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.
The exercise is then to take your focused theme and begin to identify characters. Just find the major characters and begin to develop them a little. The actual development of a character is a very detailed and extensive process. I showed you this process for Aksinya and for Centurion Abenadar.
In the process of creating a novel, the first step is the idea which becomes a theme, the theme is focused, that focused theme defines the major characters, and that is the point where the novel really takes off.
If you are really writing a novel, at this point, you must develop your major characters. The minor characters can usually wait; however, for some novels, you must define some of them too. An example is my published novel, Aegypt. The theme is rather complex, but deals with the views of three minor character and the protagonist in regard to the circumstances of the theme. The theme of Aegypt is: If a real goddess who was revered in the ancient world came into the modern age how would she be viewed by modern people and what could she tell us about history. This is loosely the theme of my published novel, Aegypt. Note that one character (the protagonist's helper) is defined. The rest of the characters are implied with the statement "how would she be viewed by modern people." I expanded this to the protagonist and three minor characters. Each of the characters approach the world differently. Their views of the goddess in the novel are part of the theme.
The point is that at this point, you begin to develop the characters in the novel. Out of this character development, in conjunction with the theme, comes the plot.
More on turning your themes into plots tomorrow.
My Notes: once you have a theme, you need to begin to visualize your plot, focus your theme, and define your characters. More tomorrow.
I'll move on to basic writing exercises and creativity in the near future.
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.
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, http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
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