Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.
The other piece necessary to build the first scene is character voice. I told you I would get into character revelation (development) so, here we go.
One question you might ask: is character voice different than character development. I think the answer is yes. I have read many novels with really neat characters whose presence in the novel was nearly zilch. This is true of main characters as well as minor characters. A character can be perfectly conceived and perfectly developed, but imperfectly revealed. The revelation is the voice and the voice is the particular feel of the character in a novel that allows the reader to immediately know that is the person being described or speaking. This doesn't mean you can get rid of all those special markers or indicators of who is speaking, what it means is that the indicators and markers are uniquely those of the character and the feel of the speak and mannerisms reveals the character.
To develop character voice, the writer needs to think like an actress or actor. They need to portray the character with individual and unique characteristics just like an actor or actress on a stage.
We'll look more at voice in the first scene in the creative process in Aksinya tomorrow.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
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