How to describe movement in zero-G?
Within the setting of my personal project (a hard science fiction) I need to be able to describe movement in zero-G extensively.
Because I wish to write a whole narrative involving very little gravity, I realise I also need ways of making it feel less repetitive.
What are some useful language techniques and specific vocabulary for accomplishing this?
Alternatively, would you like to share any examples of good writing that I could read for inspiration?
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Describing something is significantly easier if you can look at it - you find words for what you're seeing, you form associations. Quite a few astronauts publish short videos from the ISS. Here's one example, with astronaut Chris Hadfield. These videos let you see what it's like to be in a microgravity environment.
Astronauts also talk about what it's like, what one has to adjust to. Observing a phenomenon and hearing first-hand accounts should make it easier for you to write about it.
One thing I'd note: maybe you don't want to describe "floating" all the time - for someone who's been long in space, it becomes natural. Instead, you can mention strapping objects down - an indirect way of reminding the reader that they might float away.
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I second the idea to use videos astronauts have made. Some are made for school children to teach about the concepts (worthwhile for adults too) and others are on different topics/for different audiences but show them being in that environment. I would urge you to be cautious of using movies and such. They have no choice but to film on earth and a few things get changed or glossed over.
As for ways to describe it, I would focus on writing just like you would similar actions on earth, only it's different. By that I mean, don't write "It was so amazing to glide down the hall to the kitchen. I felt like my body was free." Instead write about making an omelet for lunch. Not as a teaching tool, but in normal prose like it's everyday.
The little details make the story. Did an eggshell get away from you? How do you safely beat the egg? Is there a little gravity so you can pour the egg into a pan and add stuff (you say "very little gravity" above, which is totally different from no gravity)? If not, how do you cook it? Are your veggies prewashed and cut in plastic bags? frozen? from an onsite garden? Is the cheese shredded or is that too messy? Can you use slices? Or is all the food pre-made and you just nuke it?
Distill that down to 2-3 sentences and you'll give people a very clear idea of how that environment differs from earth without once pointing out that is.
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