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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:36:46 GMT -6
An exercise in creative writing. In a paragraph or three, describe something that fits into the Science Fiction genre. Something you made up yourself.
This is an open-ended exercise to help get those creative juices flowing.
Some Subject ideas:
A futuristic weapon or weapon system
A planetary defense system
A spaceship or starship (Interior or Exterior)
Futuristic clothes
Scifi handhelds
Futuristic computing systems
Futuristic furniture or appliances
Areas of deep space - voids, nebulae or clusters
1st appearance of new planets or moons
Effects of stars with different attributes than the Sun
1st Sight of alien life
Describe an intelligent alien
A unique civilization
A unique society concept
The Effects of emerging from cryo-sleep
The Effects of Faster than Light travel
The Effects of high gravity on evolution
The Effects of low gravity on evolution
A habit of an alien culture (smoking, drinking, doing drugs, etc...)
Futuristic human habits
Futuristic human diseases/afflictions
A new use for an old item
You should always feel free to chose your own subject matter. Just remember this is an exercise in creative writing. The main goal is to describe something so others 'see' what you intend them to 'see'. Another goal is to use known descriptive words and phrases that are common. Try to limit 'made-up words' as descriptors.
Try to address the senses; feel, taste, hearing, sight & smell.
Judging and Feedback:
We can judge each others work on a 1-5 rating system. 1 being "lots more work needed" and 5 being "you should publish". We should rate on an 'overall' effect of the description. Spelling and grammar should rank low in the rating process. The most important will be whether the work describes something to you. Subject matter should have no bearing on the final rating.
Judging Power - Those that submit works will have more power than those who do not.
Feedback Replies - Feedback is encouraged as long as it is constructive. Even submitted works that are a total mess should get feedback commending their participation.
Feedback Suggestions
Spelling & Grammar suggestions
Punctuation and Paragraph Construction suggestions
Descriptive Process suggestions
Simplicity suggestions
Focusing suggestions
Metaphor suggestions
Content and Length suggestions
Flow suggestions
Websites to find more information on Creative Writing Techniques
Do not submit artworks to clarify your subject. This is an exercise in writing creatively and describing something with the power of words. You are encouraged to start your own thread using your entry as an element to an enhanced story but your entry still must be submitted here to qualify for feedback.
Do not submit works that are already published. Even if it is your own work. All entries must be composed originally in this thread. Its about tuning your creative process not about what you write. For those that are already published, we welcome your feedback and entries. Feel free to experiment with writing styles and new description processes.
Finally... Everything you write is yours. You may do as you please with any content you write yourself. If you choose to publish someone else's feedback or comments on your work you must first ask the author's permission. Editing suggestions are just that...suggestions.
If you chose to use someone's edit suggestions to enhance your own content it is implied that the suggesting party forfeits ownership of said suggestion within the finished content. Example: Someone suggests that the appliance I am describing would make more sense being black instead of gray and I change it to black there is no ownership to the suggesting person. Its black because I decided to make it black.
This exercise is for fun and is by no means an official entity.
Short Story Ideas?
Aliens addicted to a device like people are addicted to phones...
A radical group that un-invents technology and the repercussions of such an event
Discovery of very high technology microbial life forms
Discovery of evidence of ancient advanced technology on Pluto or in the Oort Cloud
A response to the Voyager message as soon as it passes beyond the Heliopause. Realization that the Sun's shock boundary insulates us from heavy alien communication systems.
AI Singularity occurs by accident in a slacker's computer in his/her Mom's basement. Said AI saturates the entire planet.
The discovery and isolation of a solar wavelength that renders all power sources obsolete and its collector is a simple solar panel the size of your thumb.
The discovery of a vibration frequency that causes steerable dimensional vortexes that can be traveled.
The discovery of a gravity particle that can be manipulated.
Discovery of an enzyme in the deep ocean that instantly repairs body cells and cascades the effect.
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:38:45 GMT -6
What if Life as we know it is not Life as it really is?
