Tag Archives: Reconnaissance Mission

What’s in a Title?

Last week I wrote about the opening lines in a story. But before you read the opening, you read the title. Do you struggle to come up with appropriate, catchy titles for your stories? Read on…

Some writers have no problem with titles. In fact, there are authors who think up a clever title, and write a story to suit it.

On the other hand, some start with a ‘working title,’ intending to come up with a real title later. When that time arrives, they get stuck, unable to create a suitable title. Writing the 5000-word story was no problem, but coming up with just 1-10 words is maddening.

Author Stephen Pressfield offers some great advice in this blogpost. He says to let the theme of your story suggest the title, and he gives some great examples.

In her post on titles, author Lynne Lumsden Green goes a bit further. She says a title should (1) be memorable, (2) encompass the theme of the story, and (3) not give too much away.

I agree, though I don’t think you should agonize over your title. I’d spend more time on the story’s opening and closing lines. Even so, I often brainstorm about 20-30 titles before hitting on the right one.

Be aware, when choosing your title, even words like ‘the’ can be important. That word denotes one particular thing. To take an example from my stories, “Moonset” (from the Re-Terrify anthology) evokes a periodic event that happens daily. “The Moonset” suggests one particular setting of the moon. The one-word version was more appropriate for my story.

Here are some explanations for the titles of my stories:

“Broken Flute Cave” is also the setting of the story, a cavern so-named because a modern discoverer found what looked like broken flutes inside. My story is the origin story, or pourquoi story of the last Native American flute player to occupy that cave.

“Reconnaissance Mission” (in the Not Far From Roswell anthology) has a double meaning in this story. The tale follows Army Sergeant Major Edgar Allan Poe as he participates in a recon mission to Nuevo México. There he finds his is not the only team conducting such a mission.

“The Unparalleled Attempt to Rescue One Hans Pfaall” (in the Quoth the Raven anthology) is a sequel to Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall.” I could hardly have titled it any other way.  

“Instability” (in the Dark Luminous Wings anthology) is another title with double meanings. A medieval monk builds wings and tries to fly, but can’t control his flight. Moreover, some of the other monks question his sanity.

“Time’s Deformèd Hand” is a phrase from the Shakespeare play “The Comedy of Errors.” My story—in the clockpunk genre—has many references to time, clocks, and calendars, and errors associated with time measurement. The grave accent mark (`) means to pronounce that usually-silent ‘e’ as you would in ‘ranted.’

“Last Vessel of Atlantis” (combined in one volume with “Rallying Cry”) evokes the wonder of that legendary lost continent. The word ‘vessel’ has two meanings in the story—a ship and a container of liquids. In fact, the first published version of that story was titled “The Vessel.”

“The Six Hundred Dollar Man” references the 1970s TV show “The Six Million Dollar Man” but mine is a steampunk version taking place in the American Wild West.

The next time you’re stressing about how to title a story, you’ll remember the profound and timeless advice of the one who titles himself—

Poseidon’s Scribe

March 28, 2021Permalink

7 Ways to Start Your Science Fiction Short Story

Oh, those choosy readers! So pressed for time, so easily distracted. If you don’t begin your SF short story in an imaginative, attention-grabbing way, they won’t read further. Let’s find out how to hook them.

Author Charlie Jane Anders wrote a great post citing seven killer openings for SF short stories, with classic examples for each one. I highly recommend her post.

Here, in brief, is my take on her list, with examples from my stories:

1. Set the Scene. Put us ‘there’ right away. Immerse us in the strangeness of your setting. Most SF stories begin this way. Use when setting is important, but get to the plot’s action soon after.

Personal Example, from “The Sea-Wagon of Yantai:”

2. Introduce Conflict. Hit us with the problem first. What is your character dealing with? Fill in other details later. Good way to hook readers, but a bit chancy if your bomb’s a dud, or if the rest of the story doesn’t live up to its start.

Personal Example, from “A Tale More True:”

3. Mystify. Intrigue and confuse us. Cast us in without knowing our bearings yet. A risky way to start, but when it works, it works well.

