November Wrting Challenge: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 03:07 AM

Ok, _r_ is experienceing technical difficulties, so I'm posting this.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery.

This November we won't be challenging our own works, but how we may have captured the voices of our favourite Star Trek writers. We are to write stories under the guise of the Star Trek scribes through the ages.

We are to write an original work. Could be from any time period, fan fic or so on. As long as it is Star Trek and as long as we imitate a scribe from Star Trek. It could be a work of honour, like many who have imitated Ian Fleming's writing, you could continue Gene Roddenberry's cadence, style and vision in a small story in 2009. Or on the other scale, I expect many satires: a Brannon Braga and Rick Berman take on your universe, or your short story could purposefully fall apart under the unstable imagination of Ronald. D. Moore (and even if it does, retain a little smugness :P) or Manny Coto it up... even pick an unknown or far back scribe. Why not let Jane Espenson have a go at your fan fic

I'm expecting to see satires and very much interesting creative pieces of work, where the quality on how the challenger's have evoked that writer will depend on the rest of you to vote. So if Count has Manny Cotto'ed her story, where it feels a bit a shallow, empty and dissatisfying, it's meant that way and it's funny, so give her the vote. Or If someone else captures Gene Roddenberry you feel at your finest, vote away.

There's no word limit. Post a link to your story in this thread when you are done. The deadline is December 2nd midnight CET. Good luck.

Nerys Ghemor · November 7 2009, 04:01 AM

Are Treklit authors acceptable?

Otherwise I won't even have a shot at this.

PSGarak · November 7 2009, 06:25 AM

I'm not familiar enough with any specific writers' works to even attempt something like this. Looking forward to see what comes of it, though.

BrotherBenny · November 7 2009, 11:38 AM

I'm concentrating on my novel and getting my fanfic series to a better place, so for that reason, I'm out this month. Oh yeah, I have a better reason, I'm moving to the States in about 2-3 weeks.

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 02:46 PM

Nerys Ghemor wrote:

Are Treklit authors acceptable?

I'd say yes but I'm waiting for a reply from _r_ on this.

PSGarak wrote:

I'm not familiar enough with any specific writers' works to even attempt something like this. Looking forward to see what comes of it, though.

At first I thought the same thing, but since satire/parody is also allowed, I came up with various clichés for different authors, e.g. Ronald D. Moore: dark and gritty, Manny Coto: fanwankish, Brannon Braga: ambitious, but often weird story and so on.

Thor Damar · November 7 2009, 05:14 PM

I'll have to think this one though... great idea guys

Nerys Ghemor · November 7 2009, 05:17 PM

Hm...if Treklit's allowed, I MIGHT enter this.

That said, though, parody is not something I'm that strong at so I may end up sitting out.

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 05:35 PM

You don't have to do a parody, Nerys. It was just a random example I came up with.

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 09:12 PM

TrekLit authors are acceptable. I hope this decision encourages those that might be on the fence about this challenge to enter.

Dulak · November 7 2009, 09:14 PM

Well, how about if you open it up to write an original trek story in the style of ANY well known author. I gave up on reading published star trek fiction a long time ago because of the variable quality, and frankly don't find anyone who wrote it all that worth imitating.

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 09:34 PM

Well, I can see where you're coming from, Dulak, but this is as far as we'll go concession-wise, sorry.
This could also be your chance to live out all the frustrations TrekLit caused you, though, because parodies/satires are allowed.

Nerys Ghemor · November 7 2009, 10:19 PM

VERY good to see you again, my fellow Cardassian!

Dulak wrote:

Well, how about if you open it up to write an original trek story in the style of ANY well known author. I gave up on reading published star trek fiction a long time ago because of the variable quality, and frankly don't find anyone who wrote it all that worth imitating.

Ahh, did you ever read any of the old TOS stuff? There are a few authors there who are just extraordinary, and one book that I even believe would've gotten a Hugo nomination if it weren't a tie-in. I can PM you my recommendations if you wish.

This same author, incidentally, is a major influence on my own writing. So I'm trying to decide if I could even enter on those grounds, because I'm not sure yet how much of a difference there'd be, stylistically. (Though of course, hers is better.

)

On the other hand, I am VERY tempted to ROAST my most despised Treklit author. Somebody's ego needs cutting down, BAD.

Count Zero · November 7 2009, 11:41 PM

Somehow I have a suspicion who that might be.

trampledamage · November 8 2009, 01:38 AM

So it needs to be an imitation of a Trek author of some variety?

So my plan of Dr Seuss's take on DS9 is out then?

kes7 · November 8 2009, 01:42 AM

Please allow the Dr. Suess entry! Puh-leeeeeze!

Count Zero · November 8 2009, 01:49 AM

Well, it sounds like a marvellous idea but yeah, for this contest, it should be a Trek author being imitated. I'd really like to read the Dr. Seuss version of DS9, though.

Nerys Ghemor · November 8 2009, 01:53 AM

Count Zero wrote:

Somehow I have a suspicion who that might be.

If you've seen my rants in the Treklit forum--then you'll know.

Thor Damar · November 8 2009, 02:17 AM

Nerys Ghemor wrote:

Count Zero wrote:

Somehow I have a suspicion who that might be.

If you've seen my rants in the Treklit forum--then you'll know.

Oh yeah

I personally have two or three different authors in mind for a tribute act...

(seeing a Lovecraftian style ST fanfiction would have been...cool and disturbing

)

trampledamage · November 8 2009, 04:01 AM

kes7 wrote:

Please allow the Dr. Suess entry! Puh-leeeeeze!

Count Zero wrote:

Well, it sounds like a marvellous idea but yeah, for this contest, it should be a Trek author being imitated. I'd really like to read the Dr. Seuss version of DS9, though.

Now that I've got the idea in my head, it might see light of day. But then I always say that...