Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 173, more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

30 September 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 173, more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

I'll describe an example of how to set up a discovery conversation in a concurrent scene that doesn't include the protagonist.  Like every scene, you simply set it (description), set the characters in it (description), then set them loose in the scene (conversation and action).  In this case, we are writing about conversation.  You could have a couple of characters get together for drinks at a bar to discuss business and their conversation sways toward the background of your protagonist.

Their discussion could center around their school day remembrances of the protagonist or their business operations or their personal experience.  They could be school-mates, business partners, friends or lovers.  They could be friends, lovers, enemies, ex-friends, ex-lovers.  I hope you are getting ideas.  The point of this "discovery" is to present something to the readers that they didn't know or realize about the protagonist--the level of truth is up to the author. 

We are used to "truth" for some reason in writing and can't seem to even imagine the characters might be misleading us.  Think of this, if we wish our writing to be like the real world, there will be little "truth" in it.  If we wish to idealize the world, there will be nothing but "truth" in it.  I've written before that novels idealize the world for the purpose of entertainment--that doesn't mean everything is true.

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 172, Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

29 September 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 172, Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

I like to write in scenes that move from input to output to the end of the novel.  I like the scenes to follow in order of time and from place to place.  I have written using other time and scene concepts, but I usually stick to the scene method I just described.  There is a very powerful tool in scene development I'll call the concurrent scene.  A concurrent scene can take place at the same time as a regular scene only the Point of View (POV) is different.  For example, if you are writing in the third person and your protagonist is the normal POV, a concurrent scene might take place in the third person with another character's POV and not include the protagonist. 

These type of concurrent scenes might be designed by the author for plot revelation or for character revelation.  I've given an example in the past of a plot revelation example from Dana-ana.  In this scene, the antagonist is discussing with his henchmen what they are going to do to Dana-ana.  The scene is a conversation and it is powerful because Dana-ana is digging through the garbage for lunch while they are plotting her demise.  This is an example of a plot revelation--it gives the reader a POV that is different as well as information that is not available to the protagonist or protagonist's helper.

The type of scene I am focusing on is a concurrent scene that is all about character revelation.  It should not include the protagonist and will include a discussion of the protagonist--or at least will allow the writer to reveal information about the protagonist.  It will be a concurrent scene because it will be out of the normal POV and out of the normal time sense and place sense of the novel.  This isn't esoteric, it simply means the scene might not directly follow in the input/output sequence of the rest of the scenes, and the place may not be a normal place introduced in the novel.  I'll give an example.

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 171, Culture and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

28 September 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 171, Culture and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

You can see point of view is a very important concept in writing and in "real" life.  I showed you the concept of the description of beauty in POV because I wanted you to see that although the POV of the source is useful in revelation of a character, the reader (and the writer) always must take into account the POV.  What one POV thinks is beauty another POV might see as ugly.  The POV is never omniscient and the POV is never unbiased.  That said, POV other than the protagonist is still very valuable to your writing.  I would say, the ambiguity makes it more valuable.  Some might say the difference in POV makes it valuable.  I agree with both, but everyone should realize, different POV is just another means of conveying important revelation about your characters.

Now to other's conversations specifically.  The use of other's conversations is for the author to convey character revelation or important plot ideas (plot revelation) that would not otherwise be known about the protagonist or the protagonist's helper.  Obviously, unless you use the idea of a foreign language conversation in front of an ignorant (lf the language) protagonist, an other's conversation should take place in a separate scene that doesn't include the protagonist or the protagonist's helper.  It could potentially include the protagonist's helper as one of the participants.  The participants conversation should be about information concerning the protagonist (or protagonist's helper) concerning the ideas the author wants to convey to the reader.  Obviously, in this context, the revelation is now known to the reader, but the protagonist might not realize her secrets have been made known.  If the reveled information is a secret, the writer has set up the tension for a discovery release (a revelation) the protagonist was not expecting.  Let's just say, as I've described before, the knowledge given to the readers concerning a juicy revelation is an automatic setup for a turning point in the novel.  These make very powerful scenes and release or tension devices in the plot.  

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 170, still more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

27 September 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 170, still more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

Here is a change in point of view (POV) with a description of Aksinya and Natanya from my yet unpublished novel, Aksinya: Enchantment and the Deamon. 

On Friday afternoon, Freiherr Bockmann’s coupe, the covered carriage, came for Aksinya and Natalya.  The Freifrau Bockmann herself sat in the coupe.  For the weekend, Aksinya and Natalya had taken clothing from the house across the street.  They wore something other than their Sacré Coeur uniforms now.  Aksinya was dressed like a countess, and Natalya like a lady-in-waiting.  Both of their jewelry was much more elegant than that which would have been expected any student to wear.

Freifrau Bockmann’s eyes widened when she saw them.  She descended from the coupe and curtsied to Aksinya.  Then, she greeted both the girls with a kiss.  The Reverend Mother stepped out of the school to see them off.  Frau Drescher stood as an after thought in the shadows near the gymnasium’s door.

The Reverend Mother curtsied to Freifrau Bockmann.  It was a deep curtsy that included Aksinya, “Freifrau Bockmann, the Countess and Lady Natalya have started well.  We are glad you decided to take them under your wing for their social training during the weekends.”

Freifrau Bockmann was effusive, “Thank you, Reverend Mother.  I will return them Sunday evening.  Please don’t expect them for dinner.”

“Yes, Freifrau Bockmann.” 

With the driver’s help, they climbed into the carriage.  After they were inside, Freifrau Bockmann tapped the ceiling of the coupe with the top of her cane and the driver started the horses moving.

Freifrau Bockmann gazed at her two charges.  The one had a boyish figure and a sharp face.  It was so typically Russian it almost hurt to look at her.  Her features were not very lovely, but her clothing fit her perfectly and she was dressed exquisitely.  Her hair was arranged with a touch of genius.  The Lady Natalya had made the most of so little although Freifrau Bockmann thought she could see evidence that it was finally growing out.  The young countess before her might not be very lovely to look at but her manner and manners were perfect.  She sat and stood and walked exactly as you would expect from a countess or even a princess.  Yes, she had the perfect demeanor of a princess.  Plus that look in her eyes.  The Countess Aksinya’s eyes gave an impression of majesty, strength, and power.  That seemed very odd to the Freifrau Bockmann. 

The Lady Natalya, on the other hand, was a perfect opposite to her countess.  Her face was lovely.  Her figure was like an opening bloom.  Her proportions were exact and perfect.  She looked like the picture plates you found in novels about the royalty.  Her appearance seemed like a perfect reproduction in life of one of those still portraits.  She didn’t show the exact and perfect decorum the Countess did—her face and actions were much more lively.   She seemed the exact counterpoint to the Countess, and the Freifrau Bockmann knew, they were both very intelligent. 

This is the kind of description I like to use to remind my readers about a character's physical attributes.  From another POV, it becomes truth for the reader without the use of telling or omniscient voice.  Is it true?  I'll leave that to the reader to determine.  The fact is that the POV might be prejudice or their opinions slanted in some manner.  If you knew Frau Bockmann better, you would know that she is wholly a German/Austrian aristocrat.  In other words, she sees everything from the standpoint of a German noble.  A Russian is normally not "beautiful" in her mind.  The fact she finds Natalya beautiful and Russian is more of a question of how unRussian Natalya looks from Frau Bockmann's standpoint.  Further, Frau Bockmann is a good judge of power and strength--she sees it in Aksinya.  Aksinya is indeed powerful. 

Here is a picture of a Russian aristocrat for comparison:

 
This is generally how Frau Bockmann sees Aksinya.  Is this "beautiful?"  From a Russian POV the woman is beautiful, but this is not necessarily the beauty of a German, an Austrian, an American, a British person.  Every culture and every nationality views beauty differently.  Not that there are no similarities between cultures, but it is absolutely true that cultures view many normal aspects of life differently.  If you ever looked at paintings from different eras, you can trace the changes in "cultural beauty."  In some writing, it may be good enough to call someone or something beautiful, but that disregards these differences that are very critical to each culture. 

A little on beauty, but the point of this exercise is to show a person from a different POV.  This isn't purely discovery or other's conversation--not at this point.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 169, yet more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

26 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 169, yet more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

One of my favorite "tricks" in writing is to show the reader the protagonist from the standpoint of another point of view (POV).  A point of view (POV) is a view of the novel "world" from the view of a character.  In most novels, the POV is from the protagonist's POV.  In first person novels, that's all you have--it sucks.  In third person novels (most mature novels), you have many options for the POV.  In most cases, the POV should be from the POV of the protagonist, and you should not vary the POV in a single scene.  But it is not unusual or bad form to use another's POV at any reasonable time in the novel.  I really like to go to another POV to show the protagonist and protagonist's helper, in description, from another character's POV. 

For example, when I introduce a character, I use about 300 words to describe them (show them), but about the middle of every novel, I like to remind the readers about the physical attributes of the protagonist (and sometimes the protagonist's helper).  I usually use a main character to do this, but in Shadow of Darkness, I used a secretary to describe Sveta (Lumiere').  In Aksinya, I used Akinsya's aunt Brunhilda, to redescribe Aksinya and Natalya.  This type of description reminds the reader of the protagonist and protagonist's helper physical attributes, and shows the characters from another POV.  It helps the reader determine "what is truth," in the novel.  For example, Aksinya imagines she is ugly and unattractive.  She doesn't realize how attractive Natalya is.  The description from the POV of Aksinya's aunt drives home, that Aksinya isn't really as ugly as she thinks, and Natalya is much more beautiful than Akinsya realizes.  I'll give you the description tomorrow.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 168, more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

25 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 168, more Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

What is truth?  See rule four above (Don't show (or tell) everything.).  The world of the novel must feel like the real world.  Not everything in the real world is known--and neither is everything in the world of the novel.  In the first place, it would be impossible to show everything, but on the other hand, there is no need to show everything, and every need to keep secrets.  When I say keep secrets, I mean those parts of the novel that never need to be told or said or that never need to be revealed.  Other's conversation is a means of revealing information that would otherwise never be said out loud in a novel.

