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.
A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.
A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.
Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:
1. The beginning
2. The rising action
3. The Climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement
Every scene has these parts:
1. The setting (where, what, who, when, how)
2. The connection (input)
3. The tension development
4. The release
5. The output
There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.
Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. This is an entire scene. You get the place, the time, and the characters. The introduced scene is the audience of the demon with Aksinya.
Aksinya
and Natalya spent a quiet weekend with the Freiherr and Freifrau Bockmann. The Freifrau Bockmann discussed the details
of her Advent party with Aksinya and Natalya.
Aksinya only listened with half an ear.
She wasn’t really interested in a party.
She wasn’t interested in much of anything. The last encounter with the demon frightened
and yet encouraged her, but she didn’t dare imagine she had been in any way
successful. She had given in to the
demon. She had used sorcery to save
Natalya and Sister Margarethe. Aksinya wasn’t certain what she should or
could do next, and she couldn’t imagine what the demon might demand from her
the next time. She didn’t have to wait
long to hear from him.
Late
Saturday evening a heavy knock came to her door. Aksinya caught the scent of sulfur. She rolled over, “I really do not wish to
speak to you demon.”
The
door didn’t open, “You said that last time, Countess. I request an audience.”
She
sighed a great sigh, “And, I do wish to ask you some questions—you may enter.”
The
door opened and Asmodeus stepped through it.
The smell of sulfur increased slightly.
He shut it carefully after him.
Aksinya
sat up in bed.
The
demon bowed, “Good evening, Countess.”
Aksinya
took a deep breath, “Asmodeus, where is my book?”
“You
have many books…”
“You
know just the book I mean. It was the
one I was carrying when you precipitated the attack on my lady-in-waiting and
the nun.”
“Ah,
you are mistaken, Countess. I did not
make any attack on your friends…it was entirely the work of those hooligans
from the Golden Adler Gasthaus.”
“Čort
poberí[1],
you demon. You confessed to me yourself
that you tempted them to it.”
The
demon seemed petulant, “I told you before, countess. You can’t curse a being who is already
cursed.”
“I
don’t care. I want to know, where is my
book?”
“I
don’t know.”
“You
are lying.”
The
demon lifted one side of his lips. His
fangs glistened in the moonlight, “Ha, why do you think that?”
Aksinya
stuck her face forward. Her eyes bore in
on the demon’s, “You have lied over and over to me.”
Asmodeus
wouldn’t meet her gaze, “How could that be?”
“You
lied about Sister Margarethe…”
The
demon examined his claws, “I did not lie—she is infatuated with you.”
“You tried to get me to…to get me to…”
“…to
seduce her?”
Aksinya
lowered her gaze, “Yes, just that. Such
a disgusting thing.”
The demon’s fangs were very visible in his face,
“Perhaps a misunderstanding?”
“That
you fostered. Everything you have told
me is a lie.”
“That
isn’t so.”
“Then
what is the truth?”
“Ah,
that is the question. Isn’t it? What is the truth?”
“Tell
me, demon.”
“But,
Countess, I cannot. The truth is a trade
secret.”
Aksinya
made a depreciating sound and turned her head, “Just tell me, where is my
book?”
“I
don’t know. That is the truth. I suspect it will turn up. Why don’t you seek it yourself—you have the
skills?”
“I
have no desire to trade more of my virtue for so trivial a reason.”
Asmodeus
voice rumbled oddly, “That is the rub, isn’t it? You have traded a great deal of your virtue
for so little. You knew that to make
such a great enchantment without protection would greatly harm you. You knew that without the items as symbols
and the proper sacrifice, your body would have to bear entirely both the symbol
and the sacrifice. You knew that mixing
those new spells with the old would be dangerous. You defied me and that in itself was
foolish. You almost died, you know.”
“I
almost died. But, I traded all to save
my friend, and...” She turned her gaze
back to the demon, “I still think you are lying. I want my book. It is dangerous in the hands of others.” Aksinya put her hands down at her side, “Now,
why did you disturb my rest?”
“I
tried to come late enough that I didn’t disturb your own personal perversions.”
Aksinya
just stared.
“Ah,
so you have realized that also have you.”
“Your
temptation is little more than a discomfort.”
“Because
you have surrounded yourself with crosses,” the demon spat.
Aksinya
allowed herself a tiny smile. She
plucked at one of the petite crosses Natalya had sewn into her nightgown.
“I
came to see how you fared. I’m glad you
didn’t die. I have not completed all the
evil I intend through you.”
“So,
why did you come here tonight?”
The
demon’s lips slightly rose over his fangs.
Aksinya
tapped the covers under her fingertips, “I have another question for you.”
“Ask
all you wish, Countess.”
Aksinya
snarled, “Because you will not tell me the truth anyway.”
Asmodeus
shrugged.
“What
happened to the men at the tavern?”
This
time the demon did smile. Aksinya could
detect his humor before he spoke, “They are all dead.”
“I
did not kill them.”
“They
are dead anyway.”
“You
are lying.”
“Perhaps you should ask them yourself,” the demon let out a great laugh.
“Perhaps you should ask them yourself,” the demon let out a great laugh.
“Then
they are alive…”
He chuckled, “I meant in hell.”
He chuckled, “I meant in hell.”
“Go
to hell, yourself.”
“I’ve
been there, Countess.”
“You
tempted them…”
“I
did not give them anything more than they wished themselves—such is the way
with temptation. You, more than anyone,
should realize that, Countess.”
“I’m
tired of arguing with you. Leave me.”
“Ah,
it is time for me to leave. I have just
one thing to tell you, Countess.”
“I
knew there was more to this visit than pleasantries.”
Asmodeus
bowed, “I just wanted to warn you. You
have chosen to defy me. None of my other
masters ever did such a thing. It is
incomprehensible to me. Still, your
choices do promote evil. Yet, because
you defy me, they will bring you much sorrow.
A final warning from your servant, it is a threat. Don’t give away too much of your heart. What you give away may never be returned, and
when it is, it will result in great sorrow.”
“You
spout stupid platitudes…why should I expect wisdom from a demon.”
“Why
indeed, Countess.” The demon bowed out
of the room. Before he shut the door, he
called sweetly, “Good night.”
Under
her breath, Aksinya whispered, “One can love without desire, without lust,
Asmodeus. That is the secret that causes
all your evil to crumble.”
A
soft hiss answered her, “But love without desire is not as sweet,
Countess. Just look at how you love
yourself.” The words seemed to echo
within the closed room.
Aksinya
covered her head with her blanket and put her hands over her ears.
This scene is about the question of truth. I offer it as an example of scene setting and of what to show and what not to show in a novel. The question is how much of what the demon says is truth and how much of what Aksinya says is truth. You don't know, and I won't tell you. This is an ultimate question answered and not answered in the novel. It is answered to a degree about the demon, but not in the concept of life. The ultimate question is truth. The answer isn't so simple to answer.
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.
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: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.
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, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, http://www.aseasonofhonor.
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