Announcement: My new novels should be available from any webseller or can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore. Information can be found at www.ancientlight.com. Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.
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 basic novel is about character revelation. I noted yesterday, the focus of the plot, theme, and resolution of a balanced novel are all about character revelation. This is a very powerful method of writing a novel, but it isn't the only method of putting one together. You can have a mystery novel with a resolution (climax) of a mystery that has a slightly different theme. Usually the plot must match the resolution--it is possible to have a climax not be the climax of the plot, but that is never a good idea.
An example of a novel where the plot, theme, and resolution might not match up is in a modern romance novel. The plot of the novel might revolve around the protagonist and the protagonist's helper (or the antagonist), but "love" could be the theme and the plot be about something else entirely. This isn't that uncommon in many romance movies (chick flicks). The movie or novel is about a man (or woman) in conflict somehow (business dealings, school, the government)--that is the plot. The theme is about the man and woman getting together and falling in love. The plot resolution is about solving the business, school, government problem while the theme resolution is about the couple falling in love. This split between the theme and plot resolution isn't as uncommon as you might imagine--just look for it.
I'd recommend that in your novel writing you keep the plot, theme, and resolution similar. Because I gave you the novel Valska, I'll mention it. The plot and theme of Valeska are both very similar. The plot is about overcoming a demon, while the theme is about overcoming internal demons. Similar, but not the same. There is a separate theme and plot resolution (climax), but both are similar in effect (not the events). This is one method of brining the plot and theme together. I'll look at more methods.
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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