Announcement: There is action on my new novels. The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name. I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions. They are also working on a single theme for the covers. 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.
All right, let's finish this series up and move on. The point of science fiction is the science. If you don't have a clue about science, you shouldn't be writing science fiction. The trick in getting from fiction to science fiction is the extrapolation of the science to technology and the development of a science fiction theme.
The theme statement for a science fiction novel should have a science fiction protagonist (character), antagonist (character), setting, and action. From the theme statement, the author gets these major parts of the novel and fleshes them out into a plot. The plot can be developed from an initial scene based on the theme statement (scene outline and the way I write). There are other methods, but the ultimate end is the writing of a novel. All novels have five specific discrete parts: initial scene (the beginning), the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the dénouement. All the parts except the rising action are usually single scenes. The characteristic of any science fiction novel is to have extrapolated science and technology as part of each scene and as the basis for each scene and part of the novel--that's what makes it science fiction.
More tomorrow.
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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