Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 313, more Paragraphs Initial Scene

17 February 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 313, more Paragraphs Initial Scene

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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. 

Cover Propsal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene.  I'm writing about the initial scene of my newest novel, "Escape."  Escape is the working title.  I'll decide on the proposed title when I finish the novel.  I'm at the eight chapter right now.  That means I've written about 160 pages.

The entertainment (and excitement) should start with the first sentence and paragraph and grow to envelope the first scene.  Let's compare the excitement and entertainment I'm recommending with some of my published novels.  As I grew as a writer, my awareness of the importance of the first paragraph grew.  It's one thing to be taught or realize and another to implement.  So let's look at some of my other novels.  For example, The Second Mission:

Time stopped. For a single drawn-out heartbeat, nothing moved, and in the whole world there was no sound. Like thin paint running out of an open bucket, all the color drained from the earth. Only a black and white landscape and the silence remained. Then, all at once, the world vibrated, exploded, screamed, blazed—and turned upside down.

Okay, here is implied action with scene setting.  It's kind of artsy and filled with a little wonder and mystery.  There are no characters or character introduction or description.  Still that's okay for this beginning and sentence.  Unfortunately, without characters (yet) you can't build pathos--you can't appeal to the reader's humanity, and you can't get them interested in a person.

However, with this paragraph there shouldn't be a problem.  I'm happy with it because it has enough action, excitement, and mystery to get a reader to want to read further.  It is also my older style of writing.  I haven't grown out of my early style as much as I've focused that style from description to conversation and character interaction.  When I first started writing, it was all about description and artful design of the words.  Now, I still work for artful design of the words, but with more focus on my characters.  I became a little more direct with my descriptions. 

This novel--and especially this beginning, is indicative of my earlier style.  It's nice to note I was properly focused on the initial paragraph and scene.  By the way, you can read all my initial scenes in their entirety on my website for the unpublished and published novels. 

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