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The SF community & black kettles
01/01/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
Science fiction, says Uncle Geoff, is a genre to be proud to say you belong to and a measure of eccentricity to be healthy with than to be without. It doesn’t bite or scare or hurt anyone except in the content of what you watch or read and there are so many more of us today that it no longer a dirty word. Be proud. Members of the SF community calling someone eccentric is like calling the kettle black.
Better the genome you know.
Hello everyone
There are still generally two reactions when you tell someone you're interested in Science Fiction.
The usual one is a slight eyes gazing over and an immediate desire to categorise as to how kooky you are when they ask 'Star Trek' or one of the other shows that they've seen in a TV guide as if that's all that Science Fiction is about before finding something else they can talk about. At least you're spared the 1950s American reaction of asking where your beanie hat with the propeller on is. The British reaction was to quickly change the subject or leave hastily. With other countries, they might not even have understood what you're talking about.
The other might possibly be a fraternity and an acknowledgement of having the same interest. There is then a measure of how extreme your interest is as you match interest levels from moderate to intense. Science Fiction is such a wide and varied subject that it can well divide into fiction or visual let alone particular subjects such as film or TV series before discussing the merits. If anything, many have chosen to specialise in particular areas than have a wide interest. A general SF fan such as myself who knows something about everything can discuss things at your own particular level. Whether the reverse is possible...
Mind you, can the same be said when and SF fan encountering, say, a fantasy or a horror fan? I can probably get on better with the horror than the fantasy fan since SF crosses the border more often than not with them. The 'horror' label is, after all, a frightener aspect that can be applied to any subject. It can be as much urban myth to some aspect of SF that appears scary to darn right fantasy where anything goes. Some connection can be made although recognising particular creators is not quite the same as discussing fundamental differences between the genres.
Fantasy, however, tends to move away from accepted rule structure making too much possible and has something more akin to childhood fantasy of what could be lurking at the bottom of the garden as mythological kingdoms where magic is probably not the result of advanced science.
So lets go back to those whose eyes glaze over with the term 'Science Fiction'. These days it would be impossible to say they've never heard or let alone seen some films or TV series placed within our genre. Even an earnest desire to avoid can get disrupted when the kids hold the TV remote. Most non-genre people think SF is devoted to spaceships, aliens and robots and its up to you to point out that isn't always the case and that their classification is not as pure as they might imagine. Whether this will change their attitude or not is up to the individual who cites the case. Science Fiction's diversity means that for some TV shows that the appeal of cast members will draw them more than what the genre is about but doesn't necessary follow that they will widen their taste after cancellation.
What invariably brings up some sort of puzzlement is the merchandise related to our interest. We see nothing odd in picking up anything from toys, statues, tee-shirts, hats, badges, jewellery, etc related to our subject that we show proudly around our homes or wear out. Yet compared to the fanaticism a lot of people have for sport and doing similar things, including buying the kit to wear in public, we tend to be seen as odd. Strange that as the motivation to collect and wear probably belongs to the same kind of mindset to show off your allegiance and make it easier to identify to others. Sort of like an instant visual shorthand saying, 'Hi, I'm friendly and part of the same tribe.' If anything, this parallel in merchandising has been carrying on for some decades now. The only significant difference is that in Science Fiction we have such a wide variety that we don't have to re-invent ourselves which something such as the football fraternity merchandise does with new designs and symbolising you have the wealth to change periodically. If anything, our genre is a lot less cruel.
Having said all that, even how we set about recognising ourselves varies based on our allegiance. For some, there is nothing seen as being unusual wearing something like a 'Star Trek' uniform each day although I have to confess its an odd way to live reality if I'm objective. For others, it might be a badge or tee-shirt. Some, like myself, can happily travel incognito although I have been told it's the glow in my eyes that tends gives me away.
If anything, the older I get the more I'm beginning to realise eccentric behaviour is part of standard human make-up and we accept it more often than not as normal in a life-style. Those who think themselves 'normal' are just sneakier in hiding their eccentricity. Its only when we really stand out from the herd that we can classed as being radically different. A few decades ago, the number of SF fans to the unit mile were vastly smaller compared to today although it looks like the Internet has reduced the ability for people to get together outside of annual conventions. Then again, 'normal' is so bland. If being eccentric means having your own mind and opinion then I signed the dotted line years ago.
An interesting quandary out of all of this is why should our interest single us out as being abnormal when it's considered normal for others with a sporting interest? Is it herd instinct in action and the largest frown on the smallest groups? At least no one with an interest in our genre has ever been accused of hooliganism.
In many respects, SF fans have always been classed as the pariahs, the real oddities, despite odd facts that films based on stories from our genre tend to be amongst the highest money-making movies. That means more than hard-grain SF fans are going to see them. There's a lot of contention as whether we should prefer to be more open to the general public or prefer to be seen as more secluded. Personally, I don't think it should make any difference, largely cos there are so many different groups out there and I doubt if that will ever change.
One thing that I think people do under-estimate are the associated skills with being a Science Fiction fan. There's an easier acceptance to technological change probably being the top one. Not all of you will understand how something like a computer works but you also won't get technological shock neither by tinkering with a keyboard. The more 'sane' of us are also good at spotting eccentricity in others. Maybe it's because we are also on the side of eccentricity ourselves and can tell when the kettle is black or misunderstood. It can also make us more sympathetic to the little guy and the outsider. At least I hope it still does in person. On the Net, though, unless you use a camera, we can all appear equal and equally vocal if you know how to put words into sentences and can express an opinion. Unless there is a chance remark that differentiates, we all end up seemingly 'normal' whatever that means in context.
