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.
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. 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. Next example the first paragraph from, Shadow of Darkness:
Lumière and Oba crept soundlessly through the night hewn streets. All around them, the clatter of machinegun fire and the whistling roar of artillery shells became muffled by darkness and distance. They chose the blackest shadows and the most isolated paths. Oba guided them. His nose and eyes seemed to unerringly sense the presence of soldiers.
Shadow of Darkness is a yet unpublished and uncontracted novel in the Ancient Light series. It is the novel that follows Sister of Darkness.
This first paragraph starts with action and scene setting. The action wraps into the scene setting. It also introduces two characters. These are the protagonist and the protagonist's helper. It has mystery and introduces mystery. Immediately a reader or publisher will want to know more. The immediate question is who are these people. Why are they in a war zone. That is going on. Why are they sneaking. Why does Oba guide them--how can he use his eyes an nose to sense soldiers--and why sense soldiers.
This is, in my mind a perfect first paragraph. It is capped by a perfect first scene. In the first scene, Lumière uses unusual powers and is wounded. She is separated from Oba. We find she looses her memory and is near death. This is the kind of beginning you want for a novel--filled with excitement, mystery, and energy.
This is, in my mind a perfect first paragraph. It is capped by a perfect first scene. In the first scene, Lumière uses unusual powers and is wounded. She is separated from Oba. We find she looses her memory and is near death. This is the kind of beginning you want for a novel--filled with excitement, mystery, and energy.
More tomorrow.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.ancientlight.com/
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.ancientlight.com/
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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