Steampunk Tips from AAD 2011

Wonderful Steampunk tips from my AAD conference in August 2011 to inspire and ignite that Victorian flare.

• Inevitably, any author who writes Steampunk will be rewriting history as part of the genre. In order to do that authors have to comb through history and dates in order to have a solid timeline to build their world. Readers want solid world-building and the confidence that comes with easy reading which is where knowing almost too much background, history, and general information can be a good thing.
• Pick a specific year or period and then go find some science books--what will they know in the next 100 years from that chosen time period that could possibly influence your world?
• For every machine added to a book, there has to be more science behind it. Don't make it dull like a textbook, but make sure there's a reason for the machine's existence that readers can relate to that has science to back it up.
• In regards to above, what are not just the benefits of having said machines, what are the repercussions? How does it affect different tiers of society? Be balanced and complete with world-building and it'll flesh out the people and places.
• How character's react to the nifty gadgets and do-dad's has a lot to do with showing it's relationship within the book and the world. It takes the Steampunk one step further into becoming real and inheriting a philosophy with the characters.