For example, your protagonist has emotional issues.  You can (and should) show these emotional issues though the actions of your protagonist.  If you are writing in the first person, you could show the mental trauma and problems of your character, but you would rarely if ever, even in first person, have your protagonist remark about their own emotional issues.  Real people don't recognize, or rarely recognize, these kinds of problems in themselves.  The solution is "other's conversation."

You could show a conversation between two of your protagonist's friends (or enemies) and have them discuss the emotional state of your protagonist.  This develops pathos and allows the reader to see into the heart of the protagonist (at least from the observations of others).   

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 167, Other's Conversation methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

24 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 167, Other's Conversation methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

The revelation of the protagonist's character can also come through other's conversation and other's point of view (POV).  Other's conversation is an excellent means to progress the theme, plot, and storyline.  The trick here is to swing to a scene involving the other characters and where the protagonist is not around.  Alternately, you could have the characters speaking in another language while the protagonist is in the scene.  I haven't used this before, but it has potential. 

The point of putting conversation about a character in the mouths of others is one of the expression of "truth."  In a novel, like real life, there is always "truth."  There is a reality that is the absolute truth.  On the other hand, along with truth, there is also the perception of the protagonist, the protagonist's helper, and the other characters.  Each character has a piece of the truth, the rest is their perceptions or understandings.  It is not the job of the author to show or tell the truth--it is the job of the author to entertain the reader.  Much of the concept of entertaining is the revelation of the characters, theme, plot, and storyline. 

The main rule of real life and novels, is the question of "what is truth?"  Each character has a piece of the "truth," and only the author really knows what is true in the novel.  It doesn't matter that the characters know the truth--they only need to know enough "truth" to provide the revelations in the story.  The level of truth is determined by many factors.  Ultimately, the omniscient author, like god, can provide the truth--that is telling.  Don't do it.  You can let the protagonist tell everything in the first person--he might be lying, and that is telling.  Don't do it.  That's why I don't like the first person in novels--there is too much chance for telling and the readers know too much about the protagonist.  Just don't do it.  That's why using other's conversations is a good method of character revelation.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 166, general Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

23 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 166, general Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

I separated discovery from accidental discovery.  I may repeat myself, but I will give some ideas about how to write discovery.  Accidental discovery is the best but not the easiest to pull off.  For example, accidental discovery is when a character's secret is revealed by an unfortunate occurrence.  The classic is the politician's mistress is revealed when they are caught by the press.  Or the politician is caught in a lie.  These are difficult to set up because they may take an entire novel to develop to the point of the accidental discovery.  In many novels, this is the climax or at least a turning point.  A discovery novel, like Dana-ana gives many opportunities for accidental discovery.  In this case, the accidental discovery can be simple and complex.  For example, in Dana-ana, I use more than half the novel building up the relationship Dana-ana has with the Crown in the United Kingdom.  When Dana-ana visits Britain, this comes to a head.  The readers get to see some of the behind the scenes action that eventually spills over to the regular characters.  From that point on, the revelation of Dana-ana moves a pace.  The first part of the novel was a full press setup for the discovery in the second part.  At the same time, there are very simple accidental discoveries during the initial revelation of the character of Dana-ana.

Regular discovery runs along with accidental discovery.  Regular discovery comes about, not by accident, but by purpose.  So, when Byron, the protagonist's helper in Dana-ana is investigating Dana-ana, or when Byron's mother is using her State Department connections to investigate Dana-ana, the resulting discovery are regular discoveries.  Of course, when the State Department sends an agent to speak to Byron's family, that is a bit of general discovery wrapped up in accidental discovery--the investigation took an unexpected turn.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 165, yet more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

22 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 165, yet more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

Like I wrote yesterday, everyone likes discovery novels (and themes), but most writers (artists) approach the theme using an amnesia plot device.  There are other methods of developing discovery theme plots.  I mention some of them in Dana-ana because that's what the other characters begin to imagine.  They think Dana-ana might be a repatriated or protected spy.  A covert agent who was given a past and a place to hide.  They also imagine that she is a time traveler.  She must hide who she is because that would affect time.  They think she could be a criminal.  They imagine she is persecuted, a witness in a witness protection program, etc., etc.  These are all reasons why protagonists might keep quiet about their pasts.  These are all reasons that allow other characters to make discoveries to determine the truth about the protagonist.  In other words, there are many reasons why there can be a discovery theme and plot devices to accentuate such a theme.  I recommend the use of discovery as an idea, a theme and a plot.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 164, even more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

21 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 164, even more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

I like discovery novels, and I like to include discovery concepts in all my novels.  I'm using my yet unpublished novel, Dana-ana as an example of a discovery novel to show how discovery works.

