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 my newest novel, Valeska, is this: 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:
The plot is developed directly from the theme. The first steps are fleshing out the characters (not accomplished in the novel, but before writing the novel) and the setting. The main characters and the setting come directly out of the theme. The characters are revealed through the storyline that is based on the plot. Then how do you get to the plot?
I promised you the scene. Here is the second part. The scene was set in the previous example. Sveta and Heidi had their first confrontation. The end was Heidi taking George away and Daniel pulling Sveta back. Now we get to see the result of the previous confrontation on George and Heidi.
When they were out of earshot, George leaned over and whispered, “What was that all about?”
Heidi didn’t look at
him, “I think she realizes what I am.”
“What? Are you kidding?”
“I am completely
serious. I think she would have attacked
me right there if she could. I am in
serious danger here—in this house—and in this city.”
George turned and
looked back. Daniel and Sveta were
engaged in a heated conversation. Sveta
was not looking at them. She pointed
back toward them.
Heidi moved to the
buffet and picked up a plate.
George whispered, “Why
did you have to antagonize her so much.
She is my boss’ wife, shouldn’t you try to gain her as an ally?”
Heidi glared at him,
“She was antagonizing me first. Does a
wolf try to ally itself with the hunter?
Or the sheep with the wolf? Right
now, I wish to eat her food. It surely
isn’t poisoned—not if she fed it to her friends. I also wish to stay in the crowd where she
can’t find me alone. When we return to
your flat, I will go on foot.”
George took her arm,
“You sound like you have been through this before.”
“Never before, but I
have not lived this long without learning some degree of caution.”
“I find that hard to
believe—you were not living very well when I discovered you.”
Heidi raised her voice,
“Your life-blood was eking out of body when I found you.”
George whispered
forcefully, “Sveta is my boss’ wife. She
runs an office in the organization. You
need to mollify her and not antagonize her.”
Heidi stared at him,
“You choose her over me.” Her eye
twitched.
“I didn’t choose her at
all. I just want to keep my job. Where do you think this clothing comes from?”
Heidi threw down her
plate, “If that’s the way it is, you may have it back right now. She began to unbutton her dress.”
George took her hands,
“Stop that. I didn’t mean it that
way.” He continued lamely, “I need this
work.”
She stopped, “I
understand. I am just not happy about
it.”
George buttoned her
dress, “Everyone is staring.”
She lowered her head,
“I’m sorry, Mr. Mardling.” She kept her
head down and glanced up at him with her eyes alone.
“Pick up your
plate. You’re lucky it didn’t break.”
She knelt very
primly. Harold came up behind her and
slipped the plate out of her hands. He
placed a glass of wine in it, “I’ll get you a new plate. This one is soiled.”
“Thank you,” she
mumbled. She took a sip of the wine, and
her face brightened.
Harold came beside her,
“What may I select for you from the buffet.”
Heidi answered very
sweetly, “Some of the partridge, a bit of cheese, bread, and pudding.”
Harold carried the
plate for her. Already the attention
began to draw away from her and George.
A few watched her as an apparent fifteen year old sipped on a glass of
wine. When the glass was empty, Harold
replaced it with a full one.
In the previous scene, there was a slight release of tension--Daniel pulled Sveta back and Heidi took George away from the action. In this scene, there is tension between George and Heidi with a release. The next scene is logical--a confrontation between Sveta and Heidi.
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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