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.
The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:
1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
a. Description of the character - introduction
b. Voice of the character
c. Continuing revelation by showing
In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.
Let's look at teasers for a minute. I really can't help you much if you can't write without telling. You can't write a successful novel by telling, and if you don't know the difference...you're toast. I can try to help you with examples. Let's look at one. This is the official teaser (blurb) for The Fox's Honor.
The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book Two, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox Don't miss Book One, The End of Honor, or Book Three, A Season of Honor By L.D. Alford, the author of the suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission It was a time of treachery and vengeance…of nobility and redemption…all because of love. Prince Devon Rathenberg, the Emperor’s Fox and chief of intelligence, has fallen in love with the Lady Tamar Falkeep—the third daughter of the least Duke in the Human Galactic Empire. But custom dictates they can never marry. Then the unthinkable happens. In the insurrection that threatens to tear apart the Human Galactic Empire, Devon designs a plan to reveal the Empire’s internal enemies. It’s a plan of desperation that, by design, will result in the ultimate sacrifice: his own death. But before he dies, Devon is determined to win the heart of Lady Tamar and declare his love.
Notice the way this teaser is written. I've discussed this before with you. It is filled with excitement. There are no "I" (indicative pronoun) statements. The author doesn't appear. It is all telling (that's what you do in a teaser). It tries to get you excited about the characters and the plot.
The first sentence tries to draw you in and gives a setting for the rest of the teaser. After it provides a context for the novel and for the writing, it drives directly into the teaser. The body of the teaser begins: "It was a time of..." Immediately, the teaser draws you in with the characters. It gives you names and tries to tug on your emotions and heart strings--love. At that point we move into the plot. So first, exciting introduction. Second, draw in with the characters. Third, introduce elements of the plot. The point of the teaser is to get the reader excited about the book. It must be short, sweet, mention the main characters, introduce the plot, and did I say short. If your teaser is too long, you will run off your potential readers.
I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.
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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