For a moment, consider this:
Life may be a planetary force that is a single lifeform and all the plants, animals and germs are part of that as a whole instead of individual life forms.
What we think of as separate individuals are really nothing more than manifestations of a single living thing.
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Considering that we are within the Universe and we think, feel and dream, Isn't it likely that the Universe thinks, feels and dreams? Is it aware of our sentience even tho we are not aware of its? I'm 53 Solar Cycles but the Universe is 14 billion years old or more. Given that much time and the uncertainty of Chaos, the Universe could be the supreme intelligent life form. All other life within it is just a manifestation of itself.
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I stepped on the transportation plate as indicated and suddenly felt queasy. I watched in wonder as the outside world shifted and morphed until it stabilized to a surreal setting with vibrant colors and deep hues. The people at the control panel were replaced with creatures resembling octopi with fluid-like protrusions erupting from its gelatenous main body.
One of them struck me with a green glob of puss from one of those protrusions and I could suddenly read and understand their language. The largest creature gurgled and I instantly knew he said, "Welcome to the Sertise Cluster. Please remain still for a moment more"
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:39:54 GMT -6
The Alien ship appeared in the center of the armada, pulsed once and disappeared again. I watched the horror unfold as the pulse radiated thru the fleet, jamming my control stick into a vertical dive to purchase safety from it.
The pulse passed thru the immediate ships effortlessly and continued out in a blossom of death. I watched in sadness as each ship slowly dissolved into atomic dust. The few ships that were able to maneuver from the horizontal radius of it streamed off in all directions like a swarm of bees.
There were some remaining ships that only partially escaped and they were dissolved in all manner of ways. Half-dissolved panels and structures littered space along with partially dissolved people.
The weapon they used was indefensible. It was some type of pulsing wave that destabilizes the atomic bonds that hold atoms together. Its edge cuts like a knife and the pulse wave scatters the elements that made the matter like a blast wave.
The only saving grace is that it radiates outward on a plane similar to a ripple in a pond and is only about a kilometer wide and dissipates in less than a minute. The biggest fear is we have no idea how to track the alien ships and the pulse recharge time is unknown.
Too small of an effect to endanger Earth but it would certainly split the moon.
Was this a small weapon or their largest?
Who are they and where are they from?
Are they heading for our Sol System?
Is there a defensive strategy?
How do we track their ships?
Too many questions, Too much death and destruction and this is but our first contact.
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:40:13 GMT -6
The Stove watched us from afar for a thousand years. Learning us, our habits, our languages and our biology. They arrived last week, two of them in their little ship just large enough to fit them.
I was chosen as part of the welcoming committee because of my cancer. Given less than a week to live, I was prepped and instructed by the world's leading scientists to make first contact.
The Stove were extremely strange looking. Nicknamed the Black C's, because they resembled tall black letter C's. About 3 feet wide and over 9 feet tall they sluffed about on their bottoms by some unseen locomotive force.
As we met I could clearly see some type of writing in their midsection. Not a plaque or a uniform, the writing seemed to emboss out of their bodies in a brilliant yellow glow. As we grew closer I read the writing, It was English and it said "We Are Stove"
The smaller Stove approached me and the writing changed to "Heal"
It touched me and I immediately felt a warm flow fill my body. As it radiated rapidly thru me I felt overwhelmed with vitality. My vision went white and flashed back to normal. The entire sensation lasted but a few moments but the result left me feeling strong and healthy.
The writing changed again "Healed"
At that moment the larger Stove approached me as it's writing morphed into "....to be continued...
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:40:33 GMT -6
History will write that it was Mankind's first megastructure.
Poets and singers will tell the tale of the world's first cultural union.
People will forget the significance and accept it as a normal condition.
It's really quite remarkable...
The Filament is what its called.
Covering the entire planet is a tiny web of conductive nano structure mesh.
It absorbs energy in all forms. From sunlight to movement. Storing the energy within itself.
Energy that can be tapped with a simple RF-type signal.
No more fossil fuel, no more wind turbines, solar panels, batteries or power plants. No more wires, fuel tanks or collectors. No condensers or amplifiers and most important, no maintenance required.
At the sea floor, in the deepest trench to the highest peak of a mountain. A continual covering, absorbing, gathering and releasing. Stretching and growing along our changing planet surface.
Signal range is roughly 9 miles into the air. Abundant, FREE energy.
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:40:58 GMT -6
Ketchup - Who Knew?
Back in the early years of the 21st Century mankind was helpless against the effects of cosmic rays.
All until a simple space accident by hungry astronaut.
Randy Boudir haphazardly sprayed a packet of Ketchup onto a cosmic ray detector in the old ISS.
He hurriedly commenced to clean up that awful red mess from the sensor and noticed it had stopped registering any cosmic rays. As he wiped the mess away, the detector once again started spurting forth data.
On a hunch, Randy spread more ketchup onto the detector and it went eerily silent again. A simple swipe confirmed his discovery.
Next time you take your trip to one of the outer planets just remember that its only a thin film of ketchup that protects you from a relentless shower of deadly cosmic rays.
Thanx Randy!
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:41:17 GMT -6
PPBs
Personal Plastic Bottles
Nobody remembers how this got started but it is a mega world-wide business now.
It seems humans have adopted a need to carry around their own personal plastic bottle. Some are filled with liquid, some with material and some are empty but everyone carries one.
About the size of a standard 16oz drink bottle they range in color and contents to match each person's personal preference. It's kinda like those old cell phones everyone had to have. I guess when the ocular implants became the communication mainstay they opted for something else to carry around.
I have my own PPB (who doesn't) but it's just not that important for me to always have it in my possession. I've seen people really freak out if they misplace theirs.
Silly Humans...
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:41:33 GMT -6
Deep within the Earth's crust there are a series of fabricated shells of super density. Our hardest drill bits have no bite on that mysterious substance.
It wasn't until the late 21st Century that we discovered the true nature of these constructs.
During the early days of life on this planet all life was anaerobic. These life forms exhaled oxygen and polluted the atmosphere making it deadly to them. They moved underground to escape the hostile oxygen levels.
Over the eons these life forms became sentient and grew. Their scientists mastered the elements and created these huge shells as an airless habitat so they could flourish.
Three Billion Years of evolution resulted in a lifeform that is superior to the surface dwellers in every way.
Now, They want their planet back...
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:41:52 GMT -6
Panel Training
The 'Panel' was opted the slang name given to the new neural interface being fitted to mechanical structures.
As navigator on the fleets newest most powerful starship I was first to receive panel training.
Stripped completely naked I was ushered into the application chamber to be fitted with my panel. It was slightly chilly as my skin reacted to the dry cool air within, giving me a shiver and those old familiar goosebumps. No chair or furnishings I stood in the center of the chamber as directed by the unseen voice of the operator.
A holographic timer displayed a countdown so I could be prepared to hold my breath. Tens seconds agonizingly ticked by and at the last digit I filled my lungs and breathed no more.
The spray was chilled but not cold. It saturated my entire body instantly, even spraying forth from microscopic nozzles in the floor. I wanted to shut my eyes from the onslaught but I was instructed not to. The whole application took less than a second and the voice soon instructed me to breathe normally. The chamber door opened and I stepped out and into an awaiting robe. A few seconds in the scanner and I was deemed 'Applied' and sent to prepare for my tour of duty.
I didn't feel different? As a matter of fact, I felt pretty good.
I gathered up my belongings and headed to the ship. Berthing was simple and fast and after a quick bite in the mess hall I proceeded to the bridge to continue my practical panel training.
This was certainly the strangest bridge I had ever seen. There were no controls, no view-screens and no accommodations. Just a room, white in color, empty but for a few other crew members.
I was instructed to pace the room in its entirety. They told me to heel-toe the entire floor slowly and as I positioned myself in a corner I noticed the room got slightly brighter. I did as instructed and returned to stand in front of my instructor for my next phase of training.
His gaze seemed to flutter and suddenly I was immersed in activity. The entire room came alive with information. As I gazed around in wonder I noticed each crew member had a readout of color and data that followed them as they moved. I could see their health and mental awareness as hues of color. I looked at my own hands and they faintly glowed similar to my ship mates.
The instructor thankfully allowed me some time to take in this assault on my senses. Finally, quietly telling me to think of any destination. I said to myself "Saturn" and instantly a chart appeared before me with our position, our destination and thrust vectoring timing and specifications. I heard "Good, Now take us out" from the instructor and suddenly a simple control stick materialized in front of me. I made motion and grasped the stick with my hand and it felt as if I was actually holding a control stick. I pushed the stick forward and the ship moved! Raw data came pouring into my 'Panel' as I navigated the ship into Pull. Pull is the optimal location that allows all ships to maximize and amplify a celestial gravitational force. Until now, finding Pull was a tedious task requiring calculation of sensor data, mass and vectoring with a whole lot of computer assist. I had Pull instantly. As the ship came to Pull I announced "Pull" to my instructor and was commanded "Engage Pull, Navigator"
A trigger materialized on the control stick and I instantly depressed it. We engaged, Boy did we engage. A single blink of my eye and we had achieved our destination. I heard the instructor say "Passed" and the room went white and bare again.
I came to find out that the 'Panel Test' was not to test my skills or the Panel ability. It was to test my focus. Seems they actually developed a propulsion that moves the ship not with speed but with thought. A Thought Drive
The Universe is ours!
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Post by tomishereagain on Mar 28, 2016 19:42:16 GMT -6
Wormhole Leo1263b opened mankind to new galaxies late in the 31st century. After establishing commercial trade routes and habitat worlds were found we expanded like locusts. Leo1263b had been stable for the last 2000 years according to our historical records. All that changed 73 solar days ago when the wormhole lost stability. Over 1,000 vessels were lost and billions of souls were stranded in the Leo Supercluster. No hope of ever returning or even contacting our empire.
Our end of the wormhole remains stationary but the other end materialized in the Great Sculptor Void.
Probes sent to find the lost ships actually found them, frozen and dead. From the data we received from the probes, before they too went dead, indicated an intelligent force within the Void. A hostile intelligent force.
Their ships emerged into our space shortly after our last probe went silent. Huge black balls with no indications, lights or propulsion method visible. Their attack was strange. According to recordings salvaged later, the huge spheres released a flotilla of pitch black orbs that absorbed all the energy of the ships and crews. We found the ships and everything aboard them completely frozen.
No sign of the strange ship or the mysterious black orbs can be found. It is believed they returned to the Void and the wormhole remains stable. Our scientists are working on a defense for the energy depletion weapon but so far every attempt involves using energy which will just give them more of what they steal.
Back in the 19th Century mankind used projectile weapons. Our weapons currently vaporize their targets using high energy discharges. They are completely futile against this enemy. Projectiles carry kinetic energy which may or may not make them vulnerable to the enemy's absorption spheres. Tests are being made to try freezing the projectiles to near absolute zero in hopes of a stealth impact.
Zycroptionium (once called Dark Matter) may be a defense or a shield since it has properties similar to their orbs. Zy blocks the transference of energy like an inert mass. It neither absorbs or radiates energy. In fact, the enemy's ships appear to be made of it or something similar. Work is currently being done to find a way to coat our ships and the new projectile weapons with Zycroptionium. Zy is expensive and difficult to extract but it can be synthesized. The problem is that the synthesizing process creates a massive energy signature that is sure to be a bright glowing target for the enemy.
We just got notified that Leo1263b is now active. Probe telemetry shows two ships emerging...wait 16..no, 60! My GOD! Its a steady flow and not slowing! 1000, 2600, 4000...
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