Writing Discussion II

[Respubliko de Libereco]

Hey, does anyone know where I could find a map of likely nuclear targets in the United States? I'm doing some world building a book I'm trying to write and it would help me tremendously.

I don't imagine that the list of likely nuclear targets would be all that different from the list of major population centres.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Hey, does anyone know where I could find a map of likely nuclear targets in the United States? I'm doing some world building a book I'm trying to write and it would help me tremendously.

I don't imagine that the list of likely nuclear targets would be all that different from the list of major population centres.

Eh, I'm just trying to think up the most likely places in the US to get hit by nukes in a worst case scenario.

I found this, for starters.

I'm working on a book about a Western-themed post apocalyptic story set in the indeterminate far future. Funnily enough, according to that map, my home county would likely be the target of a nuclear strike.

[Respubliko de Libereco]

I don't imagine that the list of likely nuclear targets would be all that different from the list of major population centres.

Eh, I'm just trying to think up the most likely places in the US to get hit by nukes in a worst case scenario.

I found this, for starters.

With a couple of weird blobby exceptions in the middle, that's more or less the same as a population density map of the states. I stand by my initial statement.

Relevant xkcd

[Claanyad]

Would anybody be interested in a collaborative writing project ?

I would! That could be fun. What sort of format?

[Nazi Flower Power]

I don't imagine that the list of likely nuclear targets would be all that different from the list of major population centres.

Eh, I'm just trying to think up the most likely places in the US to get hit by nukes in a worst case scenario.

I found this, for starters.

I'm working on a book about a Western-themed post apocalyptic story set in the indeterminate far future. Funnily enough, according to that map, my home county would likely be the target of a nuclear strike.

According to that map just about everything would be a "likely" target. In reality, even if someone was dumb enough to have a nuclear war, it's unlikely that it would be on that scale. Before anybody gets around to nuking Maine (especially with multiple nukes, so that's not just Portland they were after) or Boise, Idaho, or whatever that shit is up the top of the map slightly west of center (it might be North Dakota) the US would hit them back and both countries would be talking to each other, even if it was just to say, "You surrender!" and "No, you!" I think the bigger question if you're looking at a scenario in which the US gets hit with hundreds of nukes is not where they hit, but who is firing them and why. Tinpot dictators don't have that kind of firepower and major world powers are much less likely to fire off their whole arsenal out of the blue.

[Trotskylvania]

Hey, does anyone know where I could find a map of likely nuclear targets in the United States? I'm doing some world building a book I'm trying to write and it would help me tremendously.

That depends on the era.

As the Cold War progressed, targeting emphasis shifted from countervalue to counterforce. Essentially, for both sides, the goal was to inflict a crippling blow to the other side's ability to continue conflict, especially nuclear conflict. In terms of priority, the highest were national capitals, followed by military command and control hubs such as NORAD and the attendant radar, then the missile fields and airbases themselves, then major centers of communiction, which inevitably meant some large cities, but also road and rail hubs, then large infrastructure like dams. Once both sides had exhausted their best weapons, the last generation of strategic weapons, too cumbersome to be targeted with any accuracy, would be used to destroy major population centers in the event of a total nuclear exchange.

[Bontavation]

Don't know how accurate it is, but this map supposedly shows what would be Soviet targets: http://i.imgur.com/o83uv.gif

This might help too: http://www.survivalring.org/community/l ... r-targets/

[Napkiraly]

Developing a dark, urban fantasy setting. Not sure if I should have one or multiple POV's. Though I know one that'd I'd like to do in separate things. One is having a London detective become the thrall to a vampire and therefore exploring this hidden world through the eyes of a mortal who is slowly corrupted by the blood of the cursed.

Working more on the kind of atmosphere I'd like to develop and the various bits about the various races that'll exist within the setting (apart from aforementioned vamps, werecreatures, daemons (sort of), angels (sort of), etc.

The problem of course is to try and create something unique that is separate from all the other similar settings. :/

[Dead Names]

Developing a dark, urban fantasy setting. Not sure if I should have one or multiple POV's. Though I know one that'd I'd like to do in separate things. One is having a London detective become the thrall to a vampire and therefore exploring this hidden world through the eyes of a mortal who is slowly corrupted by the blood of the cursed.

Working more on the kind of atmosphere I'd like to develop and the various bits about the various races that'll exist within the setting (apart from aforementioned vamps, werecreatures, daemons (sort of), angels (sort of), etc.

The problem of course is to try and create something unique that is separate from all the other similar settings. :/

It's definitely a challenge to take something familiar and make it unique. Can I ask what inspired the story/setting?

[Napkiraly]

Developing a dark, urban fantasy setting. Not sure if I should have one or multiple POV's. Though I know one that'd I'd like to do in separate things. One is having a London detective become the thrall to a vampire and therefore exploring this hidden world through the eyes of a mortal who is slowly corrupted by the blood of the cursed.

Working more on the kind of atmosphere I'd like to develop and the various bits about the various races that'll exist within the setting (apart from aforementioned vamps, werecreatures, daemons (sort of), angels (sort of), etc.

