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.
The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:
1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.
When people began putting sheets of writing together, they stitched them end to end and rolled them up. This produced scrolls. We don't have much archaeological evidence for the way books were put together before scrolls, but they were likely keep in cubbies or boxes. Much more is known about the invention of the book.
Books were invented just after the first century. The reason was to permit the Gospels and Paul's letters to be carried more conveniently. Scrolls are hard to use, hard to carry, and hard to find stuff in. Books are much lighter and easier to carry, use, and turn to the right page. The invention of the book was a direct result of Christianity. This was about 2,000 years ago. We are counting down millenia.
In the year 1000 approximately, punctuation, word spaces, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and numbered verses. These inventions were to make the Bible more readable. They also helped with other literature.
In the 1400s, the printing press was invented and printed books began to bring down the cost of publishing. The need to print the Bible was the reason for the invention of the printing press. Low cost printing would have to wait until the cost of paper got to a point that the average person could afford a book. I'll write about that tomorrow.
Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
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