Wednesday, November 11, 2009

WIP Wednesday: It Gets a Little Murky


Sometimes, writing feels a little like walking through these woods. A little mystery never hurt anyone, but along with mystery comes the possibility of danger. What, exactly, lurks out there in the fog and shadows?

Like: why am I trying to write a piece of science fiction? Well...it's more horror, really. A man signs on to be the custodian of a group of colonists as they take a thirty year journey into deep space. He only signs on because his family suffers in abject poverty. He won't see them again, but they will live a healthy, safe life thanks to his sacrifice.

Of course...

Seven years, three months, and twenty-two days on route, ship’s custodian Gant Forres dreamed of the rats.

After that, he starts hearing them in the hull of the Rocinante. (nods to Lovecraft)

Let's just say it gets dark from there...

13 comments:

Alan W. Davidson said...

Hey, there's nothing wrong with that Sci-Fi/Horror mix. The first thing that comes to mind for most people, I'm sure, is the 'Alien' movies. What you've got sounds like a great premise for a story.

Matt said...

Nice. That's a great start.

It always gets murky, doesn't it?

I'm working on a scifi-horror mix as well. It's fun to mix the two and see where it goes, right?

Karen from Mentor said...

I'm working on a scifi novel for my NaNo project. My main characters are captives on a ship bound to who knows where. They've bonded and are getting along really well. As a matter of fact maybe a little too well.... all they did yesterday was have sex.
I was exhausted by the end of the day....and now I'm starting to worry that I'm writing a scifi *romance* [shudder]...


Loved the line "Let's just say it gets dark from there....."
Karen :0)

Rebecca Nazar said...

Make that custodian a lovable Giamotti-type and I'm there. Ah, that Lovecraft hook.

Cate Gardner said...

Ah, my favourite dark sci-fi = Dark City.

I want to stand in those woods.

Katey said...

OMG. Nod to Lovecraft? Are you telling me that you're doing the Rats in the Walls with a skiffy twist?

Have I told you lately that you're awesome?

Elana Johnson said...

What a great picture. Writing is like that. And I ask myself questions like yours all the time.

Fox Lee said...

*squeal* We're both doing sci-fi : ) Of course, rats are scary. I have cows. Lots and lots of cows.

Actually, there aren't so many around lately. Strange that.

BT said...

Pity it's not a short dark sci-fi story - haven't seen enough of those in my subs, and this one sounds kewl!

Aaron Polson said...

Alan - What I have in my mind's eye looks a lot like the Nostromo from Alien.

Matt - It's why I own a blender. ;)

Karen - Scifi/romance might be the next big thing.

Becca - You just completed the physical description for my guy. Thanks!

Cate - Me too.

Katey - You just wrote the ending to the story. Awesome. Now if I can pull it off...

Elana - You know a writer by the questions in her head. ;)

Natalie - Cows can be scary, too. I grew up in a county where the cows outnumbered the humans. *shudder*

BT - I hope it's still kewl when finished. We shall see...

Danielle Birch said...

Please be finishing the story.

Aaron Polson said...

Danielle - I'm trying. ;)

K.C. Shaw said...

That's a fascinating story idea! Nothing's more claustrophobic fun than a spaceship. :)