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.
Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:
I am an educator and one of my most powerful tools is an ah ha moment. An ah ha moment is where a teacher gives the students just enough information so that they can draw a correct conclusion on their own. When I develop a lesson, I build in many ah ha moments for my students--I do the same in my writing.
One of the most powerful tools an author has is this kind of reader self discovery. This is what is meant by showing where the reader draws inferences that leads to a deeper understanding of the writing. Many times my readers ask me: aren't you worried that some of your readers won't get all the wonderful things you include in your writing? I am not worried at all. I know that the astute reader will get most of everything in the writing. Those who are not as well versed may not, but that's okay--if they read the novel again, they will get more and more. Each reading will be like a new experience for them. This is my goal.
The point is to place markers in the writing that a person of good education, strong language skills, and strong reading experience will understand. These points should not be so necessary to the writing that if they are missed the reader doesn't get the writing, but they should be additive to the overall plot and theme of the novel.
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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