The problem of course is to try and create something unique that is separate from all the other similar settings. :/

It's definitely a challenge to take something familiar and make it unique. Can I ask what inspired the story/setting?

Various different settings. World of Darkness (both Classical and New), Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Night Watch series, Dresden Files to an extent, various other urban fantasy/supernatural horror series.

[Dead Names]

It's definitely a challenge to take something familiar and make it unique. Can I ask what inspired the story/setting?

Various different settings. World of Darkness (both Classical and New), Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Night Watch series, Dresden Files to an extent, various other urban fantasy/supernatural horror series.

Interesting to see no Buffy/Angel referenced. I'm actually re-watching Angel at the moment.

[Herskerstad]

Near finishing Shelly's Frankenstein.

Extraordinary piece of work. Very fitting I did this after Paradise Lost and the Divine Comedy.

[Respubliko de Libereco]

Near finishing Shelly's Frankenstein.

Extraordinary piece of work. Very fitting I did this after Paradise Lost and the Divine Comedy.

Did you read a poetic translation of the Divine Comedy, or just a prose translation?

[Napkiraly]

Various different settings. World of Darkness (both Classical and New), Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Night Watch series, Dresden Files to an extent, various other urban fantasy/supernatural horror series.

Interesting to see no Buffy/Angel referenced. I'm actually re-watching Angel at the moment.

Enh, I love Buffy. Just not influencing this setting.

[Zeinbrad]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

[Nazi Flower Power]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

How are you going to actually incorporate them into the story?

[Bontavation]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

Burning children's toys is too obvious. The rest could work or not work depending on the circumstances.

[Claanyad]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

Burning children's toys is too obvious. The rest could work or not work depending on the circumstances.

I agree with the above. Burning children's toys is a tad obvious. Perhaps something like while cutting the lawn, accidentally running over flowers, or something.

[Respubliko de Libereco]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

I'm not sure it makes sense to just go listing symbols ahead of time like this. I also think that inserting symbolism solely for the sake of symbolism isn't a great idea. If it's not well tied in with the imagery, atmosphere, and/or plot, it'll just stick out and seem ham-fisted, even if the meaning of the symbolism isn't obvious.

[Nazi Flower Power]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

I'm not sure it makes sense to just go listing symbols ahead of time like this. I also think that inserting symbolism solely for the sake of symbolism isn't a great idea. If it's not well tied in with the imagery, atmosphere, and/or plot, it'll just stick out and seem ham-fisted, even if the meaning of the symbolism isn't obvious.

It does seem like an odd way to write.

But I probably shouldn't criticize anyone else considering how unproductive I've been in all things creative for the past year or so.

I do have a couple of ideas I like for short stories. I am hoping to do one to shop around for publication and one to submit to the next round of the short story contest if only I could focus and actually write them and do them justice instead of procrastinating nonstop.

The one I want to shop around is about a woman who creates an artificial virus to promote her political agenda.

The one for the short story contest is about a couple of Confederate apologists that go back to the 1820s and then get in an argument about the ethics of what they are doing.

[Shamhnan Insir]

Pushing ahead with my Warhammer 40K novel. After thrashing out the beginning sequences, I'm now progressing and developing some of the main characters. Long way to go though.
It's going to be violent and pretty damn brutal at times. But amongst that I'm managing to keep just an edge of humor in some sections.

Have my first short story of a xenobiologists adventures too.

[Bezombia]

So,I like symbolism and and writing down some ideas. Thoughts on these?

Burned out light/lamp/candle represents lost innocence.
(Zenith only, Zenith being an unstoppable killing machine that people think is a genetically engineered Gaian but are not sure) Reflections represent Zeniths supposive humanity.
(Drake only, main protagonist of sorts, mentally unstable and first Human psychic) Sheep,being herded by the Shepherds in the Nativity of Christ, represent the fact that Drake is a ‘son of God’, in the sense that he is basically the son of Angst, Jrova and Hrova.
(Drake only) Burning childrens toys, representing the childhood Drake never had.
(Drake only) Distant lights represent the long journey that awaits Drake.

I'm not sure it makes sense to just go listing symbols ahead of time like this. I also think that inserting symbolism solely for the sake of symbolism isn't a great idea. If it's not well tied in with the imagery, atmosphere, and/or plot, it'll just stick out and seem ham-fisted, even if the meaning of the symbolism isn't obvious.

Hey, The Alchemist did 'shoving symbolism into the story as much as physically possible and then writing the plot around it' pretty well.

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

I'm not sure it makes sense to just go listing symbols ahead of time like this. I also think that inserting symbolism solely for the sake of symbolism isn't a great idea. If it's not well tied in with the imagery, atmosphere, and/or plot, it'll just stick out and seem ham-fisted, even if the meaning of the symbolism isn't obvious.

Hey, The Alchemist did 'shoving symbolism into the story as much as physically possible and then writing the plot around it' pretty well.

The one with those twins and the old guy and his wife, and the Celtic warrior?

[Nordengrund]

I have a really good story I want to write, but I dont know how to start it.

[The States of Balloon]

I have a really good story I want to write, but I dont know how to start it.

With a capital letter.