December 9

Today’s window opens onto something that I hope might be helpful for others the way it would have been for my past self.

“Past-me” was afraid to write science fiction, because I clearly didn’t know enough science; I wasn’t a scientist, after all. And I’d heard so many horror stories about how “tough” readers latched on to any perceived scientific flaw and ran the author through the wringer on it.

Then I heard–and I don’t remember exactly when, or where–that some readers will gripe about anything, real or simply perceived, to do with science. That some folks only think SF deals with men in space doing actual science stuff, and will grouse about anything else.

Which got me to thinking about the SF I’d read and loved. Yes, some had been about people doing “science stuff” in space. But some was just “people in space.” And others were stories about alternate histories, or were near future, so no “space” was involved at all! Basically, the SF I liked was still about–gasp!–people.

So, here’s a link to an essay by someone who has way more experience than me, way more credibility as a writer, saying pretty much the same thing. I wish I’d read this years ago, but I didn’t. So, today’s gift to you is also a gift to my past self, and a laying to rest of brain weasels: Go and read this. Let it sink in. Then feel free to write whatever the hell you wish!