Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 403, more Personal Imagination Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

18 May 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 403, more Personal Imagination Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing 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. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires true study and true reading. 

Let's look a little more at imagination before we move to technology.  You do realize we are treading on the edges of intellectual extrapolation (logic).  The use of imagination is a reflection of logic and intellect.  That doesn't mean everything out of imagination is logical, but to use it in a novel--it must be.  We'll get to this in more depth later, but unless it is logical (or can be made to seem logical through the writing), it can't be used as a basis for novel writing or stories.  Imagination isn't the thinking of thoughts outside of reason--imagination is the thinking of new or unique thoughts that make sense. 

You can write all kinds of nonsense you want, but if it doesn't make sense, no one will read it.  If it isn't entertaining or exciting (understandable), it isn't worth reading.  Imagination is harnessing thoughts and reason not the thinking of thoughts that can't be understood by others.  And so we get back to the basis for the imagination.  Imagination isn't discovered by the stupid and the unlearned.  Imagination is found by harnessing intellect and knowledge. The proof lies in the imagination of the young--it isn't very imaginative or interesting.  It is a great beginning and should be nurtured--just like the art and intellect of the young.  They aren't going to get anywhere without intensive study and use of their intellect--neither will you.     

This is the power of imagination coupled to reading and study.  I'll look at technology next.      

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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