Hidden Empire is the first book in a multi-volume science fiction epic, The Saga of Seven Suns, filled with alien races, court intrigues, romance and sense-of-wonder on a galactic scale. ...

Yes, we've all heard it in our most depressed moments - "I can't seem to do anything original." Those moments where it seems everything has been done before.

Or perhaps, we get a really neat idea to use something we've seen before. It's not exactly stealing, is it? However part of you feels bad for using it. Maybe you aren't looking for originality at this time, but still . .

Well, these two crises of conscience (or a bad day at the keyboard) ...

Well, we're back on the creativity track after a few diversions, and back on the subject of religion in your continuity.

Eventually, you're going to have to design a religion if you're making a really original world. You aren't going to be able to avoid it for one reason:



DESIGNING A RELIGION 1: Religion is inevitable.
In the broadest sense, religion is how people define and relate to the universe, and how they order their lives around how they feel the universe works. Yes, this is my definition, but it's my column and it’s the approach I'll be taking.

So, in short, you WILL deal with religion in your world - because your residents will have ways of perceiving the universe ...

Last we looked at why it's worth creating a solid world for your original work. This time, we're going to look at what you'll need to "know" about your setting, and how one small question can define an entire plot. ...

This article has been provided by Lynda Lotman and http://www.scifieditor.com.

I've been working on and off on a novel for what must a year now and it has now, finally, reached the stage where it can be considered near complete. The end needs some work (mainly because I've had to chop the story in two due to its length) and there are one or two bits I'm not 100% happy with. (I never am though.. But all in all, I have a servicible manuscript.

When I first started writing, 6 or 7 years ago, my next step would have been to make up a query letter, print out a few sample chapters and send it off to every publisher I could find who published work in my genre. NOT a good idea.

A better idea is to find a literary agent (prefferably agents) and submit to ...