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:
Novels where the characters determine or discover their skills as a part of the novel are usually called discovery themes or discovery plots. As I mentioned, I think this type of theme and character has not been used enough in adult novels. I use it very often as a theme or a sub theme. Alternately, a theme or character that accomplishes self discovery is also an entertaining theme or character. In this type of theme, the character does not know his or her origins or affiliations and through the novel discovers them.
A similar theme and character mix is a revelation theme. I used a revelation theme in my novel, Dana-ana. In a revelation theme, the revelation of the character is part of the mystery to the other characters (and usually the reader) in the novel. I like all these types of themes and characters.
Again, the point is to develop entertaining characters--especially for your protagonist, antagonist, and protagonist's helper. A character with a mystery or who is discovering some skill can be very entertaining characters. The surprise discovery type character has been overused in many young adult novels. This is a character characterized by discovering a skill while under some extreme physical or mental challenge. These have typically been fantasy or science fiction novels. For example, a character who discovers they have a magical or psionic ability. Like I mentioned, these are typically found in young adult novels. A more adult and interesting theme to me is where a character discovers a skill or ability and then build on that skill or ability. I used this type of protagonist in my novel, Warrior of Light. In this novel, the protagonist who was basically a wimp and an intellectual discovers he is a warrior and wants to become a modern warrior who is an intellectual. Okay, that's not all of the novel, but it is a sub theme.
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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