Brave Blue Words

I love reading. I love writing. Until now, I’ve been a writer of science non-fiction: editorials, reports, press releases, factsheets. I’ve written on a variety of ocean-related topics for the federal government and various NGOs. Recently, I extended this to writing for this blog. All non-fiction. Hard science. Just the facts.

But all that changed late last year – I decided to write a novel. My husband had been saying for a while that I could and should do so, but I never really took the goal seriously. Then, sometime in December, when it looked like I was going to have some time on my hands between jobs, I decided to go for it.

Well, the extra time never materialized (the two jobs actually overlapped) but the goal hasn’t changed. Well, maybe a bit. Initially, I was planning to write a contemporary romantic comedy. I had sketched out all the characters, drafted a synopsis and even written a few chapters. Then I met two wonderful writers (Louise Fury – middle-grade fiction and historical romance; Tahra Seplowin – YA romance), who said simply: “You are an oceanographer. Oceans are exciting. Oceans are hot. And you’re writing WHAT?!?” Point taken.

My new and far more exciting work-in-progress is a novel (possibly a series) that combines elements of hard science-fiction with fantasy. It is about a young woman who uncovers secrets about her past that could make or break the future of life on Earth. It draws upon my expertise and interest in the oceans and climate change. The tentative title is “First Wave.” I’m writing a little bit everyday and hope to pitch it to agents and editors in late October. I’ll keep you posted.

Update, February 16, 2010: A Confession or A(nother) Climate Scientist Comes Out of the Closet

In addition to being a science researcher and writer, I like to write science-fiction.  Yes, it’s true, I fancy myself a writer and soon-to-be published author. (No, not THAT soon – I’m still working on the novel). However, I must confess that I was concerned about keeping my two careers separate, worried that I would no longer be taken seriously as a scientist if I wrote fiction. Especially first-person urban fantasy-type science fiction (email me if you have no idea of what that is and care to) with a strong female protagonist and a love interest. I love reading that kind of stuff, but could I write it and still have a successful science career?

Well, I fear no longer. Thanks to Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the IPCC, the rest of us can come out of the closet about our writing desires without fear.  I mean, if the world’s most famous climate scientist can pen a ‘racy’ novel and still expect to be taken seriously, then the rest of us should hold our heads high!  Write our hearts out.  And perhaps, take a few writing classes, because it sounds like Dr. Pachauri could use a bit of help with his Romance Writing 101.  But hey, at least he’s doing it – and the rest of can too.