Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 452, Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

6 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 452, Exercises 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/analysis & '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/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

I don't recommend imitation of good writing.  I do recommend reading and study of good writing.  Instead of imitation, you should accomplish exercises.  The kinds of exercises I have in mind will also provide good development of your writing and will also provide a good source for creativity.

For the younger set: write paragraphs.  Write compete paragraphs with a strong introductory sentence, good intra-connections on the interior, and a strong concluding sentence.  Be imaginative in your paragraphs.  You can take the subjects or the inspiration from a guide or just make them up.  For example, describe scenes from around your area.  Describe the weather.  Describe a room in your house.  Write about your holiday.  Write about a play.  Write about a trip.  Write about going to a movie.  Write a creative paragraph.  The subjects and ideas are endless.  Learn to write a strong paragraph, and you will become a great writer.

For the older set: write scene setting and conversation.  Scene setting is simply taking one or more paragraphs on a time, place, setting, and characters and introducing them all.  For simplicity leave off the characters at first.  Second, write conversations.  Third, develop characters.  Perhaps you should stat with characters first.  If you don't, the conversations and the scene character setting will be poor.

For those who are more experienced: write scenes and write short stories.  The ultimate point is to write.     

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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