The label of Science Fiction

Science fiction: is it fiction about a speculative universe? Must it have a good emphasis on science? Does having the story line in the future count for that appellation? Why does the setting of deep space, or a planet other than Earth, count toward the right to the title of Science Fiction?

I don't really have an answer for each question, and it turns out that I probably wouldn't fill the bill in the amount of science I am including in my story. But I had to get the story line off Earth and into the future to reach escape velocity from my own boundaries about what can happen. It's working. I think. I hope.

Plus, "Science fiction" is the best way for me to describe the genre, if someone asks about my story. And the best manner to avoid going into too much detail about the plot. 

Speaking of plot: Alexa is on the space station, and coming across both mundane and surprising aspects of life inside a bit of metal in the midst of deep vacuum. Wherever humanity is, that's where humanity shows up.

The right balance for violence or the threat of violence

Alexa is now on the space station, having spurned Pearson.

The first scene is in an initial draft. This is a first effort in threatened intentional violence; difficult for me since I am essentially a wimp when it comes to tension and violence in television or the movies. As a kid, I would inevitably run out of the theater whenever Godzilla began wreaking havoc (my, how this dates me) and that tendency continues today. In fact, I put off trying my hand at fiction because of a desire to avoid adding the influence of drama or scary things like violence into my life. I am, truly, a wimp.

There is a fine balance to threats and violence: too little, and the scene is a dud; too much or too graphic for the context, and you lose your reader. I'm hopeful I found a good balance.

A personal note: My half sister, Soraya Edwards, unexpectedly passed away yesterday, at age 19. A strong, diligent, happy young woman -- she would fit the mold of a truly enjoyable heroine in any story. She is deeply mourned.

How much now? What should be later? And still rope in the reader

The emotional tension between Alexa and Pearson is building nicely in this scene.

Now the question is how much now, how much later. How much info to divulge to Alexa now, and later, each step of the way.

How much would a normal person wonder, by now at this point of the story ? IE, Alexa NOT asking would make her appear an idiot, which hopefully she is not.

How much info moves the story on nicely, but avoids spoiling the point?

What kind of response would be logical, and ALSO titillate in what it avoids revealing, roping in the reader to keep turning the pages?

This process appears to consist of writing, then perhaps deleting or cutting and pasting for a later scene. Then writing again in a different direction.

Idea found, smoothing the rope

Happy to say the idea that seemed to have been obliterated by the stress of an intense heat wave, has resurfaced. Yes, thoughts are a part of meditation, and sometimes they can be creative thoughts. The idea is about setting the stage on Earth for my star Star, the guiding light for this story. Because I live in the northern hemisphere, I normally see this star during the winter, ergo my idea that Alexa should arrive back to Earth during the winter. Of course, that implies she lands in the northern hemisphere, which doesn't necessarily need to be the case. So, some research is in order. Even some science, light as it may be, to justify the notion that this is a science fiction story. Where on Earth is this star visible, at what times of the year? And how does this info best serve the story? I will begin with an Internet search. But may need to contact some astronomy source, as I did while visiting Austin, Texas, two years ago. Since I was an undergraduate student at this fine school, and thoroughly enjoyed my astronomy courses there (one course even consisted of studying astronomy via science fiction books!), I knew I could get the answer I needed there. And that's how I began with this particular star. The aim of this idea for the story is to weave into the rope this strand-- again and again. The books I've loved consisted of a smooth rope of ideas, every strand with a reason and present from beginning to end. No straggling, dangling concepts. This is my goal, and my challenge.

Heat wave obliterates winter

I had an insight for why Alexa should arrive back to Earth during the winter, but have forgotten it in the stress of an extreme heat wave. I hate it when that happens.