Am I Writing Steampunk? Or: Is Steampunk a Dirty Word?

[Tower75]

"Page isn't working"!

No reason why you shouldn't have airships. Do you also have aeroplanes?

Yes, I'm thinking there will be aeroplanes. Biplanes probably. Don't think they'll be steam, though. Maybe powered by imagination... or internal combustion.

I really can't tell from the OP why his world is the way it is. Is there a good reason in the alternate history why steam cars would be common instead of light and powerful internal combustion?

There's a good reason yes. It's not the main reason, but it's not alternate history, it's another world/planet/existence/[insert plain of existence here]. I can't give too much away now.

Thanks, all. See, you're all hooked now, right? Now the trick will be to try and write "American" and not flip back to my natural, dry British tastes and mannerisms.

 

[Steven Sorrels]

Thanks, all. See, you're all hooked now, right? Now the trick will be to try and write "American" and not flip back to my natural, dry British tastes and mannerisms.

It's easy, just add ketchup or guns, as the situation requires.

 

[Toby Frost]

And city blocks. We do streets, they do blocks. It's a dead giveaway.

Actually, there's a thread about this in the toolbox.

 

[HareBrain]

And city blocks. We do streets, they do blocks. It's a dead giveaway.

But we have the expression "round the block" (as in a short walk).

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Tower75 - it might be worth remembering that, once a sub-genre is culturally set, the option exists to "totally subvert the genre in a work that dramatically extends genre writing whilst at the same time staying true to its roots…" … or something. But you get the idea. We could call it the Mieville Method, perhaps

My forthcoming trilogy is set in Edwardian times and has automata and a hint of an airship (but no goggles…), so it will be described as steampunk I expect. But its reach is maybe a bit wider than most steampunk. But with steampunk still very popular, this is the time to break out - so try something that subverts and extends…

 

[Tower75]

My forthcoming trilogy is set in Edwardian times and has automata and a hint of an airship (but no goggles…), so it will be described as steampunk I expect. But its reach is maybe a bit wider than most steampunk. But with steampunk still very popular, this is the time to break out - so try something that subverts and extends…

I'd read that. You let me know when that's out! Tell me now! Why won't you tell me when it's out!?

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I'd read that. You let me know when that's out! Tell me now! Why won't you tell me when it's out!?

Not long to wait now. Maybe two or three weeks.