Personal Example, from “The Cats of Nerio-3:”

4. Gather ‘Round, Children. Have a talkative narrator speak to the reader in third person, often addressing the reader as ‘you.’ Often used in humor stories, but you need to keep that narration intriguing, and sustain it.

Personal (though approximate) Example, from “Reconnaissance Mission:”

5. There I was. Have the talkative narrator, the main character, self-identifying as “I,” speak to the reader in first person. Often these stories start in a reflective, essay-like tone. Helps readers identify with the main character right away, but you need to get to the plot action and the scene-setting soon after.

No Personal Examples

6. Start With a Quote. This can be a quote from another document, or (more often) a character speaking. Good way to introduce a character’s personality right away, but if done wrong, this beginning can come off as juvenile.

Personal Example, from “The Unparalleled Attempt to Rescue One Hans Pfaall:”

7. Open With a Puzzle. Combine 2. and 3. above to introduce a conflict while also mystifying. This is the most difficult of the seven methods. Great when it works, but awful when it doesn’t.

Personal Example, from “Moonset:”

You should work hard on the opening lines of your short stories. Try several, or all, of the examples above until you hit on one you feel is right. Attempt, in a sentence or two, to (1) grab the reader, (2) introduce the main character, (3) present or suggest the conflict, (4) set the mood or tone of the story, and (5) perhaps give a hint of the ending for circular closure.

Now go out and grab your readers, using the methods of—

Poseidon’s Scribe

March 21, 2021Permalink

Virtually the Best SciFi Conference Ever!

Me, as I appeared to conference attendees. Just hanging out in my submarine.

Just wrapped up a wonderful weekend attending Chessiecon, the scifi and fantasy conference named for the sea monster of the Chesapeake Bay. This year they held it online, which made it easier in some ways, and more difficult in others. The programming team kept me busy, with five panels and a reading. In case you missed it, here’s the recap:

How to Get Published, with Meg Eden, Linda Adams, Nate Hoffelder, and Steve Kozeniewski. I served as moderator for this panel. Everyone provided great advice, making it a real how-to panel for beginning writers.

Humor in SF/F Writing, with Steve Kozeniewski, Don Sakers, and the Chessiecon Guest of Honor, Charlie Jane Anders. I moderated this panel as well. It was an hour filled with wonderful and funny advice on how to write humor. Writing humor is difficult to do, and the panelists handled did a good job explaining how to go about it. The audience asked inciteful questions and I thought the panelists really addressed those well. The ‘after-party’ post-panel discussions in Discord were hilarious.

Making an Unlikeable Person a Likeable Character, with Mary Fan, Steve Kozeniewski, Valerie Mikles, Karen MacLeod, and me. Here I served as a panelist while Mary Fan moderated. It was a fascinating subject for a panel, as it really got into how writers create and develop characters that change and learn. Mary Fan did a super job moderating the session and I learned a lot from the other panelists.

My reading was well-attended. I read “Reconnaissance Mission” which appeared in Not Far From Roswell, by Pole to Pole Publishing. I challenged the audience to write down all the Edgar Allan Poe references they caught in my story, which made it a little more fun.

How to Ruin a Revolution, with Ted Weber, Cathy Hird, and Don Sakers. I moderated this one, but the panelists were all so knowledgeable and cited so many historical and fictional examples, I think the audience was blown away. We covered revolutions, protests, and coups, both historical and fictional, with special mention of Robert A. Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. We should have offered college course credit for that 1-hour session.

Humans are the Same, with D.H. Aire, Susan de Guardiola, and Meg Nicholas. I served as moderator and the discussion was wide-ranging, comparing people today with our ancestors and exploring the few ways in which people have changed. We discussed what historians leave out, and what misconceptions we have about those who came before.

Overall, I miss in-person conferences, but there are advantages to online cons. Attendees don’t have to dress well, or even leave their house, to attend. Attendees get more close-up views of books that authors hold up, and they can simply copy and paste book and story titles so they can more easily buy the books they’re interested in.

I know, I know, you don’t have to say it. The only books you’re interested in are those by—

Poseidon’s Scribe

November 29, 2020Permalink

My Chessiecon 2020 Schedule

Here’s a rare opportunity, Poseidon’s Scribe fans. You can attend a writer’s conference and see me…for only $10. Yes, you read that correctly. $10.

