Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 451, Imitation Q&A Developing the Rising Action

5 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 451, Imitation Q&A 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 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

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 started writing Shape.

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. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

If imitation is too hard to do, then how do I become a good writer?  Reading and study is a great thing to do.  Unfortunately, writing as an art is too complex to imitate--that is, unless you mean copy as imitation.  For example, artists many times copy other artists artwork as a study of the art--that is to learn the skills to paint.  Writing just doesn't work that way.  Art, painting, for example, does have a set of basic rule the artist follows, but without a camera or a photocopier, any copy of an artwork will not be perfect. 

Writing as an art form is a little different than a painting.  Writing and all the elements of writing follow certain rules.  Some of those rules, like grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are set.  Some rules like grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are elements of style.  I think you can see part of the problem.  An author should seek to write perfectly and at the same time develop a style.  The style should be perfect writing.  The means of developing great writing is to write.  The basis of great writing is reading and study.  In other words, to write well, an author shouldn't seek to imitate, an author should read and study then write.  If correction and feedback are available, the author should seek all he can find.  Next, read and study then write. 

The next question might be, if imitation isn't very effective, then what exercises can I do to improve my writing.

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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