
In this blog post, I provide you a spreadsheet template you can use to inventory your products, books or anything else.
Taking Inventory – the interesting part
Zombie Lady saving money with inventory
The interesting part is that you can save money if you’re an author. And you can pass those savings on to your readers in the form of cheaper books, or better promotions.
And of course, this applies to non-authors too–anyone who sells stuff has to track their inventory.
Another good feature is you’ll have accurate information to give to the taxman. I assume you want to avoid penalties for errors.
Author Liu Cixin follows up his first novel, ‘The Three Body Problem’ with another, just as good. Most of the characters from the first novel are dead, except the rude policeman Da Shi. The novel covers two hundred years after the announcement of the coming alien invasion from Proxima Centauri star system.
The novel begins with the four Wallfacers, people chosen to fight the aliens and who are given dictatorial power and resources. The aliens monitor all earth communication and technology development and thwart any progress in physics through directly affecting particle accelerator output. The Wallfacers, keeping their thoughts and plans to themselves, can surprise the aliens.
But that’s just the beginning. Multiple characters leap forward in time through hibernation to two hundred years later. The Wallfacers emerge with no fame or power. Their whole effort has been superseded with spectacular technical advancements. The Earth has built a fleet of two thousand ships, all faster than the invaders’ ships and armed with gamma ray lasers and fusion bombs.
But everything is not as it seems. The fleet advances to intercept an alien probe sent on ahead.
That’s when the action really begins.
You must read this book. It has more twists than the first one.
Or, you can lose track/not record your gifted books.
You can lose track of your consignment inventory
When you reorder books, the prices can and do change. If you don’t reflect that in your spreadsheet, your dollars spent won’t match what you’ve sold and given away.
These are all mistakes I’ve made.
Ya Got Trouble
The solution is to record your sales and gifts immediately and multiple times. When I sell a book, I make a slash in my notebook under “ZT ZD MUM PP Oops SS or VV”, like this:
ZT lll
ZD ll
MUM l
PP l
Oops ll
SS llll
VV llll
At the same time, I’ll fill out a receipt for the customer. At the same time, I’ll update my sales spreadsheet when I get a chance. So I have 3 records to cross check myself.
This covers cash sales. For credit card, I use Square which gives another check on my sales.
Taking Inventory – Get a Free Book
I’ve got two ways for you to get a free book right now.
First, tell me your ideas, things I haven’t covered. Click right here.
Secondly, you can get a free book through my book newsletter. Click here.
Enjoy all four novels in audiobook, paperback, or Kindle format!
