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 novels have five discrete parts:
1. The initial scene (the beginning)
2. The rising action
3. The climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement
The theme statement of this new novel is: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.
I want to develop characters who will pretty much automatically generate pathos in the minds of my readers. If possible, just by introducing a character, I'd like the reader to be emotionally drawn into the writing. It's like seeing a kitten--many people will immediately go, aww. That's the kind of response that a strong pathetic character should generate--not so much the aww, but a gentle excitement and interest. Almost any character can be made somewhat pathetic. That's not to say every character can generate pathos, or that every character should, but you can give mental and verbal characteristics to many characters that endear them to your readers without making them syrupy.
For example, I like to develop odd protagonist's helpers who have naturally acerbic characters and whose tongues say things the protagonists don't like to hear (or don't want others to know). Such a character is sometimes called a sidekick, and sidekick type characters have a strong endearment to most readers. I also like to develop characters who are nonconformists. A nonconformist in a conforming world is a wonderful pathetic character because many, if not most people imagine themselves in such a role.
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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