How do you start to build a new imaginary world in the mind of your reader?
Science fiction and fantasy have a particular challenge in this respect, as usually the world of the story is not the world the reader inhabits. This challenge is shared by historical fiction and by travel writing. But even if the past is another country, and other countries may not be familiar, there's still a lot that can be taken for granted. Like whether there's gravity, or you can breathe the air, or whether everyone you meet is human. The future is a country no one has visited, though we're all going there.
So you have to get across to your reader the interesting and relevant differences between your world and theirs. In the early days of genre science fiction the standard means of doing so was the clunky dialogue, in which characters explain things they already know to each other for the reader's benefit.
'As you know, Professor ...'
There are better ways!
In this workshop we explore these ways, and conclude with a short exercise in using them.
About Ken MacLeod
Ken MacLeod was born on the Isle of Lewis and is the author of nineteen novels, from The Star Fraction (1995) to Beyond the Reach of Earth (2023)
Details
Suitable for: beginning and experienced writers, aged 16yrs+
Bring with you: pen and notepad
Duration : 90 minutes
IMPORTANT! Read BEFORE you purchase this ticket
This is an add-on ticket for OH!CON. You must also have an [OH!CON day ticket to enter the venue and attend this workshop.
This ticket by itself does not give you access to OH!CON.