Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 638, Do Form Auxiliary Verb Forms English Syntax/re-arrangement of Words in a Sentence Tools for Developing Tone Q and A

9 January 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 638, Do Form Auxiliary Verb Forms English Syntax/re-arrangement of Words in a Sentence Tools for Developing 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.

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

The first method of developing tone is through scene setting--the second method is through tension and release.  Let’s look at the specific tools used to create tone in tension and release (these can also be used in the scene setting).  I like the list from the question—it is nearly exhaustive:  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.  Why don’t we look at each of these tools?

Syntax/re-arrangement of words in sentence as tools to develop tone.  What makes English so versatile and so difficult as a language are the many verb forms that allow subtle changes in the syntax and meaning of the sentences.  Verb tense is only one part of concept of syntax.  English has more complex forms of verb usage that are sometimes called “helper” verbs.  They are most properly called auxiliary verbs.  Here is a comprehensive list of auxiliary verbs.

 

Auxiliary verb	Meaning contribution	Example
be1	copula (= linking verb)	She is the boss.
be2	progressive aspect	He is sleeping.
be3	passive voice	They were seen.
can1	deontic modality	I can swim.
can2	epistemic modality	Such things can help.
could1	deontic modality	I could swim.
could2	epistemic modality	That could help.
dare	epistemic modality	How dare you!
do	do-support/emphasis	You did not understand.
have1	perfect aspect	They have understood.
may1	deontic modality	May I stay?
may2	epistemic modality	That may take place.
might	epistemic modality	We might give it a try.
must1	deontic modality	You must not mock me.
must2	epistemic modality	It must have rained.
need	deontic modality	You need not water the grass.
ought	deontic modality	You ought to play well.
Shall	deontic modality	You shall not pass.
should1	deontic modality	You should listen.
should2	epistemic modality	That should help.
Will	epistemic modality	We will eat pie.
Would	epistemic modality	Nothing would accomplish that.

 

If you notice we already saw some of the uses of be (is) and have (had).  These auxiliary verbs are used to change the verb tense in English.  They have other uses we will address. 

 

The “do” form of the English verb construction may be the most difficult and unusual among languages.  Most languages don’t have a “do” form at all.  “Do” is a supporting verb that adds emphasis to a sentence.  Usually the “do” form emphasizes the subject or nominative of the sentence.  For example:

I do love you.

Do I love you?

You do run fast.

Do you live around here?

She does sleep well.

Does he work hard?

Plus all the other twelve tenses.

 

I haven’t read or heard anyone complain about the overuse of the “do” form.  This is a very complex and subtle verb form.  It does change the tone by emphasis.  Normal emphasis of an English sentence is on the subject—it comes first.  The “do” form adds to this natural emphasis.  Why is this so important in English that we have a verb form—your guess is as good as mine, but I think it comes historically out of the use of the first person infinitive.

 

In most languages and cultures, it is considered extremely rude and unusual to use the first person infinitive “I am.”  I am is considered either obvious or unnecessary to state in most languages.  In fact, in ancient Hebrew, I am is the name of God—a name that is not to be spoken.  Ancient Greek is similar.  In English, I am is so common in use that we think nothing of it—in English, I am is simply identity.  Because of this, the subject might need the do form to reemphasize the importance of identity in every infinitive case—thus, the do form.

 

Whatever its origin, the do form just gives the writer another means to vary sentences and to develop tone.  The tone development of the do form isn’t very strong, but it exists.  Now, on to other parts of speech. 

 

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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