Post Av3tHmjsNFkcv0zRL6 by marshray@infosec.exchange
(DIR) More posts by marshray@infosec.exchange
(DIR) Post #Av2JRmmDIWKsQJaoKG by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-11T23:39:47Z
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Listen bub. I went to Drama School so I know that most people stay engaged with stories because of likable (or at least interesting) characters who need things from other characters. You can't just expect people to read about the orbital mechanics of your imaginary planet unless it matters to someone who needs something. That's the "story part"I think for SF writers keeping these woven together can be hard. But, there is one weird trick. Three Act Structure Fans HATE it.
(DIR) Post #Av2JdyIwGO7XeRi6ee by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-11T23:41:59Z
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If you can understand why *YOU* care so much about your strange obscure mechanics, all these imaginary worlds that you love to create and understand and "make work" You might be closer to understanding why they might also matter to the characters in your story and thus the reader. I could be as simple as "Boy people would be surprised if THIS MESS happened" ... so don't forget to have someone there to be surprised. Shocked. Who has to deal with it all. Then you are good to go!
(DIR) Post #Av2KX4V6vXaInPg3t2 by janggolan@mastodon.cloud
2025-06-11T23:51:55Z
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@futurebird I'm reading The Mountain In The Sea and it's pretty good đ
(DIR) Post #Av2OERrUFOLvYyWEdM by marshray@infosec.exchange
2025-06-12T00:33:23Z
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@futurebird âSpace marines genetically engineered to lack personality are dispatched to investigate abandoned mining colony find that they had uncovered indecipherable ruins left by an ancient alien race and were eaten by some average everyday Earth arthropods but biggerâ
(DIR) Post #Av2PpcCIsk2QHtXfdY by stevenaleach@sigmoid.social
2025-06-12T00:51:17Z
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@futurebird My problem is I can't get interested in designing messes. I spend *way* too much time thinking about orbital architecture and what *permanent* (large scale perpetually maintainable) centrifugal cities would require, etc. I mean *way* *way* too much time.Or the reserves and scale required if it were to be populated for a 4,000 year trip to Alpha Centauri.But I've never once in all the years of my life had a single idea about a plot. Or (human) characters of any kind.
(DIR) Post #Av3tHmjsNFkcv0zRL6 by marshray@infosec.exchange
2025-06-12T17:56:03Z
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@futurebird âRingworldâ does this *so* much better than, say, âRendevous with Ramaâ.The first several chapters are all about gathering the crew with all their unique quirks, interpersonal tensions, and establishing their unique individual motivations for the mission, before they are even told what or where it is they will be exploring.