The Chessiecon 2020 conference is online this year and it only costs a ten-spot to attend. Since it’s online, you can attend from anywhere. The conference runs from Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29.

Although things are still in flux, here’s my current schedule (subject to change) (all times are EST):

Date/TimeTitleDescription
Friday 5:30 pmHow to Get PublishedOverview of process from story idea to editing to submission to publishing.
Friday 8:30 pmHumor in SF/F WritingHow to make something funny, what makes someone laugh. Humor as ‘the tragedy you survived.’
Saturday 10:00 amMaking an Unlikeable Person a Likeable CharacterDiscuss how to write a person with unpleasant characteristics or behavior can still be a character that appeals to readers
Saturday 11:30 amReadingReading
Saturday 8:30 pmHow to ruin a revolutionDiscuss protests and revolutions have an effect that was not anticipated by the organizers. Do revolutions need to be violent to be effective? Consider Heinlein’s Moon is a Harsh Mistress as an example.
Sunday 1:00 pmHumans Are the SameHistory panel about examples of ways in which we’re not so different from our ancestors, and how writers make use of this fact. Funny stories of immature ancient graffiti, poetry about people’s cats, etc.

At the moment, it looks like I’ll be moderating four of those panels, all except “Making an Unlikeable Person a Likeable Character.” For my reading session on Saturday, I plan to present my short story “Reconnaissance Mission” from the anthology Not Far From Roswell.

Normally, I charge $11, or as much as $12, to see me, and then you only get my bad side, from a distance. Here’s your chance, for only $10, to see the real, live—

Poseidon’s Scribe

November 22, 2020Permalink

The Story Behind “Reconnaissance Mission”

Pole to Pole Publishing just released Not Far From Roswell, an anthology of dark short stories involving aliens in New Mexico. My tale called “Reconnaissance Mission” appears there, and you’re about to discover the story behind that story.

When the submission call went out, I figured I’d pass. I don’t often write dark stories or alien visitation fiction. My intellectual side had moved on, but my muse grabbed it by the collar and said, “Come back here. I’ve got an idea. Hold my beer.”

Over the years, I’ve learned to listen to my muse, even when she’s drunk. With alcohol on her breath, she whispered her idea about an alternate version of history where Edgar Allan Poe visits New Mexico and encounters something. My intellect argued back: “I don’t think Poe ever visited that area, and the state of New Mexico didn’t even exist in his time.” The muse replied, “Details, shmetails. Those are your problems.”

My crack research team uncovered some interesting and useful tidbits about Poe. Before going to West Point (yes, he was a cadet, though he didn’t graduate), he had enlisted in the Army in 1827. At that time, many of our Army’s enlisted personnel were recent immigrants from Ireland and Germany, so Poe probably stood out. His regiment was posted to Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina. Highly intelligent and a quick learner, Poe became the battery’s “artificer.”

The U.S. Army doesn’t have much need of artificers these days, but back then “Tiffys” were vital. They calculated explosive loads and fuse lengths for artillery shells. Any computational error could result in a missed shot, a premature detonation, or even death of the gun crew.

Poe was skilled, though, and rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. His commanding officer, Lieutenant Howard, recognized his talent and urged Poe to apply for the Military Academy. Upon acceptance, Poe entered West Point in 1829.

All that is true. But, my muse asked, what if…? What if the Army ordered one platoon to conduct a clandestine mission to Santa Fe de Nuevo México, then a territory of Mexico? What if their mission had been to assess the military strengths and potential threats of the Mexicans and the Apaches?

Further, what if the platoon encountered something unusual, something that might explain Poe’s later writings, something that seemed very…well…alien?

Then, as is usual for me, the story wrote itself. It’s an origin story for Poe, one that could have happened. Well, there’s no evidence it didn’t happen. As they say, the truth is out there.

You can purchase Not Far From Roswell here. Knowing the fine editors at Pole to Pole Publishing, I’m certain all the stories in that anthology are terrific.

Yes, I know. I owe my muse a beer. Without her, I really wouldn’t be—

Poseidon’s Scribe

December 15, 2019Permalink