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 really great thing about writing a novel is that it is not linear. Although I do recommend writing your novel in a near linear manner--scene by scene--the overall writing need not be linear at all. For example, you get to the climax and realize your character needs a specific skill to resolve the issues of the theme and plot. All I have to do, as an author, is go back and write that specific skill path into the writing. Note, I wrote "skill path." It does little good to write something like this--Jack was a great swordsman. That's just junk. On the other hand, if I show you Jack's training and give you an idea of the work he accomplished to achieve his skill--that's good. If from that point on in the novel, I give you small touches of Jack's accomplishments and training--he goes to practice fencing every day etc., then you gain a true appreciation for Jack's skills. The point is this, if I stumble into the climax and Jack uses his skills as a fencer to beat his opponent, the reader believes and accepts the resolution. On the other hand, if Jack suddenly becomes a skilled swordsman--dumb.
The "skill path" is the backstory and writing about Jack's use of his special sword skill. This needs to be a path and not a single incident. The reason for this isn't just to bring reality to the climax, but rather, this is part of Jack's character. This is the character that you as an author should have developed and then revealed in the writing. His skill as a swordsman isn't just an add-on that allows the climax to resolve--his skill as a swordsman should endue his character with the attributes and responsibilities of a swordsman. This is the "skill path." I mentioned before lock picking skills. This is also a skill path.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment