I appreciate the conversational aspect of your “strong opinions”, W. Knox. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, especially during such a busy month.

I hope you enjoyed your Nanowrimo experience.

The lessons I learned from SGI, et al, are not just for writing SCIFI. “Indeed,” as Teal’q might say, the techniques shown on screen can be used with any fiction that follows mythic hero story arcs — 90 percent of popular adventure fiction. You don’t need to be a SCIFI fan to appreciate SG1. The close cooperation of the very well-grounded USAF in the production and the public reception of actress Amanda Tapping in the role of a strong, secure modern female reveals the broad appeal (perhaps like Linda Hamilton in “Terminator.”). The series may be more popular now than during production, perhaps the Star Trek Effect. And while others may pan SGU (and it does have flaws — we need water, we need air, we need batteries, we need light bulbs, and nobody loves us ) the serial appeal and painfully necessary character development will help. Otherwise it is just “Lost in Space” with unscheduled wormhole activations.

(Sorry for my strong opinions but it is my Nano talking. I am in character and need to stay there for the remainder of a big scene. I should get to 25K today. I fell back 800 words yesterday. I have plenty to write about but the burnout monster in hiding in my closet — smoking fine cigars and watching football.)

Again, thanks.

Another such series is Flash Forward and there are some brilliant writing techniques at work in this new series. Foreshadowing plays a significant role with aspects of the plot leaking through to viewers piece by piece. Each week ends in a twist, an aspect that transforms our perspective to some degree, leaving one wondering how the story will evolve. As a writer, I wonder how they will close out the season. It feels like the plot must have been completely scripted before production began and I wonder if that means there could only ever be a single season. After all, at some point they’ll solve the mystery, then what?

I think one of the reasons Fan Fiction is so popular is because readers and writers ache to have more story after the fact. As writers, we understand that there is a point you begin, and a point you end. You tell the story that comes between those points but even that is only a part of the fuller story. What comes before and after is left to the imagination. Some writers will delve into it with prequels and sequels but it is impossible to tell ALL of a story, even if you cover a lifetime we wonder about the lives that were touched in that lifetime. The story is never fully told and the opportunity to explore that potential is why Fan Fiction continues to flourish.

I hope you’re enjoying your Nano adventure.

Just an addendum: As you note SG1 and SGA evolved into a serial approach from free-standing episodes, so it can be hard to follow for new viewers. It may be worth mentioning to your follows that SG1 Seasons 1-8 are available for free, legally, via HULU.com through April of next year. Writers and others can watch nearly the entire series sequentially whenever they want. I think someone could design a course in TV writing using SG1 as the textbook.

I personally lost interest in SG1 about its fourth season when I couldn’t follow the storyline after missing some episodes. It seemed to me then to be stylized reproduction of “COMBAT,” the 1960s ABC-TV WWII series, where a small foot patrol, led by a fearless if not indignant leader, undertook weekly missions behind enemy line to secure intelligence or save the French maiden, with the Germans playing the part of the Goa’uld. That was before the X303.

Watching the series in its entirety is a truly satisfying experience for critical viewers looking to see mythic stories (in our own time) with classic heroes. Plus all the back stories get played out. That is writer’s dream job.

Again, thanks, and now back to wrimo.

Quite a lot of writing follows specific formula. The majority of the romance industry, for example, are tied to the formulaic requirements. Part of Stephen King’s success is due to his personal formula which many horror writers try to emulate. Other science fiction television series, such as Star Trek, Sliders, and Andromeda have base formulas that are used in the construction of each episode. When working with several writers a formula can be vital to maintaining a consistency that keep readers entertained.

Good luck with your NaNo!

I love this sentence you wrote! It particularly stood out to me, spoke to me… I guess it’s because I love writing in the still of the night