Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, 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 beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
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.
Here are my rules of writing:
1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
Creativity is work and not an act of divine providence, random fate, or abstract accident. Creativity is hard work that is equal to the effort expended on it. If you wish to write (or be creative in any way): study, put lots of effort into it, and work hard at it.
The question then is how do you work at creativity? I think there are three parts to creativity: inherent creativity, learned creativity, and fostered creativity.
Did you take my short test? Where's your creativity? There is still hope if you don't seem to have any creative gene. The problem is that you will have to work harder than anyone else. The business of writing doesn't play favorites. Publishing can--especially if your parents are editors. But then you just look like a fool when your poorly written novel is made into print. It's worse if a movie studio produces your poorly written novel. Okay, you laugh all the way to the bank, but that still doesn't make up for lowering your pants and displaying to the world...forever (it's in print)...how bad a writer you are.
So, creativity (as well as writing skills) are important things for a writer. Most of us need the creativity to make up for the fact we might not have parents in the publishing business. Plus, who does your homework?
Creativity, if you want to write, you likely have the gene. What can you do to improve the creativity you have, and how can you bring it out?
I posited that the next two parts of creativity are learned and fostered. Learning creativity has much to do with increasing what you have. Fostered creativity has to do with bringing out new and great ideas.
I'll write about that tomorrow.
The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: Please elaborate on scene, theme, plot, character development in a new novel creation....ie, the framework, the development, order if operation, the level of detail, guidelines, rule of thumb, tricks, traps and techniques. To what extent do you outline the historic context, culture, mannerism, speech, dress and thought process of the main characters, in a historic novel...in order to maintain integrity, and gradually (help) reveal attributes of a character in the story, or otherwise clarify the plot, scene, transition, tension or resolution?
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.thefoxshonorhttp://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
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