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.
Most of my scenes are conversational. In fact, I'd say that I want ninety percent of my novels to be conversation. In conversation, I can let you in on the minds and ideas of my characters--they tell the reader and each other what they think (believe) or want to tell them. This means that every conversation must have an element of tension and release.
This doesn't mean that every conversation has to be an argument or has to have some heated exchange. A conversation can be muted and convivial and still have some degree of tension with a release. If it doesn't, you need to find a different means of conveying the information. As I write, every scene needs some degree of tension and release.
Let's put it another way--every scene needs some kind of excitement. There must be some nugget of excitement for the reader or there is no point in reading the novel. Each bit of tension and release should spur the reader on and lead to the climax of the novel. Anything that doesn't do both is extraneous to the novel and should be removed.
In writing every scene, I look for elements where I can interject a degree of excitement and entertainment.
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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