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.
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.
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| Cover Proposal |
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 Wichita Kansas back from the world tour.
If you have a scene input (have to) and you have a scene output (what you develop to further the plot and theme), then you are ready to write. Write the scene setting. Really how hard can that be. All you have to do is imagine the beginning of the scene in your mind. I recommend writing a complete scene setting even if it is the same as the last scene (it usually shouldn't be).
If you happen to have a scene in the same location, the time will be different or something will have changed. You can describe the morning light or the evening twilight etc. Writing the setting of the scene and the setting of the characters will begin the creative process, because the next step is envisioning the rest of the scene--we'll get to that. For now, just set the scene and the characters in the scene.
When I say set the scene--describe the place, time, lighting, smells, sounds, feel, textures--describe everything the reader can see. Describe the characters, their clothing, their hair. Let the reader see the place and the people in the place. You don't have to go overboard. 100 to 300 words per place and about 300 words per major character, 100 words per minor character are all that is necessary. Once you have the scene setting, you can move to the next and most difficult step.
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
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release
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