I mentioned before, that the method of all novels is to reveal the characters and to reveal the plot.  In the case of a "discovery" novel, the revelation of the plot is the revelation of a character, usually the protagonist.  In the case of Dana-ana, the plot is her revelation.  What we see in the contest of the novel is the other characters and especially, the protagonist's helper, determining who and what is Dana-ana.  I won't give any full spoilers, but Dana-ana is everything she appears.

This is a beautiful kind of revelation--where the character is not trying to actively hide anything, but just her existence is mystifying.  Usually people are mundane--you get a few here and there who really are special in some way or another, but usually people are people.  Dana-ana is something else entirely.  This is the foundation for discovery: a person who is unknown, a mystery based on the person, a secret the person holds, a person out of place or time, a person who is unique, a person who is endearing.  Dana-ana is all these things.  Additionally, the novel Dana-ana is a self discovery novel.  Imagine Dana-ana as a person who has amnesia, she doesn't really, but she is discovering things about herself while the characters are discovering information about her.  This is why amnesia based stories are so interesting in literature and popular media.  In an amnesia based story, a character has lost some memories and they, as well as others, are trying to understand who they were.  Unfortunately, because they are so rare in reality, amnesia based themes always seem contrived--a theme like Dana-ana is unique and in this sense not contrived.

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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 163, more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

20 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 163, more Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

My yet unpublished novel, Dana-ana is an example of discovery because it is a novel wholly about discovery.  Valeska is a novel, also about discovery, but the readers know many of the secrets of Valeska at the beginning.  The comparison is between a novel where the readers know the secret (Valeska) and a novel where the readers are as in the dark as most of the characters (Dana-ana).  

Dana-ana is a novel whose protagonist has a great secret.  It is a secret she can't share with anyone at all--she is prevented from sharing anything about her secret.  Dana-ana is about a girl in the modern world who lives life as if she were an Anglo-Saxon woman.  She acts like she is living in the Anglo-Saxon world of almost 1500 years ago.  Even those who befriend her can't figure her out.  Is she mentally ill?  Is she deluded?  Is she under some coercion?  Why won't she conform to the modern world?  Why does she see all aspects of her world from the point of view of an ancient society?

All these questions would be academic, except that the person Dana-ana can speak ancient Anglo-Saxon.  She also know Latin and ancient Norman French.  She knows things only an Anglo-Saxon should know and acts in ways only an Anglo-Saxon would act.  You can see the mystery here, and the reader is as much in the blind as the other characters.  Only Dana-ana knows why she is the way she is and she will not or cannot tell.  

This is a true discovery novel--it is a novel where the readers and the characters slowly learn more and more about the protagonist, but until the end and the climax, they have no real idea who is Dana-ana.  You can see the power of this type of novel.  The use of discovery in this type of novel is critical to the novel and the entertainment in 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

Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 162, Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

19 September 2014, Writing Ideas - Vampire Novel, part 162, Dana-ana Discovery methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

I mention my yet unpublished novel, Dana-ana as an example of discovery because it is a novel wholly about discovery.  This is especially true compared to a novel like Valeska.  There are portions of discovery in Valeska, but not to the degree of Dana-ana.  In Valeska the reader, although, not most of the characters know who and what Valeska/Heidi is.  Valeska  is more of an exploration novel with some discoveries unrelated to the main theme and some discoveries made by characters rather than to readers. 

Here is a very important point about discovery and exploration--there is information known by the characters and not by the readers.  There may be information known to the readers and to some characters that is not known by other characters.  If we realize, a novel is about revelation to the readers and not to anyone else, we can understand some power in discovery and exploration.  For example, in Valeska, I let the reader in on the big secret about Valeska right away--she is a vampire.  Likewise, the reader knows about George Mardling, the protagonist's helper.  George is a real secret agent.  The discovery in the story and the exploration is not focused on these two characters, but rather on other characters they meet.  The ultimate secret in Valeska is who or what is Valeska, but the reader already knows--the reader is already in on the joke (secret), so to speak.  Part of the entertainment comes because the other characters don't have any idea what or who Valeska is, and they all want to know.  The discovery is the discovery of the characters in the novel and not the readers.  On the other hand, Dana-ana is all about the reader's discovery as well as the character's discovery.

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