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.
You must be able to extrapolate technology and science, but there are specific things to think about when developing your novel (story). For example, comparisons are as great in science fiction as they are in historical fiction. In other words, comparisons between cultures and science in cultures can allow your readers to fully comprehend they world you developed.
An example is weapons. This is totally overused due to Manga and some kind of poor thinking skills, but no one with hand to hand or hand to hand weapons really stands a chance against someone with a modern slug thrower. This was really obvious in one of the Raiders of the Lost Ark movies when Harrison Ford whips out a gun and shoots the sword slinging bad guy. This is the way of the world for weapons technology.
In my novels, I extrapolate military science out to the edge and then back for the non-military crowd. There are reasons for using plasma weapons and there are reasons for using slug throwers. There are many potential types of slug throwers. I try to describe them and give the reader comparisons so they can understand them. Additionally, there are reasons for using hand to hand weapons. There are also reasons for not using hand to hand weapons.
The extrapolation of technology and science needs to fit within the structure of the world (universe) you develop. I'll explain more 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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