Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 454, still more Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

8 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 454, still more 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

Slight digression: I'm writing from Cairo on another world tour.

Another good exercise is the development of a character.  The simple development of a character can result in a novel.  Creativity is easily unleashed with this kind of development.  Additionally, you can study history and historical characters by developing a character.

First, what do they look like?  You can take any of these steps in any order you wish, but I always start with what does  major character look like.  I look for the strange and unusual.  If you are starting with a historical character and you have a picture (or a sculpture) write a description. In any case, write a description of what they look like--this is the first step in scene setting.

Second, what is their name?  For historical characters, this is easy to a degree.  You can also ask, what were they called by their friends (or enemies).  I develop the name for a character by using historical names from a culture.  For example, if I need a name for a major character, I'll look at names from the culture and their meanings and try to match the name to the meaning.  For lessor characters, I'll use names from the historical period.  For family names, I use classical names from the time, place, and culture--additionally, I'll match meanings to the names when needed.

Third, what is their history?  Where were they born?  Where did they go to school?  What were their families and parents like?  What did they study?  What do they like to do?  What is their profession?  These questions are endless.

Fourth, how do they think about the world?  This is the kind of thing you never write directly in any novel or short story.  This is the part that must be conveyed by showing.  Are they evil?  Have them kind a puppy down in the gutter.  Are they good?  Have them spend their last farthing to buy bread for a hungry child.  You get the point.

Try this.  If you develop an interesting enough character, you might have a novel ready to write.  I'll give you an example from my newest novel, Shape.

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic