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 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.
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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.
One of my blog readers posed these questions. I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.
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).
Moving on to 2. 2. Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
An author develops a character first and then reveals the character through the plot. Plot revelation is what it is all about. We do not reveal characters by telling. First develop, then reveal.
Appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, and actions are means of character revelation. I really like this list--let's look at each piece.
Actions define a character. Words are actions. Here is an example from the newest novel I'm writing. Essie is the Aos Si. She is also the goddess (guardian) of the fae. The fae don't like being ruled by a creature less beautiful, refined, and intelligent than they:
Essie’s
voice turned slightly dangerous, “Only a my lady. You already knelt to me. Where are your manners, Pryderi fab Pwyll?”
Pryderi
stuttered, “Yes, your majesty.” He put
out his hand, “Your majesty, you will only be able to rule as long as the White
Lady gives you leave…”
“I
was made to hold and protect all of you.
The Dagda made me for this. Do
you not understand this?”
“The
world is different now, your majesty.”
“I
realize this, perhaps more than you do. I know you hate me because you are all
beautiful and intelligent, and I am slow and, to your eyes, ugly. I am the forest and the vales. I am the meadows and the hills. I have found a place. I am sworn to it. It is best that you know your place, Pryderi.” She raised her voice, “Do you all hear me Tylwyth Teg. I am your sovereign. I rule under the hand of the Dagda.”
Pryderi
seemed taken aback. The fae all called
out, “Under the Dagda.”
“Yes
under the Dagda. Did you not see the
Hagios Pneuma and hear the voices of the angels? I will forgive you the past as long as you
obey me in the future.”
Pryderi
took a deep breath, “Then if the White Lady makes demands on us, what shall we
answer?”
Essie
nodded, no obeisance, “I answer to the Dagda.
You will answer to me. If the
White Lady asks, this should be your answer.”
Pryderi
didn’t look very comfortable, “Yes, your majesty.”
“Now,
I will dine with you and bless you.
Bring me my just repast and show me to my place.”
Pryderi
led Essie to a knoll near the lake. It
was the highest place in the vale. The
grass was the greenest. Cigfa and Rhiannon
placed translucent cloaks on the ground.
Manawyadan and Pryderi
brought platters of meat, a chalice of milk, and a woven plate of cheese to
her. They sat below her and served
her. The male fae who held the sleeping
Claire sat behind Essie. As the sun
rose, Essie dined with them. When the
banquet ended, Essie began to sing again.
It was another ancient song of the Tylwyth Teg. Sighs rose around
her. Cigfa and Rhiannon lay on
the ground their eyes closed, and their pointed ears pitched toward her.
At
the end of the song, Essie up out her hands, “I will speak a blessing on you my
children, of the Tylwyth Teg. I will also grant any who wish a blessing
from my hands—a blessing from the Dagda.”
Cigfa
and Rhiannon’s eyes glistened. With
halting movements, they slowly came to their knees. Cigfa was first, “I beg a pardon from you,
Aos Si.” She whispered to Essie so only
her ears could hear. Essie placed her
hand on Cigfa’s golden hair. Cifga
grimaced, but bore the touch. A bright
light blossomed at Essie’s touch. Cifga
smiled and bowed, then backed away.
Rhiannon came next and after her Manawyadan. Essie heard their
petitions, touched the tops of their heads, and they bowed and backed away from
her. They all came then. All of the Tylwyth Teg. Finally as the sun came to near its zenith, Pryderi
fab Pwyll came on his knees to her. His
whispered request was simple, “To lead the Tylwyth Teg properly and honorably.”
Essie granted his request and whispered
back, “You did not lead, Pryderi fab Pwyll, but the first shall be last
and the last first.” She smiled at him,
and Pryderi fab Pwyll smiled back, but not directly in her eyes, “Yes, your
majesty.”
Essie
stood, “I must return to my place. You
will attend, will you not?”
Pryderi
fab Pwyll bowed deeply.
While
he bowed, Essie took the crown from her head and placed it back on Pryderi’s. She put out her arms. Cigfa
and Rhiannon moved to either side and untied and unbraided her hair. They untied and grasped her gown. Essie called out, “Bring the child back to
the place you found her. I will follow
and I will watch both to guard and to guide.
I will not embarrass you on your return, but I will be with you. I will return when you need me and for the
great festivals. Watch for me.”
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
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
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