Writing Other Worlds: Society, Science, & Sensory Perception

In September I led a workshop at my local public library on developing story worlds for science fiction. I chose to examine world building through three lenses:

• Society - what's at stake for the characters and what orders their world
• Science - what's possible and what are the limitations, both mechanically and biologically 
• Sensory Perception - the way the character senses the world; go beyond visuals, get visceral

To prepare I looked for good examples of world building and found that most successful stories first draw the reader in with a character's sensory perception or a character's experience that is framed by science and engineering beyond what you and I encounter in typical contemporary life.
The fictional society is built up and revealed through many of these details of the character's experience.

As book enthusiasts we usually describe the fictional society first. As in, The Hunger Games is a story where the main character competes in an annual reality game show for which every district sends a teen champion to fight to the death. But remember, the reader's or movie goer's experience of learning the rules of the game and the role Kat plays in it is quite different.

To explore what successful world building might look like, I started the workshop by reading the first 2-1/2 pages of Ender's Game, the 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card.

I love how Card give us the immersive story world of Ender's Game. And I love all the creative energy in our Saturday workshop at the Monroe County Public Library, writers of all ages imagining humankind thriving in exciting and authentic future story worlds.

My next library workshop is April 7, 11:30-1:30. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, here are some key passages of the opening pages of Ender's Game and my notes, in story order:

Sensory Perception[The monitor lady said it would come out today.] "The monitor gone. Ender tried to imagine the little device missing from the back of his neck. I'll roll over on my back in bed and it won't be pressing there. I won't feel it tingling and taking up the heat when I shower."

Science"This won't take long," said the doctor. "It's designed to be removed. Without infection, without damage."

The implication from the full text is that the tiny monitor in the back of Ender's neck picks up what he sees and hears and transmits that information to the, as yet unnamed, authorities so they can see and hear, and evaluate Ender's behavior. Before we know why he's been monitored -

Sensory Perception, this time raising the stakes"Suddenly a pain stabbed through him like a needle from his neck to his groin. Ender felt his back spasm, and his body arched violently backwards; his head struck the bed. He could feel his legs thrashing ..." 

After the doctor and nurse are able to bring Ender's seizure under control -

Society"The doctor was trembling; His voice shook as he spoke, "They leave these things in the kids for three years, what do they expect? We could have switched him off, do you realize that? We could have unplugged his brain for all time."

Even though we don't yet know who "they" are, we can easily infer that the authorities in this society regularly place brain monitors, potentially life-threatening devices in children. From the opening passage we know Ender has been selected and "they" plan to "surround him with enemies all the time." The central question of Ender's Game is laid out within the first three pages: Will Ender survive what these authorities have planned for him?

What Do I Want to Say About Lucy?

  Lucy was a gal's best friend. 

Up until the day she died, after she'd lost so much weight and no longer had the stamina for our daily creek walks, she was still ready to go with me for a car ride or an examination of our home garden.

Yesterday, the day after she died, I washed her towels and blankets and dog bed. Today I remembered her food and water dishes she used downstairs. She was such a good dog, such a good friend.

Finding and washing her things, gave me pause.

  Lucy was pure spirit medicine. 

I learned so much from her about giving and receiving love and the attention and devotion required of lifetime companions. I'm so grateful she was in my life and home for her eleven delightful years.

Back Roads Eco-Warrior series: Dr. Nancy Dawson

Dr. Nancy Dawson shows some of the
produce from her community gardens 

Last month, I had the opportunity to work on a short film shoot in the small, picturesque city of Russellville, Kentucky. One of the greatest pleasures in a week full of amazing performances and a vibrant crew was meeting Dr. Nancy Dawson. As a historian, she costumed the 1850's story set on a slave plantation. She also played one of the character parts.

And after all that creative awesomeness I found out Dawson is also the Director of the Russellville Urban Gardening Project (RUGP). She's passionate about Gardening for Engagement and the educational programs she's developed around her concept of revitalizing and uplifting her community through the practice of horticulture.

She gave me a tour of her gardens, starting in her backyard in the historic neighborhood.

Dawson started growing her own food after a health crisis, and her realization that she needed to radically alter her personal consumption, meaning fresh, highly nutritious foods needed to replace sugars and empty starches that worsened her health. Though she had no formal training in agriculture, she remembered family and neighbors growing fruits and vegetables in her childhood, so she started to grow some of her favorite vegetables.

Some of the neighborhood kids would come around and ask about the plants, not recognizing peppers or tomatoes. "I realized they thought these things came from Walmart." As a lifetime educator, she got to work filling the knowledge gap.

One of the hoop structures in the
Russellville Urban Gardening Project

Starting with a 4H garden club, which she held on her back porch, her idea for more education grew. Simultaneously, her garden has grown from the pots on her back deck, to an intensive bed, to the three-acre community garden in the heart of the Russellville's black neighborhood.

This year RUGP is piloting an educational program in the local high school. Dawson's plan is for students to use technology for research and for writing field reports. Throughout the semester they'll have opportunities to meet with reps from Kentucky State University to learn about higher ed and careers in agriculture. Dawson's program also includes the high schoolers building an aquaponics garden. I hope to return for another tour!

Access to more variety in fresh foods is a prime benefit for the community. Also--this close to my heart--gardening for engagement includes teaching the value and importance of preservation and protection of nature and the environment.

Radical idea? Dawson herself says she's a change agent.

To find out more about my Back Roads project, currently in development, watch this teaser: