Scenes - Scene Setting, Death

4 June 2013, Scenes - Scene Setting, Death

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

The surety is being consummed.  The demon doesn't have much time, and suddenly Aksinya has no time at all.

Asmodeus cried out, “I haven’t much time.”  He snarled again and took a step toward Dobrushin, “You, man, shall die.”  He raised his arm and rushed at Dobrushin.  Dobrushin stuck out his arms to protect himself.

At the last moment, Aksinya grabbed for the demon.  She jumped forward and interposed her body between the demon and the man.  Asmodeus claws bit deeply into her.  They cut across her thin body and through her dress, through her skin, through her bones.

A veil of blood rose in the air between the demon and the girl.  Aksinya gave a single gurgling scream and collapsed to the floor.  The demon cringed back.  He leapt again to the side of the fireplace.

Dobrushin cried out.  He knelt beside Aksinya and lifted her head and shoulders in his arms.

Her lips trembled.  Her face contorted in pain, “There, demon, you are in default.  You cannot harm me, yet you have murdered me.”

Asmodeus brought his hands to his face.  His features displayed an appearance that had never been there before.  He glanced all around.

Aksinya’s breath came in whispers, “You must return my surety.  You must release me.  I am truly God’s now and not yours.”

The demon shrieked and was suddenly gone.  The incense sputtered then flared up.  The charm within it fell to ashes.  Aksinya’s hair suddenly became a single long braid down her back.

Dobrushin clasped her in his arms.

The demon was not allowed to kill Aksinya--this we know, or at least we realize.  Aksinya gave her life to protect Dobrushin and to be rid of the demon.  The demon could not imagine such a thing.  He should have.  Aksinya was willing to bring the demon into the world to protect her family.  Aksinya always had the capabilility in herself, she just didn't have the courage to act until this event.  This is obvious tension building.  It is the end of Aksinya--or is it?

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, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.