I get to choose if I should work in a familiar or unfamiliar setting.
For a long time, I really, really wanted to write a sci-fi epic.
Nothing stuck in my mind to drive it. As a pantser (one who writes by the seat of their pants), I never had that flash of, “yes, this!” hit me.
Until it did. One throw-away theory I read about the work of another creator sparked an idea for my work. And so, in September of 2015, I started what would become my Void Incursion sci-fi series.
I began to write. Then write some more. As a pantser, I went where the muse took me. Five 50+ page files of the story later, I began to break it down to book form – and started publishing in 2020.
During this process, though, I shifted gears and started planning the next series. My Forgotten Fodder sci-fi series was written from a chapter-by-chapter plan. I loved what this did for my creativity – and applied it to the creation of the final novel in Void Incursion.
Slower than desired, I worked my way through Check and Mate – the final Void Incursion novel. I had hoped to be publishing it by now – but instead, I will be running it through an edit this month before sending it to the editor.
But it is finished. I completed it last week. Finally.
I have 10 more books planned. Four from a familiar series and six in a new series. And this begs the question – continue with the familiar or start with the unfamiliar?
Plans change – hence the question
Originally, I had planned to start Savagespace – the new series I have planned and plotted 6 novels for.
Additionally, there’s been a tremendous amount of world-building to back it up. There are elements of this series that are going to be a lot of fun to put on the screen and page.
But it’s unfamiliar. And there are some other elements I will get into later.
I’ve also planned out 4 more novels following the events of the first series of Forgotten Fodder. I’ve envisioned another case for Jace, Onima, and Kara – as well as some new and old allies – to track down.
Truth be told – I have at least 1 or 2 other series conceptualized – but not planned – for Forgotten Fodder. I can envision 4 series worth of material ranging from 12-16 novels. It’s a rich universe with all sorts of nuances and very familiar characters to run around in.
Creating the first four novels from chapter-by-chapter plans – following extensive world-building – there was an almost instant familiarity. It was like that friend you just know is always going to be there. It’s comfortable.
Which is one of the arguments in favor of working on the unfamiliar rather than the familiar. The unfamiliar is a step out of my comfort zone.
But I have a few different thoughts about this that could impact my approach.
Familiar but unfamiliar
Savagespace is familiar in that it’s sci-fi. Science fiction stories can take all sorts of wide approaches – Star Wars to Star Trek to Farscape to The Expanse to Rendezvous with Rama to Drangriders of Pern, and more. There are still common threads that tie these together as part of the genre. There are familiar elements that make them all part of science fiction.
Savagespace, like Forgotten Fodder, is a story in the future. Forgotten Fodder takes place 550 years into the future – among colonies made of existing expected exoplanets less than 30 light-years from Earth. Savagespace is set about 3000 years into the future, far from Earth. Forgotten Fodder is arguably hard sci-fi. Savagespace is arguably sci-fantasy.
Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. But there is another element that is staying my hand, some, when it comes to starting Savagespace.
Do I take a new approach and try to get representation again? Seek out one of the major or minor – but prolific – publishing houses? Or do I again self-publish?
The world of publishing is going through a lot of changes. Self-publishing has gotten easier and easier – which is why I chose this route in the first place. But there are things you get from a publisher that you must do wholly on your own as a self-published, indie author.
And that, too, is unfamiliar. I tried for years to get representation for my Source Chronicles fantasy series. I think I queried at least 15-20 agents. But that was over a decade ago. Maybe I should try again with this new series?
Of course, if that’s my plan – I should probably start writing.
Familiarity breeds contempt. Go with the unfamiliar
To some degree, I need to acknowledge that if I continue to work in Forgotten Fodder – I’m taking an easier path. And putting off a story that I think has a ton of potential to be rather amazing.
Thus, I will most likely start down this unfamiliar path and begin work on Savagespace. There are some pretty awesome characters I’ve planned out that is going to be a lot of fun to flesh out. Not to mention yet another approach to intergalactic relations, faster-than-light travel, and new worlds of my imagination to bring to light.
As I get the story started, I can decide along the way if I would like to once again take the indie route and self-publish. Or instead, pitch to a new set of agents and publishers to pick this up and take it further than I’ve been able to go thus far.
And there are a couple of other considerations. The new coaching I am receiving is going to start me down an amazing path I’ve always desired to travel. With all that I am learning about the Metaverse and Web3, I might work on tying Savagespace into that and the emerging creator economy therein.
It is all unfamiliar. Also, it is set to push me out of my comfort zone. I get to choose if I should work in a familiar or unfamiliar setting. But the unfamiliar is where new potential and possibilities live.
That’s the path I am going to take. Unfamiliar, a little scary. But ultimately thrilling.
Thanks for letting me bring you along on part of this journey.
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