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.
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 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I mention my yet unpublished novel, Dana-ana as an example of discovery because it is a novel wholly about discovery.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
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