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:
I wrote yesterday about skills and a skills path in revelation of the protagonist and the resolution of the climax. I used the example of my unpublished Ancient Light novel Warrior of Light. This novel is a great example of skill path development. It is a skill attainment novel in which all three main characters are developing different skills. The protagonist has a great change based in skill development. The novel is very fun, but has a complex theme and plot development. Most readers will just enjoy the novel and not try to take it apart. The point I wanted to make is that the skills used to resolve the climax are learned directly in the novel. It is a climax based entirely on learning certain skills. The telic flaw of the actual protagonist is her power--she must lean to properly control her power. The warrior of light is really the protagonist's helper in the novel. Some of my novels work that way. I'm not intentionally hiding the protagonist, but many times I start my novels with the protagonist's helper. In the case of Warrior of Light, the initial scene is the meeting of the protagonist's helper with the protagonist. The novel uses the protagonist's helper Point of View (POV) through most of it. Since it is written in third person, this isn't really a problem.
This is also a novel similar to Aksinya. In Aksinya, there is a theme and a plot climax. There is a similar theme and plot climax in Warrior of Light. Where I'm going is this, every novel is unique (we hope), but the resolution of the climax is a crucial part that can be approached in many different ways. The climax can't just happen--it must be a build-up though the entire novel. In Warrior of Light, the plot climax is the rescue of Sveta and Klava's parents. The buildup begins before this novel, but grows from the beginning. The revelation of the characters and the mystery behind the characters is a constant part of the novel. There are secrets on secrets that the characters must discover and the reader gets to experience them all. The final revelation even comes after the climax. What a fun sequence when you meet your parents after more than ten years and you have your boyfriend along.
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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