Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.
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 many 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. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation.
Prayers in Orthodox thinking always begin with "let us pray to the Lord." Each prayer has a specific meaning and reason. This first prayer is for salvation and general perfection.
Father Makar stated, “In peace, let us pray
to the Lord.”
Ekaterina replied, “Lord, have mercy.”
Father Makar prayed, and after each
petition, Ekaterina replied “Lord, have mercy.”
He started, “For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our
souls, let us pray to the Lord. For the
peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and for
the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence
and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
For Tikhon of Moscow 11th
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, for the honored order of presbyters,
for the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to
the Lord. For the servant of God Dobrushin Sergeevich Lopuhin and the servant of God Princess Aksinya
Georgovna Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov the Countess of Golitsyna, who are now being betrothed to one another, and for
their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That they may be granted children for the continuation of the race and
all their requests that are for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That there may sent down to them perfect and
peaceful love and help, let us pray to the Lord. That they may be kept in concord and sure
faith, let us pray to the Lord. That
they may be blessed with concord and sure faith, let us pray to the Lord. That they may be preserved with a blameless
manner and way of life, let us pray to the Lord. That the Lord, our God, may grant them honorable
marriage and a bed without defilement, let us pray to the Lord. For our deliverance from all affliction,
wrath, danger and constraint, let us pray to the Lord. Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep
us, O God, by your grace. Commemorating
our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and
Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another
and our whole life to Christ our God.”
Matushka Ekaterina replied, “To you, O Lord.”
Father Makar, “For to you belong all glory,
honor and worship, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever, and to the ages of ages.”
Ekaterina, Dobrushin, and Aksinya answered,
“Amen.”
The end of each prayer is like the beginning--it has a formulaic end.
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.
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