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.
I'm not giving this series up quite yet. I'll review some of what I've already described and tie it together.
The trick in writing in scenes is that each scene follows the next in time. Additionally, each scene provides the input for the next scene which provides the output for the next scene etc. In this way, you can write a novel that is orderly, doesn't confuse your readers, and that makes sense to your readers. Novels are complex enough without mixing up the time and sequence of events.
In some cases, I add scenes that are not within the sequence I described. Now, here is the point--the point of view (POV) to be exact. Every novel and every scene has a POV. If your editor starts bugging you about POV, this is what they mean. When you write a novel, there is an implied and a specific POV in every scene and in the novel. The POV should really be your main character. If the protagonist is not the POV, it should be the protagonist's helper or the antagonist (or the antagonist's helper). In most novels, the POV follows the protagonist. In every scene, there should be only one POV. This is usually the protagonist, but can vary by scene. You should not vary the POV in a scene.
In my newest novel, I do shift the scenes to simultaneously occurring scenes from a different POV. I use an antagonist's helper POV and give the reader an input from a different source that is required for the plot line of the novel. In these scenes, the input/output rules still apply, but just in a slightly different context.
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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