The Writers' Lounge

[kaoticAntagonist]

I think Timetravel can work in a story. Really its just taking the prophecy shit that is in every other fiction story to its logical solution. I actually have an idea based all around time travel and how the different types of timetravel would interact.

Then again I was lead to the idea when i was thinking up ways to come up with the most complicated, convoluted story ever so...

Paradoxes, Timeloops, Parallel Universes, etc.

They certainly don't have a place in every story, but the ones they do are usually interesting for some reason or another. I feel like just dismissing it outright is closing off an avenue of exploration in a certain type of story.

[bloodyEmissary]

I'm pretty okay with time travel in stories as long as the rules for it are consistent.
(doctor who doctor who doctor who)

I mean, if it's going to be a part of your story, it's going to be a major focus; that's part of the package. And you really can't handwave a major plot point's limitations for the sake of whatever particular ending you're striving for if you want anyone to take it seriously, I think.
DISCLAIMER: I have absolutely no qualifications, research, or anything other than personal opinions to support my points so taking them with a grain of salt would be advisable.

[Wacom Guy]

Okay: Here are the two types of time travel:

Eggs TT: Going backward only, usually to put a character on a bus.
Biscuits TT: Going forward only. This type is the most plot-tolerated, but it is an easy way to get rid of a main character if you're not careful.
Both: Going backward and forward. THis can result in the following things:

Set in stone Paradox theory: No matter what you do, you can't change time.
Timelines Paradox theory: You can change stuff, and it changes big things in the future of that point.
Mixed and confused Paradox theory: Back to the Future, and similar works, where both Set in stone and Timelines come into play. This doesn't make sense, due to the conflicting nature of the two.

Also, 'slowly unexisting' doesn't happen. If the past is changed so you don't exist, you don't exist and nobody remembers you.

Personally, I disagree with Timelines, but that is just an opinion. In my mind, there's no 'going back into a different timeline.'

[kaoticAntagonist]

timeline is just an easy way to say parallel universe. the way i see it once you move through time (backwards) you can either change nothing in which time is all accounted for and you change nothing but you also do not have to worry about timeline fuckery, or you can change something in which you are basically playing russian roulette with where you are going back to.

I am considering drawing a chart.

[Wacom Guy]

In my opinion, paralell universes rely on chance. For example, something like a 50/50 chance (someone flipping a coin on whether or not to bet a winning bet, someone being born male or female) is what causes paralell universes. That's just my idea.

[kaoticAntagonist]

but thats not actually chance. Technically there can be no truly random event. Everything is sort of a cascade of predestined events with everything tying into one another.

After all, it is possible (if hard) to predict with 100% accuracy on a coinflip if you take into account how hard the person will flip, which side is already up, etc. Extrapolate this to the entire universe and you can predict everything in theory.

Imagine the universe as one giant machine basically. Everyone and thing is a component of this machine and has been working towards a goal from its conception. Just because we cannot currently predict the future does not mean it isn't already set in stone.

We have probably strayed from the topic of writing though.

[Wacom Guy]

What subforum would a paradox theory thread belong inside of?

[Fish]

Timeline is awesome because alternate realities are the way to go. However, it can be as depressing as Set In Stone, if you don't allow the characters to return to their original timeline.

Also the way to do alternate realities/parallel universes/whatever is the Many Worlds hypothesis. It is sooooo cool. (Super Ice Cold Antarctican Raynaud's Syndrome Victim Fingers in a Freezer-tier frigidity)

Then again, before Homestuck I had decided not to do inter-universe/reality/timeline/whatever travel, because if you allow that then it's a slippery slope to no logic at all and complete breakdown of physics and the suspension of disbelief. I think that was a silly thing to think, because there's no way I'd ever get to somewhere that epic level in a story.

edit: Uncertainty (and lack of ways to store data) makes it impossible to determine/predict everything about the universe. Unless I'm using old physics knowledge stuff.

[kaoticAntagonist]

What subforum would a paradox theory thread belong inside of?

General I would guess.

[Freack]

Time lines.

Then again you have Doctor Who where time travels just sort of IS and is rarely used in a way that can effect itself, but occasionally it is for just a few episodes, and they do the fixed timeline thing, which
is
awesome
when done right, and when they get serious about time travel they usually are.

[littlequietguy]

Many Worlds Theory. Cause it was used so well in that Dresden Codak plotline and also that Dr. McNinja plotline.

[Fish]

Many Worlds Theory. Cause it was used so well in that Dresden Codak plotline and also that Dr. McNinja plotline.

The Dresden Codak time shit ruined me for being confused by Homestuck.

[SummerLove]

This thread seems like a reasonable place. Has anyone written/considered writing a serial?

[Quirk]

This thread seems like a reasonable place. Has anyone written/considered writing a serial?

My SCP Classical Revival is a serial.

[Wacom Guy]

What do you do when you have all your characters, and a plot framework that is complicated, yet easy to follow?

[kaoticAntagonist]

...

Start writing I assume.

[Wacom Guy]

Okay, but where should I start?

[kaoticAntagonist]

If you have the framework down then I would suggest the beginning, or at least trying out a few scenes to see if your writing style helps the story or doesn't. It will at least give you a feel for what to do next.

[Wiwaxia]

Attention all sci-fi type folks! I just found an INCREDIBLY FUCKING AMAZING RESOURCE that you all need to check out. Contains 100% (Well, maybe more like 85%) pure SCIENCE, except for the tacked-on and rather huffily written FTL page. Also contains juicy equations for how long you need to hit a target of a given thickness with a laser of given intensity to drill through, what exactly happens when that happens to your cabin, descriptions of things with absurdly cool names like shadow shields and storm cellars, speculation on relatavistic inter-species warfare re: first contact, MAD, the prisoners dilemma, etc., info about how effective nukes are in space (pretty good at <1km), a description of a horrific x-ray laser weapon effective at a range of a light-minute (pity about the 1km minimum diameter), and stuff like that.

[Fish]

Okay, but where should I start?

in a BAR

or I dunno when the plot-relevant foreshadowing can happen

[Triangle Man]

Okay, but where should I start?

Try going for whatever feels best. It is not required for you to start from the Beginning and go in chronological order and you can write whatever part of the story in whatever order you wish. Just keep in mind that you will need to figure out how everything fits together and that the Beginning and Ending of the story is the hardest part to write.

So there...

[aerlinniel]

I'm currently writing a fantasy novel. I haven't finished it yet, but I'd like to do so during christmas holidays (so I can then go onto editing). Other than that I got recently an idea for a sci-fi book, but since I have never written anything of the sort I wonder how long it'll take me to use it.

[Wacom Guy]

I'm currently writing a fantasy novel. I haven't finished it yet, but I'd like to do so during christmas holidays (so I can then go onto editing). Other than that I got recently an idea for a sci-fi book, but since I have never written anything of the sort I wonder how long it'll take me to use it.

It's always longer than you think.