Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Writing in Someone Else's World

 Writing in someone else's world is like seeing the world through a different lens, especially when that artist's world is almost like our own. For example, see the pic below:


Earth with Two Moons
by Grebenkov
Artist's conception of Earth with two moons, generated in Celestia with addon from Eugene Stauffer (GPLv3)
Wikimedia Commons - ShareAlike

How different would the world be if we had two moons? Imagine the havoc that might cause on our tides? Without our realizing, much of our planet runs on the turning of our tides. Our oceans are full of life and oxygen. What would happen with two moons?

Maybe I'll have to actually do some research on that one of these days and write an alternative/fantasy/scifi story based on those questions.

But, I've digressed. 

As a reader, I've always taken those "script from movies" books for granted. As a writer working with a youtube* series script, I can say, it's a little more challenging than it looks. I'm trying to stay close to the script, work in a secondary "B" plot of my own as asked for by the publisher, 
and 
make it good -

This is when my interior editor interrupts with this - 

"No, not good, perfect. This is someone else's world we're dealing with here, not your own. Make sure you know the details. Understand every nuance of world-building. Research your subject matter. Know the meaning of each name, each item on the background of the set, and get it right!"

 - But wait, isn't that what I do with my own books?

Yes, it is. I've done this before. I can do this. 

Have you ever written something in someone else's world? Have you ever written or told fan fiction stories? Or, written under the wing of another author**?


*the series has also aired on a local television station and at a festival in Seattle.

**The author I'm working under has been completely positive and encouraging. She never ever sounds like my inner editor. 






23 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Such a great opportunity, Tyrean.
I've never written fan fiction. I really enjoyed reading Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books though.
I did write about a planet with two moons, but I didn't explore the science side of its effect.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, I'm thankful for the opportunity. I've also liked Zahn's Star Wars books. :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds like an awesome opportunity. I've never tried anything like that. Good luck with it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I've always created my own worlds and never did any fan fiction though I know a lot of people do write that.

Leandra Wallace said...

I've never tried fan fiction, tho I know it has amassed a lot of people who do. I've always just got to much going on in my own head, lol!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Natalie!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, I've met lots of people who write fan fiction, but I've never written in someone else's world before so it's a stretch for me.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I know what you mean. :)

Crystal Collier said...

Yes, one fan fiction story when I was 11. See, I always had this hang up when kids who liked art would grab a picture and then "copy" it. They call it art. I called it mimicking. Drove me crazy. The true definition of an artist is someone who can take aspects of reality (or unreality) and incorporate together from the vision inside their head. That said, I think it's awesome if you can pull off an adaptation. My creative brain would be too wild to stay with the artists original vision.

Unknown said...

I've never done that, and it sounds very challenging. Good luck with it! :)

Maurice Mitchell said...

That would be a challenge but I'm guessing some worlds are easier than others.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to stay with the vision, too, but having the web-show in front of me helps immensely.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Lexa!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, that's definitely true . . . or at least I think, so far. :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I've never done anything like that. You're a sweetheart to give so much consideration to some one else's vision.

Liz Blocker said...

Yikes, that does sound hard! I bet you'll be great, though :)

M Pax said...

I wrote a Stargate fanfic ages and ages ago. But am not sure I'd attempt such these days.

Heather R. Holden said...

I've dabbled in fanfic in the past. I even did a fan comic once, based on a TV show. (That one lasted years, heh.) Nowadays, though, when I dabble in someone else's world, it's pretty much just fan art. Still, even that requires a lot of research and attention to detail, so I can only imagine how much more a novelization requires. What an exciting opportunity for you! Best of luck with this! :)

Nick Wilford said...

That sounds like an interesting project. I guess you have to be sensitive to the other person's vision in any collaboration.

Christine Rains said...

I've written fanfiction. Lots and lots of fanfiction. *LOL* It is vital to research and be true to that world.

mshatch said...

I've never collaborated on anything or written any fan fiction. I did do a lot of imitating in my early days, you know, like making my dragons as wise and clever as those in the Earthsea Series or stealing a bogey from Irish myth. Sounds like an interesting job you have!

Karen Lange said...

Congratulations on the project! Yes, you can do this. I know you can. Cheering you on! :)

Chrys Fey said...

Awesome opportunity! I'd love to see two moons in the sky, but the tides would be chaotic. And imagine if they were both full moons at the same time...I'd stay indoors and away from people. :P I've never written fan fiction because I like to create my own worlds, but it would be fun to work with some characters I love that were created by other authors.