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 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo ferry pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.
I'll make a slight digression because I'm developing advertising and publisher materials for my newest completed novel, Lilly. Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.
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| Cover Propsal |
The next step is to build the marketing information you will use to present your novel to publishers and to the public. Here is an outline:
Title of Work:
Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer
Author(s) Name:
L. D. Alford
Type: Either Screenplay or Book
Book
Length: Either # of words for books, or # of pages for screenplays
105,300 words
Keywords and Market Focus:
Fiction, Washington State, Tacoma, Spanaway, Seattle, Computer, Pacific Lutheran University, Hacker, goddess, sushi, Redemption, kami, Japan, Shinto, torii, Shrine, engineering, math; will fascinate anyone interested in the spiritual, mystery, and suspense—will appeal particularly to those who enjoy historical mystery and suspense novels.
Genre:
Fiction Suspense
Synopsis: Approximately 500 Words
Concept of the Work: Approximately 250 Words
Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.
None
Other Information: If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.
Reviewer’s quotes. Other Information: If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.
Lilly
is a fun novel filled with mythical creatures and Japanese gods and
goddesses—how Lilly handles becoming a goddess herself is delightful and
suspense-filled.
Dane Vale became the infatuation of a genius math
girl, Lilly who unexpectedly became a Japanese goddess—Lilly’s problems go well
beyond the normal or the spiritual.
Lilly Lin Grant became a kami, a Japanese
goddess—her kannushi, priest, is her boyfriend—their adventures in saving a
Shinto shrine involve every Japanese creature of myth, dragons, and Japanese
gods and goddesses.
First, you need readers. I don't care what kind of writer you are, if you don't have readers, reviewers, and editors, you ain't going anywhere. People who say they write for themselves or who won't share their writing are fooling themselves. The purpose and the only purpose for writing is communication of ideas. If someone else doesn't read it--there is no communication of anything.
How do you get readers and what kind of readers do you want? I want absolutely honest readers. I want the truth about my writing. Without the truth, you will never achieve success as a writer. The old adage, "fight for feedback," is absolutely true. The problem is that you may find all kinds of people who say your writing is great--unless you are published professionally, don't believe them. Feedback is truth and not platitudes because you don't want to hurt someone's feelings. When I do a review for a published author, I make a pretty review for the eyes of the public and a real review about what I liked or didn't like. Most of the time it is about half and half. I think it's funny that some authors are surprised by this--they obviously don't want to hear the truth about their writing--or at least one opinion other than their own.
When you get a publisher, you'll get an editor, but first you start with readers. Prepublication readers.
At this point everything I'm doing with and for this work is about marketing to a publisher and building a website.
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
