Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 604, more different Examples of Tone Q and A

6 December 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 604, more different Examples of Tone Q and A

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 Escape from Freedom.  Escape is my 25th 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'm on my first editing run-through of 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.  Historical 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 - how tone is created through diction, rhythm, sentence construction, sound effects, images created by similes, syntax/re-arrangement of words in sentence, the inflections of the silent or spoken voice, etc.

14.  Mannerism suggested 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 13. 13.  Tone - how tone is created through diction, rhythm, sentence construction, sound effects, images created by similes, syntax/re-arrangement of words in sentence, the inflections of the silent or spoken voice, etc.

I'm writing from Florida--thought you should know.

If tone is the feel of the writing, the author must start first with what tone he wants to convey. 

Aksinya is a great example of tone in a novel.  The novel moves from horror and murder to blissful elegance and high society.  The tone of the scenes range from love to hate and from great happiness to despair.  The peaks of human emotion and human suffering are found in Aksinya—the tone of the novel must therefore fit the scenes.  Here is a latter scene.  Can you guess the tone?

        The Lady, now Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna hobbled toward the outhouse just behind the family quarters.  She originally pulled the chamber pot out from under her bed, but she realized there was no one to empty it anymore.  Disposing of human bodies seemed fitting for the demon—disposing of her own waste was unimaginable to her.  Her legs were improving, but they were still bruised.  She used her staff.  It was a long knurled piece of yew.  It was unusual because yew usually grew straight.  She prepared it herself for the work she found in her books.  It was a sufficient tool for that work and for this.  She still wore her nightgown.  It was frilly and cotton, but not too thin.  It was insufficient for the cold house and completely inappropriate for a trek to the outhouse.  Cloaks stayed on the wall just outside the door into the partially enclosed walkway that led to the outhouse, but she didn’t have the energy or the time to don one.  She was in such a hurry, she hadn’t put on her shoes and the stone floor was freezing. 

Aksinya was shivering, and she almost reached the outhouse when she heard the door open and shut behind her.  Aksinya whirled around and lost her balance.  Just before she fell, a black shadow rushed from the door to her.  At the last moment, she recognized Asmodeus as he caught her.  But it was too late.  She couldn’t hold it any more.  She sat in his hot, black arms in a now sodden nightgown.  She tired to stand and couldn’t.  She tried to push him away but couldn’t.  Finally, in frustration, she cried, “Let go of me.  Look what you made me do.”

“I have done your bidding, mistress.  What you do you wish now?”

“I wanted to use the outhouse, but now there is no need.”

“Humanity is disgusting.  Well, there is nothing else to do.”

In spite of her protests, he picked her up and carried her back to her room.  When he arrived he asked, “Do you wish me to help you with your clothing?”

“Prepare me a bath.”

“You are freezing.”

“Prepare me a bath.”

“You are an idiot.”  The demon yanked the wet nightgown over her head and wrapped a blanket around her.

Aksinya blushed, “Don’t ever do that again.”

“I don’t intend to, but I can’t let harm come to you.  You are making things extremely difficult for me.”

“And you for me.”

“Wait here, and I will prepare your bath.  I never expected to become a domestic servant.”

“You wouldn’t if you had come sooner.”

“If you had called me sooner, Countess, for that is what you now are.  All this misery is your doing and not mine.”

The demon entered the bathroom and Aksinya glared at him the entire time.  After a while, he came back out and stepped to her side.  Aksinya moved away from him, “Don’t touch me.  Get my staff.”

Asmodeus returned with it.  Aksinya still glared at him, “Can you heal my injuries?  The ones you caused?”

“I can’t heal.  Only that guy can do that.”

“Magic can heal.”

Asmodeus smiled, “Perhaps you should try that then.”

Aksinya levered herself up and headed for the bath.  Before she took a few steps, she had lost the blanket.  She ignored that and continued into the bath.  Inside, she closed and locked the door.  She just ignored the door on the other side of the room.  She didn’t have the strength to hobble over to it and lock it.  

Here, the tone is embarrassment and human frailty.  This is one of the themes in the novel.  Right now, I want you to get the feel of tone—later we will look at the how of the tone.              

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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