Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 373, Scenes Developing Tension in the Rising Action

18 April 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 373, Scenes Developing Tension in the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More 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 shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've just started on the next major run-through of my novel, Escape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Short digression:  I'm writing from Melbourne Australia on another around the world tour. 

Short of turning each scene into a mini-short story, I'm not sure the best way to help design entertainment into a scene.  Here's how I approach scene development.  First, I have the input of the scene from the output of the previous scene.  Next, I develop the output of the scene.

For example, the initial scene of Escape has an output of "Scott goes with Reb."  The input for the next scene is "Scott goes with Reb."  Pretty easy.  Next, where should the second scene end?  I decided the event should be--they go to bed--that is, they go to sleep.  I now need to fill the portion from "Scott goes with Reb" to "They go to sleep" with entertainment.  A part of me asks, how could this not be entertaining?  We are in an entirely new environment that is unlike anywhere in the real or imagined world.  The land of Freedom is a horrible place, and I will show it to you through the eyes of Scott.  The events between "Scott goes with Reb" and "They go to sleep" are filled with: they sneak back into the community.  They bathe (necessary to hide Scott's scent).  They get clothing (necessary to hide Scott).  They eat (necessary to survive).  They go to Reb's room.  They have a conversation about Freedom and escape.

Each of these incidents have their own piece of entertainment and excitement.  For example, the citizens of Freedom bathe and get their clothing issue in the same place.  The bathing is communal.  Reb thinks nothing of it.  Scott is uncomfortable.  Part of cleaning, for Reb, includes decontamination for scent.  They must be nude for it to work, and they need to go into to the device together.  Nudity, in Freedom, is nothing to Reb--for Scott it is uncomfortable.  Likewise, the meals are all synthetic food and drugs.  The drugs are a euphoric with many other properties to help control the Citizens.  Each incident in the scene is exciting and entertaining.  Each part is new to Scott and to the reader.  Each part increases the entertainment of the scene.

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  

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