It was leading to rabbit holes of character arguments that spiraled into hellish domains where finding a feasible 'out' for Sunset grew dire indeed. After several attempts I've decided to just rip out the rootNeed advice · 3:20am Jan 11th, 2021
So, I've encountered a hic-cup with the Sunset/Battle Sisters story; I am terrible at writing sci-fi stuff. Like, the interior of the ships, the vehicles she sees, and so on. How much do I describe, how little, what do I focus on, but most importantly; I have NO CLUE what the inside of an Imperial warship is like...
Do I avoid in depth descriptions then? Just focus on Sunset, Maria, and the introduction of the other girls picked up from the planet to be put into the scholla? I've been trying various solutions and tacts with the writing, but it's just getting to be grey mush in my head to the point I may need to dump the whole chapter into the bin and start over. Maybe skip to the introduction of the other characters and cut out the ship stuff for the most part.
I'm curious if anyone has any reading suggestions that may help me figure things out or give me some idea what to do.
Do a little mixture of describing the surroundings and the basic jist of what all the Sister of Battle vehicles are while diverting some focus on the cast definitely don't go full depth on what could possibly be inside the spaceships as that is a battle of attrition on the mind right there
Keep your descriptions generic and only focus on rooms they spend a lot of time in. Warhammer 40k ship descriptions vary a lot depending on source.
If you read the Ciaphas Cain series, they basically sound like modern navy ships in space with their layout. Then you look at something like the Spacehulk Deathwing Game and it is that mixed with crazy gothic architecture.
As for the vehicles she sees, you can cop out and say she sees the inside of the transport that takes her to the ship... which doesn't have windows, so don't worry about describing anything in detail. Then the room she gets to stay on in the ship, which is most likely a barracks/prison area. There won't be many windows on the ship and unless she gets to go to the bridge... she isn't likely to see much. Which is entirely in keeping with existing 40k lore.
If you do need help researching what vehicles/ships would be used, I can dig into it. Not a super huge 40k person, but familiar enough that I know where to start.
When I don't know how to describe something, I look up a picture of it and start there based on what words come to mind. I try and see how I would describe it organically and if any of those work. Then, once I have a good idea to start with using that, I decide how my character would regard the objects or setting based on what they're familiar with.
Does that help?
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Thanks for the advice and tips! It's been very helpful!
I assumed the Valkyries had small windows like some transports today, oops. Had some decent stuff written of her seeing the small fleet. I say decent, but it was more I don't hate it, so... yeah. XD
Okay, going to give this another pass.
Going to parrot some lore dude from YT. There is nothing as cannon in 40K. The inside of the ship is going to what you make it to be. Maybe it was custom build to order by Mars shipyards. Who know what it looks like? That said The Spacehulk Deathwing is the best 40K game ever in artistic design. You can start there.
Also the guard transport ships in Gaunts Ghost novels are described as vast cargo holds having entire small cities of tents and sheds of accompaniment personnel to the regiment.
The internals of the sisters ship will depend on if it is their base or just rented transport. If the ship is commanded by a rouge trader, the situation changes again.
The ships in Grey Knights novel where described as similar to modern naval ships as well. At least the Imperial Navy ones, the mechanicus cruiser was somewhat different.
And finally, no you do not need to describe stuff in depth. I think this story will be better if you focus on Sunsets character growth and interactions with others.
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I don't want to be pedantic about things, but small note. Valkyries are air breathing vehicles, they are not capable of orbital or space flight.
For a space capable dropship, the Sisters of Battle would likely use a Thunderhawk. Also, other note for the ships. A lot will change depending if they have their own ships or are just hitching a ride on an Imperial Navy vessel. Cargo or running the show as it were.
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Oh... Well, I think I already flubbed the space worthiness of the Valkyrie then and they are all dead of suffocation in the first chapter.
As for who operates the ship I'm going to leave that part ambiguous. It's not something Sunset would even know to wonder about.
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Thanks! I've got some ideas on the three areas that are going to get some description (Landing bay, lower decks, and the "barracks"). It's feeling a bit better than what I had before.
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Sounds good to me.
Looking forward to more of this story at any rate. Interesting perspective on the 40k lore.