Monday, March 14, 2011

And Then What Happens?

T-shirt: Practitioner of the world's oldest profession... Storytelling.

As a writer the moment that is most thrilling and dreadful is when a reader says, "And then what happens?" Thrilling because it means they are engaged enough to want to know what happens next. Dreadful because, as Thomas Mann said, "A writer is someone for whom writing is harder than for other people." I don't know about you, but I am definitely a writer of the Mann persuasion in that respect.

Writers are ultimately adventurers. We strike out into unknown territory and leave a trail for others. By exploring the realm of ideas we create and share new insights about people, places, and things. As with most exploration it is in turn exhilarating and exhausting. But we're adventure junkies who enjoy the high of discovery and just can't stop (safer than bungee jumping, I suppose). You want to know "and then what happens?" So do we. We're excited when someone wants to join us on the journey.

As a writer, how do you react to the never-ending question, "And then what happens?" As a reader what have been your favorite answers to "And then what happens?" And which writers have driven you crazy with waiting? Being fans of Glen Cook's Black Company series we were driven crazy with waiting in the 90s.

Sunday, March 06, 2011

To Betelgeuse, With Love

Even though I've read Sherrilyn Kenyon's "The League" series it hadn't occurred to me that Science Fiction Romance was a defined cross-over sub-genre between the two genres. Diane Dooley did a nice write up today about it in her post What the Heck is Science Fiction Romance?

Assuming not all aliens look like Orion slave babes does make me think of the scene is Galaxy Quest where Guy Fleegman is saying, "Oh, that's not right!" Is there some sort of warning on the cover telling me "Beware, alien sex scenes included"? I would hope so.

Have you read any Science Fiction Romance? What do you see as the dividing line (however blurry it may be) between a science fiction book that includes a romantic element and a romance that has a science fiction setting? Many science fiction books have a romantic and/or sex element where I wouldn't classify them as romance in a million years (Stranger in a Strange Land comes to mind). One of the key differences for me is that I consider science fiction to be idea driven (what if?) and romance to be relationship driven (all the way to 'happily ever after'). So that would be the difference between a book about a spaceship (with the human relationships and interactions being used to reveal and explore the idea of space travel) and a book about two lovers on a spaceship (where the ship is used as a setting).

3/15/11 Update:
Check out Lindsay Buroker's interview with Heather Massey of The Galaxy Express about her new book and this genre. Then check out The Galaxy Express!

*Yes, I realize with the blog post title I just did a Science Fiction Romance/Spy Thriller crossover idea. But I totally call that title - now I just need to write the book.