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.
This is more of the marriage prayer and the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer is in preparation for Communion and usually signals the end of the prayers.
Ekaterina replied
after each petition, “Grant this, O Lord.”
Father Makar, “That
the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the
Lord. An angel of peace, a faithful
guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord. Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and
offences, let us ask of the Lord. Things
good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the
Lord. That we may live out the rest of
our days in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord. A Christian end to our life, painless,
unashamed and peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of
Christ, let us ask. Having asked for the
unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us entrust
ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ, our God.”
Ekaterina, “To
you, O Lord.”
Father Makar, “And
count us worthy, Master, with boldness and without condemnation to dare to call
upon you, the God of heaven, as Father, and to say:”
They all replied,
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom come, your will
be done on earth as in heaven. Give us
today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and
do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Father Makar
continued, “For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.”
“Amen.”
This last part of the marriage prayer is a declaration of the marriage as endless (until death) and the trust in God and Christ.
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.
For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.
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