Some Notes on Writing for Publication

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Title: Some Notes on Writing for Publication
Creator: A.C. Crispin
Date(s): 1985
Medium: print
Fandom: focus on Star Trek: TOS
Topic:
External Links:
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Some Notes on Writing for Publication is a 1985 essay by A.C. Crispin.

The focus is encouragement and advice for people wanting to be published in science fiction novels, with a focus on Star Trek.

It is unknown when it was first written or distributed, but a fan reports picking it up as one of two hand-outs at Dixie Trek:

I picked up these cute hand-outs at Dixie Trek, and decided that they would be easy to run off. I didn't realize that Pocket Books had such a sense of humor.

The other hand out is one that AC Crispin was handing out. She spoke at Dixie Trek, and handed out to a few people who expressed an interest in writing. I have a friend who is, and she got copies, which she ran off for me, which I ran off in copies for the APA.

The other hand-out was Pocket Book's Star Trek Pro Novel Guidelines (1985). Both of these items were franked and printed in APA Enterprise #25 in June 1985.

Also see Writing Star Trek Fiction: Advice from A.C. Crispin (1985).

Sections

  • Constructing a Story
  • To Trek or Not to Trek
  • Writing a Publishable-quality Novel or Story
  • Submitting Your Story
  • If It Comes Back Rejected
  • If the Editor Wants to Buy It
  • What About an Agent
  • Bibliography

Some Excerpts

Many of you have written to me to ask me for advice on how to write and publish you own stories. I've tried to give some general advice below, and a bibliography on the next page which will give more in-depth information. Hope it helps!

To Trek or Not to Trek: If you want to write only Star Trek stories, fine. But if you want to break into publishing, and are considering Trek as a good way to do it, think again. Writing in the Star Trek universe means you must follow certain rules. You can't introduce permanent new characters, or kill off, marry, or retire existing characters. You must have an interesting story in which nothing (essentially) can change. This is a real paradox, because most good stories are about life, and life is full of changes. The status quo is boring. (First Commandment — Thou shall not, on pain of losing thy reader, be boring. Ever.)

However, if you have a good idea that fits well into the Star Trek universe, and you can express it in a length of about 60,000 words (between

...when you've done all you can with it, if possible dig up an astute friend who is good at editing (many of the fanzine editors are very good, and will help new writers), and ask that friend to critique it. And be grateful if they find a lot oh mistakes and problems you have to fix -- every mistake your buddy finds means one that an editor won't find and use as grounds to reject your story. If you find a good critic, treat her/him like finest gold. Never subject her/him to an out-thrust lip, angry silence, or (the Great Bird forbid!) tears!

If It Comes Back Rejected: Don't give up. Professional writers receive rejections all the time. (One writer I know had a story rejected 12 times — and when it was finally accepted and printed, it was nominated for a Hugo!) If the editor suggested changes, by all means make them, if they aren't completely off-the-wall. If you get a form rejection, and it has one or more problems checked off on it (some editors do this), then by all means study them. Work to improve those aspects, then send the story off again. Keep trying. If you quit, you'll never publish — to sell, you must send stories out.

If the Editor Wants to Buy It: First of all, sit down and write me a nice letter telling me -- I want to know! Then go celebrate in whatever way seems most appropriate. If the editor wants to buy it, but asks for some revisions, by all means make them, unless they’re totally looney-tunes. You can be a prima donna and say "No!" after you've sold 15 books and made the NY Times Bestseller list — till then, it's best to be a little humble. Besides, many editors have very good story sense, and the changes they've suggested will result in improvements.

Further Reading and Context

References

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