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.
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 consuming, thinking, and producing.
Look at the three means to invoke creativity. I was describing an entirely new novel. To build the creativity in it (and the source of the creativity) comes out of history, technology (science), and logic. The basic idea is an old one--werewolf, shape-shifter, witch, you get it. I want to take the shape-shifter idea (it fits into my motif) from the past and make some changes to it. First, my shape-shifter will be a woman. Second, she will be a shape-shifter due to her own magical skills and background--no, she wasn't bitten by a werewolf. No werewolves in this novel. She will be able to change into a cat under duress. I also want her to be an abused character and one who isn't educated or supper bright. As one of her keepers will say about her: she's a brilliant cat, but a stupid human. The point is that she will realize her own shortcomings. She will be a person who has always had those short comings thrown in her face, but she understands that she isn't supper bright. I haven't tackled this kid of character before. Most people think they are super smart. Super smart people, know they are and do something with it--they don't go around telling you how smart they are. They don't have anything to prove.
My shape shifter will be slightly slow, pitiful, nice, dangerous, self-sufficient, desiring help, but not knowing how to ask. This in itself produces enormous creativity for me. I can imagine already many of the situations I will set up in the novel. The circumstances are enormous. The opportunities for misunderstanding, for shallow and large insults, for mistakes, for problems. Can you imagine the cat girl wanting to make tea for the first time. Can you imagine when she is called stupid by someone. Can you imagine when she first begins to speak and open up. Can you see her seeking help but without the vocabulary or the words or the mind to express it. I will not make her a moronic character, but like many people today who want more from life but need some help and direction. She will be a hard worker who wants something important to do.
More tomorrow.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
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, creative, idea
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