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.
I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction. I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.
By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated. Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.
Remember, there is a limit (as far as we know) at the speed of light. If you don't understand this and e=mc^2, you definitely need to do some studying. Don't even begin to write science fiction about FTL if you don't understand why we need to talk about FTL at all.
I used cultural and technological shaping with FTL (and other technologies) in The Ghost Ship Chronicles and The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox. In addition, if you noted, I left myself an opening for the next series of novels. In the first series, the astrogator programed the entry and exit to null space and there was great risk to the ships because they couldn't maneuver in null space. In the second series, the astrogator had to program the entry and exit from the initial null space entry, but the ship could look ahead during shutter and maneuver around gravity wells and detect derelict ships (a key point in Ghost Ship). In the potential third series, the ships will be more advanced and require less astrogation. I don't have any inspiration for this future series, but I'm sure it will come to me in time. Right now, I still have to finish the last of Ghost Ship and I am writing a really fun novel about a Greek Fox Spirit. If you say, you can't imagine a novel about a Greek Fox Spirit--good, themes must be unique and unusual, or they won't sell.
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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