Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 422, Supernatural Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

6 June 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 422, Supernatural 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 consuming, thinking, and producing. 

For the purpose of explaining about logic and creativity, I'll explain in detail about the development of a logical framework for sorcery and magic.  But first, I spotted an excellent and simple example of historical and technological extrapolation used in creativity.  Gail Carriger is the author of steampunk novels.  I just started reading her Parasol Protectorate novels.  She writes in a tongue in cheek style with a little bodice ripping and tells you too much in third person, but the style is somewhat Victorian.  She describes well and her scenes are reasonably put together.  She is very popular in her genre, and I wish her great success.  What sets her apart and provides a fantastic example is her extrapolated idea of a preternatural.  In her books a Vampire, Werewolf, and Ghost are real creatures who exist as undead because their original humans had great amounts of soul.  A human without a soul is a preternatural.  A preternatural has the power to make a vampire, werewolf, or ghost return to their predead state--they are an anti-supernatural.  The idea is very compelling and original--and it is a direct extrapolation of a classic supernatural theme. 

I think Ms. Carriger has invented a new type of supernatural (preternatural) character.  It may be jut a flash in the pan, or the idea might have wings--in any case, it is a wonderful extrapolation of history and technology.  It is an extrapolation of technology because the world of Ms. Carriger is steampunk and the idea of a preternatural comes out of a steampunk science fiction idea--therefore, technology.  If you asked Ms. Carriger how she came about her idea, I suspect she might tell you she was thinking about he supernatural and had a great idea for a new type of supernatural character.  I'm certain she used logic to come up with her wonderful new character.

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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