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 have developed the climax of my newest novel enough to begin writing it. At the same time, I have begun writing notes for another novel. I should write that I am in Bangkok Thailand at this moment on a round the world flying tour. If I had thought about it, I would have written about each place I stopped during each flight. I didn't. So goes it.
During the longer stops, I was able to write on my novel Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer. I don't know if this title will stand, but it matches other similar titles. I also got a great idea for a try dystopian novel--maybe my publisher will push it to the front of the pack.
I have been writing about the climax of a novel and about how I look at and write a climax. In general, I plan for the climax as part of the theme development, but for the latest novel I am writing, I didn't develop the theme sufficiently to provide a climax as part of it. I've been writing to the climax of the novel. I don't suggest this as a good method for any writer, but it has provided a great means to write about a climax.
In my current novel, I can now write the theme as: Lilly a computer genius meets Dane at Pacific Lutheran University; she becomes the kami of a Japanese shrine and he her Kannushi--they are confronted by other Japanese kami and succeed.
The climax is obviously that they are confronted by other kami (gods) and succeed against them. This is about as good as it gets. Note the theme statement includes everything that is important. You can guess that the initial scene is their meeting. The climax must be some kind of confrontation with a Japanese deity. I should have known this from the beginning, but sometimes a little writing helps.
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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