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: while on assignment in Gdansk, Poland, 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 point about the climax for the new novel that I'm writing, is that I didn't know exactly where the novel would go when I started writing. In many (if not most) of my novels, especially the early ones, I knew exactly where I was going--I just wasn't certain how I would get there. In writing my latest novels, I started with a great idea, but I wasn't completely certain where I was going to go with it. I don't entirely recommend this method. It has helped me define how to identify and write a climax. By that, I mean, I've been evaluating how I get to the climax, and I've been sharing those ideas on my other blog. What I should do is also share some of the information here.
The real trick in writing a novel is to make everything come together in the climax--of course most people won't pick up your novel for the climax. Most people pick up a novel because it is unique and exciting (or entertaining), and the initial scene (or at least the blurb on the cover) excites them. When most people read a novel that is entertaining to them, the climax is really the let down point--it's the place where the author starts to say good bye. The characters are revealed or they are almost fully revealed. The climax tops off the characters and the novel and brings everything to a reasonable and hopefully exciting and fulfilling resolution. The reader might not pick up the novel for the climax, but a poor climax will possibly prevent them from reading another one of your novels.
The main point of the climax is to resolve the theme and plot with entertainment and excitement.
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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