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 entertainment (and excitement) should start with the first sentence and paragraph and grow to envelope the first scene. Here is the first paragraph from Escape (working title).
V10+S10537 Rebecka trudged home alone from the Development Center. She took the shortcut across the headlands instead of the main road—that way she wouldn’t have to see the pictures of the supreme leader or read the current slogans posted along the way. She was a sensitivity level ten plus for visual and a sensitivity level ten for smell. The colors of the posters always upset her and the smell of the processing facility made her nauseous. Usually Racheal, Robin, and Ruth walked home with her this way, but they had not been released from their shift right away and Rebecka was hungry plus her head hurt. She always finished her quota early and usually, Robin released her from their shift on time.
Description, description, description--that is the beginning of any novel (scene setting). Notice, there is little scene setting and lots of character description. The little scene setting is hidden in the narrative--the posters and the supreme leader--not to mention the processing facility. This is a first cut for the first paragraph--it could be stronger, but the point is to draw you into the story. Would this make you publish my novel? Would this make you want to read it? This is the question you must as yourself. Like I said, this is a first cut--I haven't been through the novel twice--I haven't finished it. Already, however, I'm thinking--how can I make it marketable as a novel.
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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