Does this mean that we're all being weaned off our own personal eccentricity or that in a crowd of same people there is little to distinguish us? Is the Net bringing us equality or does it just look that way? The simplest test is to see how you are with the people about you. If what you regard as what classifies you as 'eccentric' in real life is still there then it means that equality is only there when in communion with others of similar taste. Even so, sub-divisions divide up for the knowledgeable and the ones who want to expand their knowledge and how vocal you can be in expressing opinions. The more we seem different the closer to how normal behaviour we seem to exhibit as well. A definite indication that it isn't our interest alone that makes us slightly eccentric, just an off-shoot of being individualistic.
Although I doubt if we'll loose the element that makes us 'eccentric' to outsiders, it'll be interesting to see as time progresses how many more closet SF fans are more likely to 'come out' and display their own personal tastes, even if its only a badge on the lapel. Many more are likely to have more than a slight interest these days when you start comparing genre films or TV series they liked without realising it. If this leads to the odd bit of merchandise then they're probably been more inclined than they've realised and can probably be told that for an SF, horror or even a fantasy fan that they are more normal than they realise. Hell, you might well be that way inclined just by reading here.
Science Fiction is a genre to be proud to say you belong to and a measure of eccentricity to be healthy with than to be without. It doesn't bite or scare or hurt anyone except in the content of what you watch or read and there are so many more of us today that it no longer a dirty word. Be proud.
Thank you, take care, good night, be safe and remind yourself, we're probably the wardens of the madhouse and need to hold the keys.
Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk
December 2008
Line Of Thought: All the bad things in the world are attributed to the devil which is rather weird as his origin isn't given in the Bible. He doesn't really make an appearance until the New Testament and the temptations. As Christ discovered, poppa was a rolling stone. Mick Jagger got around a lot in those days.
Ponder Point: Those of you in the UK watching the 1966 'Batman' TV series re-runs on BBC4 might have spotted that the Batcave turntable where the batmobile is always revolves around. Makes you wonder why there was never a batastrophe and the dynamic duo having to back out of the Batcave.
A real Zen thought: Et tu sanus.
Another real Zen thought but this time for potential writers: If you can express an opinion independently of others and aren't likely to bend to the masses then you might show potential as a writer.
zen for those who are scared by all the instructions below: Many of the instructions are things you should be doing automatically if you're developing your writing skills. If you do them already then focus on the ones that you don't get right. They are there to help you as much as me to get the best writing from you. If you think you're 80% there then I'll help you get the final 20%. Trust me, I'm an editor and I can get things right.
BOOK REVIEWS
Do you love books?
Do you like curling up and reading a book?
Do you have a preference for fantasy, SF or horror?
Do you find it the greatest pastime you have next to being on your computer?
Are you very vocal about what you like and don't like in what you read?
Would you like to share your thoughts with others about books?
Would you like an endless supply of books to do this with?
Do you live in the UK?
If you've been nodding your head up to this point then link in below and see if you have what it takes to be a reviewer at SFCrowsnest. If you have that special knack to read and write or want to develop said skill then the only way you're going to find out is to take the plunge yourself rather than wait for others to do it first. Reading a lot of books is a requisite for any writer. Being able to say what makes them good or bad hones your own skills. It's got to be better than waiting for the sun to come out as the winter draws near. It's also amazing how much you can read in an hour a day.
If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything and give it a roadtest before giving a review so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. That means we need people actually willing to read the book and tell others they're opinion in reviews. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers.
Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more. If you love fantasy, we have more than enough to keep you busy for instance.
Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't normally read. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I?
If you like reading books in the genre and can average two or three a month, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of new books, this has to be a good incentive to see if you have what it takes. It can even be included in your job CV.
Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff by sending me a sample review.
Look up the Review Guidelines by linking here: with a press of a mouse button.
SHORT STORY SLUSH PILE
We always have an interest in short stories which can be anything from one to thirty or so pages long. We're always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can't pay for their efforts, your material will be seen by a lot of people. If you can get a short story written well then it'll make it easier to move up to novel-length.
Look up the Short Stories Link by linking here with your mouse.
FLASH OR ONE-PAGE FICTION
We've also a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website. It's far too easy to just write and write and hope something good comes out of it. What writing a one page story does is test your ability to control your word count and still tell a story in a concise way. This doesn't mean we don't accept stories of different lengths - a short story can be anything up to 30-40 pages long after all - but opens up the means for really short stories from ideas that don't need as much space.
Flash fiction stories by linking here: with your mouse.
NOVEL-LENGTH SAMPLES IN THE FIRST INSTANCE
For those keeping track, I'm actually now caught up but don't tell everyone as I'm undecided as to whether to keep looking at novel-length story samples, move over specifically to short stories - which we do anyway for the website - or get a couple of my own book projects completed. The latter, I still intend to do anyway.
There might not be much of a wait unless I get a deluge, however those sending in ebook samples, please read the Guidelines by linking here with your mouse here or through the bottom line menu on the opening page of the SFC website.
They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I'm repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn't be making if you're serious about becoming a writer. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which you should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work that deal with plot and the other serious elements of storywriting. As a writer, it is your command of the English language and its grammar that will show how serious you are about writing.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING BUT AFRAID TO ASK
General advice for those who want to become writers of any sort: There's an old editorial adage, if you can't aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? Nominally, my job is to catch minor glitches not total mishaps. If you're a writer, then you should understand the words, sentences and grammar of the job you're supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you're ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Put the time in researching any subject you're using in the story. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. Even I do that. You look good. I make you look better but you have to start off with good.
A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn't see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted out and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best and more importantly, getting your material seen by readers.
The link here will show you the Common Problems Link page which has recently been updated and what I see mostly with your mouse. It's the smart writer who doesn't get caught out with these.
Good luck. Geoff
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