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.
A point of marriage is intimacy. From such intimacy comes children... the entire point of the Orthodox sacrament of marriage--comfort and children. Children as comfort and blessing. As I've been writing before, the power in writing comes from conversation. Conversation drives this entire scene. The intimacy is almost entirely conveyed through conversation.
“Yes, you may kiss me all you wish.” Their lips touched.
“You were much more passionate before.”
“Shall I be passionate again?”
“Yes,” she trembled as she stroked his face,
“But I have an important request.”
He tried to make out her face in the dim
light, “A request.”
“It’s wet and sticky over here. Can I sleep on your side of the bed?”
Dobrushin let out a great laugh, “It’s a
little damp over here too.”
Aksinya scowled, “What did you do to me?”
“Didn’t you like it? Wasn’t it what you always desired?”
“Yes, but I didn’t think it would be so
messy.” She pressed herself very close
to him, “I want to be on top this time.”
He smiled again and tried not to laugh, “Why?”
“I like to be in control, and the wet place
will be on your side and not mine.” She
placed her lips on his and did not remove them.
Aksinya had him twice more
and both times she was on top. They
slept very late into the next day.
Intimacy in marriage is both moral and ethical. It is the beauty of marriage and humanity. It becomes even more beautiful when sanctioned by God. I have mentioned before, one of my theme goals in writing is to present love within marriage. Most writers today present love outside of marriage and many times intimacy outside of marriage. To those of us who are moral and ethical, this is both wrong and silly. I wrote before about sexual tension. Sexual tension without the outcome of marriage is pretty desolate, but most people who have experienced it know that.
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.
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