Writing Help

[hive_king]

Among my time that has been spent not-on-pweb, I've begun to write a story. With any luck, I'd like to be able to submit this story to Analog or Asimov magazine. Now I have a good basis for the story, and a good background, but I have absolutely no idea what to do with the plot, so I beseech you, collective wisdom of the wisest part of the internets, for help.

This is what I have so far. The story is about an average guy, a terraforming engineer named Jasper Townsend. (obviously the story takes place in the far future. I have the background pretty well thought out, but I don't want to bore you with details just yet.) Jasper's terraforming "tractor" has a malfunction with the air scrubbers and he passes out, somehow holding on untill he's recovered. When he wakes up, he tells everyone that he spoke with God and that God has told him to be the next prophet, the successor to Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (though he's obviously not divine like Jesus). So he sets off as a new era "Prophet of the Spaceways". Past that I haven't gotten that much detail. I've got sketches of a few characters, but nothing's set in stone. I'm not quite sure how to continue the story, so I'm asking you all for advice.

I love sci-fi, I think it's one of the deepest and most interesting brands of literature. I've noticed, though, that religion is very rarely discussed in SF lit. When it is, it's either as an enemy (the Brotherhood Of The Flame in Isaac Asimov's Nightfall), a tool for the story (The Fremen in Dune), or the book is about current religions in some way (Orson Scott Card's Earthfall books. Very few books actually discuss religion and faith as a subject unto itself. Add into this that I've always wondered how a prophet would fare in our modern world, I feel this would be a great story to write and read.

Alright Pweb, your turn.

[Young Val]

It sounds like you have a premise, but not a plot.

The easiest and quickest way to get over that hurdle is to ask yourself all the reporter questions. Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. Start out thinking about a bunch of "what ifs..." You need to put your character in a situation and then figure out what it is he'd do in that situation. Or wouldn't do. Or whatever.

How does he go about becoming the next prophet?
What is the public's reaction?
How does he feel about his new responsibility?
Is he truly religious?
What does he hope to achieve?
Do people believe him?
Who or what is opposed to him?
What does this do to his relationship with friends or family?
How is his daily life as a prophet different from his daily life as an engineer?


Those are just some questions. Try answering those or asking some of your own. But the best way to get plot is to ask compelling questions and seek out compelling answers.

[Luet]

I love sci-fi, I think it's one of the deepest and most interesting brands of literature. I've noticed, though, that religion is very rarely discussed in SF lit. When it is, it's either as an enemy (the Brotherhood Of The Flame in Isaac Asimov's Nightfall), a tool for the story (The Fremen in Dune), or the book is about current religions in some way (Orson Scott Card's Earthfall books. Very few books actually discuss religion and faith as a subject unto itself.

Have you read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell? Sci Fi and lots of religion and faith. One of my favorites.

[hive_king]

Never heard about it. Do tell.

[Luet]

Uh, it's good and you should read it? I'm no good with reviews and such. I know Kelly and Ollie have both read it and I think they liked it. Here it is at Amazon: The Sparrow