Dayton Ward and David R. George III: How to Write Star Trek Novels.
Running Time: 1 hour52 minutes 32 seconds
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For almost the entire history of Star Trek, novels have played a part in many people's experience of the fandom. They are a way to go beyond what we see on the screen, and Star Trek fiction novels now account for scores more adventures than the television shows and films. But how does a Star Trek novel come to be, and what goes into the writing of a Star Trek adventure in book form?
In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by veteran Star Trek authors Dayton Ward and David R. George III to discuss how to write Star Trek novels. We talk about how they got their start in writing, the process of how a Trek novel is published, how writing tie-in fiction differs from writing original fiction, how they approach writing the established characters, working with CBS licensing, and what is required for someone to become a Star Trek author. We wrap up by talking about what projects they currently have on the go, and where they can be found online.
In the news segment, we report on a new Discovery novel coming in December, a schedule change for The Autobiography of Mr. Spock, and a new Voyager Mirror Universe comic coming from IDW. We also review the sixth and final issue of The Q Conflict, as well as respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 274: An Old Man in the Park Feeding Pigeons.
News
DSC: Dead Endless Announced (00:02:37)
Autobiography of Mr. Spock in 2020 (00:05:57)
Voyager Mirror Universe Comic Announced (00:08:29)
The Q Conflict #6 Comic Review (00:11:30)
Listener Feedback (00:26:17)
Feature: Dayton Ward and David R. George III
Getting Started (00:30:48)
Star Trek Books Process (00:39:37)
Keeping Up with Continuity (00:45:20)
Painting a Star Trek Picture (00:54:32)
Writing Characters (01:01:25)
Pushing the Envelope (01:06:31)
Working with CBS Licensing (01:12:09)
How to Get Published (01:18:37)
What's in the Works (01:38:14)
Final Thoughts (01:43:47)
Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson
Guests
Dayton Ward
David R. George III
Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)
Comics Catch Up. They discuss being new to Star Trek comics, Picard’s Academy, The Scorpius Run, Sons of Star Trek, Star Trek, Star Trek: Defiant, wrapping up and their final thoughts.
The Art and Making of Star Trek: Picard. We discuss a new show, kicking off the story, had it been done before, seasons 1-3, is anything missing, our ratings and final thoughts.
David Mack: Firewall. We discus the background of the story, writing in the Picard timeline, Seven’s emotions, an anchor, getting in the way, new characters, the spy element, staying true, the framing device, production, making the map, what’s next for David and our final thoughts.
The Art of the Impossible. We discuss the Cardassian and Klingon conflict, the juxtaposition, Curzon, many characters, other things, our ratings and final thoughts.
The Sundered. We discuss characters on the cover, the Neyel, the Tholians, responsibility, communication, connections, our ratings and final thoughts.
Derek Tyler Attico: The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko. We discuss the framing device, the family, Academy years, early career, Curzon, filling in more details, in the Celestial Temple,, ending with Benny, one last question, where to find Derek and our final thoughts.
John and Maria Jose Tenuto: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss their Star Trek history, passion, Gene Roddenberry, a new captain, many scripts, an unsung hero, surprises, what to put in the book, never surpassed, favorite part, where to find them online and our final thoughts.
Making it So. We discuss his early life, theater life, leading to Picard, left out, Star Trek work, other movies, Star Trek Picard, further stories our ratings and final thoughts.
Cast No Shadow. We discuss unpacking Valeris, Spock's small role, unpacking the conspiracy, fueling hate, Elias Vaughn's first mission, one last question, our ratings and final thoughts.
The Buried Age. We discuss Picard's buried age, failure, the Manroloth, the science, setting up TNG, our ratings and final thoughts.
Rebels: The Liberated. We discuss the natives, the Liberated, the past, how bad was it, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dayton Ward: Somewhere to Belong. We discuss the setting, the Xaheans, storylines, mental health, writing with shows in production, the spore drive, writing advanced tech, movie night, the legacy, what's next and our final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, Janeway, Jekri, Harry's bad luck, interluding character, our ratings and final thoughts.
Rebels: The Courageous. We discuss Sisko and his group's story, the Defiant, Jadzia and Julian, an Orb experience, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Ghost Dance. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, the Entity, the Romulan story, meanwhile on Voyager, Harry is in love again, our ratings and final thoughts.
John Jackson Miller: The High Country. We discuss the timeline, the genesis, an event novel, as utopia's turn, willful blindness, everyone is trapped, you can't stop time, technology, use of characters, everything means something, what's next for John and our final thoughts.
Rebels: The Conquered. We discuss Emissary's Sanctuary, a strange mission, perspective, Quark has a point, Dax in command, the Founders, tone, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Cloak and Dagger. We discuss the needle's eye, the Shepherds, a mysterious character, disappearing act, it's short, bedfellows, our ratings and final thoughts.
David Mack: Harm's Way. We discuss working Vanguard back in, aftermath, is a beautiful lie beautiful, Spock, respect, the prime directive, the Klingons, just say no, the future and our final thoughts.
Enterprise: The First Adventure. We discuss the first mission, Kirk, Spock, Rand, Uhura, first contact, the Klingons, the vaudeville company, our ratings and final thoughts.
Ship of the Line. We discuss back story, another gap, Madred, the Klingon villain, Picard's journey, Bateson's journey, Riker, diversity, it just ends, jargon, our ratings and final thoughts.
Star Trek: First Contact: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss the presentation, after Generations, story points, new Enterprise, new Borg, finding a director, or ratings and final thoughts.
Warped. We discuss early DS9, a Bajoran coup, a license of freedom, the truth will set you free, a spiritual side, the voices our ratings and final thoughts.
Second Self. We discuss the structure, living with the past, history, gritty, complexity of life, plain simple Garak, hope, hypocrites, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: Challenger. We discuss Kirk and Spock, Uhura and McCoy, the criminal element, the USS Peleilu, a new starship, coexist, bringing all things together, our ratings and final thoughts.
Federation. We discuss it being a monumental book, Cochrane, war, Thorsen, connecting the universe, bringing the generations together, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: Thin Air. We discuss a new problem, bluffing, a sickness, the solution, a death, our ratings and final thoughts.
Daedalus's Children. We discuss the timeline question, writing style, an alternate universe, losses and gains, lasting peace, getting home, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: The Flaming Arrow. We discuss following up, a new threat, Kirk's romance, making "friends", no follow up, our ratings and final thoughts.
Daedalus. We discuss back with Enterprise, through the ringer, what happened, interesting parts, what will you do to survive, Trip's romance, the last revelation our ratings and final thoughts.