So I signed up for a novel workshop, and within a month the first chapter will be due. Problem is I that want to use characters who are well-versed in mathematics, especially group theory or model theory, yet I have no expertise whatsoever in those fields.
I know a smattering of those subjects, but how do I give the illusion of realism to the intellect of a mathematician with a PhD?
Although my focus is mathematics in this question, it can of course apply to any field such as botany or physics.
I could take some courses or do studying on my own, but time is of the essence, as always.
Thank you. [Ideally I wanted to ask this in a math.SE]
Answer
For a first draft, you can use placeholders. XXX, TK (publication shorthand for "to come"), TECH, literally the word [placeholder] in square brackets — anything to indicate that you'll fill in the mathguffin details later. Also, feel free to gloss or summarize. The point of the scene is not going to be the math anyway, right?
The professor pointed to the blackboard.
"You see? If you [TK math thing], you get this result. But if you do this — " He changed some variables and added a new line to the equation. " — then you get [different result]!"
Ben gasped. "Of course! It makes perfect sense! How could I never have seen this before?"
"Because I'm a genius," said the professor smugly.
"And because you had me helping you," came the tart voice of the professor's wife from behind them. Ben winced. "I was the one who pointed out XXX to you," she continued. "You never would have gotten to TKTK if I hadn't pushed you halfway there."
If the point of the scene is the math, then you're going to have to do a lot of research very fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment