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.
In the beginning, the Wright Brothers had no idea how important or capable their invention would become. Orville predicted that aircraft would never cross the oceans or carry people for long range transport. He saw it as a machine for war--the wealthy proved him wrong. The Wright Brothers did aircraft right, but they did little else right. They had no idea that the wealthy would take their invention and make it into something very capable. Indeed, a war increased aircraft technology and made many aircraft available to people, but even after the war, it was Linbergs and Erharts and Stearmans who made aircraft great and available to people. The wealthy were the first to fuel air transportation, and the wealthy thought markets made air transportation eventually available to everyone.
The aircraft is like almost every other technology, it starts as a plaything only the wealthy can afford and over time becomes a technology everyone has. Computers, CDs, DVDs, video recording tapes, audio recording tapes, phonographs, cameras, motion pictures, cell phones, and all--every modern piece of technology was first affordable and acquired by the wealthy and eventually became low cost and common place. This is one of the reasons you don't see technology in the hands of people in socialistic and communistic countries. Without the wealthy, a market for a product can't come into place.
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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