Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 750, Sorcha

30 April 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 750, Sorcha

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.

     4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage of the novel.

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, proposed title, Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

I just started writing my 27^th novel, working title, Claire, potential title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse.  This might need some tweaking.  The theme statement is: Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.  

Here is the cover proposal for Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si.  Essie is my 26th 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 editing many of my novels using comments from my primary reader.  I finished my 27^th novel, working title Claire.  I’m working on marketing materials.

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 finished answering the questions on writing from one of my blog readers.  Where we will go now is into the depths of novel development, writing, and marketing.  I’ll use my newest novel, Sorcha as an example.  Let’s start at the very beginning—that unfortunately makes me think of The Sound of Music.  A very good place to start—we will start with A, B, C, so to speak.

 

How to begin a novel.  Number one thought, we need an entertaining idea.  I usually encapsulate such an idea with a theme statement.  Here’s the theme statement from Sorcha.

 

Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.

 

I’m reusing characters and organizations in this theme statement.  I’ve already developed many of the ideas before in my novels, so I can just grab them off the shelf, so to speak.  I have had Sorcha Davis in two previous novels.  She was a seven year old precocious child in Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si.  In Valeska: Enchantment and the Vampire, she was a nineteen year old college girl.  She was portrayed in Valeska as infatuated with an older Agent of the Organization. 

 

Sorcha is the protagonist’s helper in this novel.  This should be obvious from the theme statement.  At the time of this novel, Sorcha is about thirty.  Her character is not fully developed for this novel because ten years has passed from the last novel, but we have many of the bits and piece of a character.  All we need to do is fill out the in between.  Most of this is completely unknown to the reader and will not be revealed in the novel. This novel isn’t about Sorcha, but about Shiggy.  I have a lot of information and entertaining ideas to use about Sorcha.  The infatuation angle is a great place to start.  The fact that she was a precocious child and an irritating adult build and fill out her personality.  She is very bright and independent.  She is also cruel and demanding.  Sorcha leads a branch of Stela in the Organization.  She is an agent in British intelligence.  If you haven’t figured it out yet—the first step is developing the characters.  Sorcha was the first one up.  I’ll tell you more about her and her development next.

 

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 749, still more Conclusions, My Distinct Manner of Writing Q and A

29 April 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 749, still more Conclusions, My Distinct Manner of Writing 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.

     4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage of the novel.

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, proposed title, Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

I just started writing my 27^th novel, working title, Claire, potential title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse.  This might need some tweaking.  The theme statement is something like this: Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.  

Here is the cover proposal for Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si.  Essie is my 26th 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 editing many of my novels using comments from my primary reader.  I finished editing Children of Light and Darkness and am now writing on my 27^th novel, working title Claire.

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)

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-sequiturs, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).

Moving on to 16. 16. Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequiturs, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).

Always remember, the point of novel writing is to entertain.  The way to develop a manner of writing and style is through practice, feedback, and understanding. I’ll discuss understanding next.

 

When I started writing novels, I had many good examples and some practice.  What I didn’t have was lots of practice or any real understanding of how to construct a novel or a scene.  There’s much more to understand, but just the information I leave in the preamble to this daily blog is more than I had in my writer’s mind or training.  I have to say I did learn about the parts of a novel from my high school English teacher, Mr. James Martin—except, and this is a huge exception.  I don’t remember any discussion of the importance of the initial scene.  I’d have to look back at my notes, but I think the basic English studies outline of any regular novel is this:

 

1. Rising action

2. Climax

3.  Falling action

 

Basic English studies focuses on the understanding of writing and the writing of novels themselves.  Authors want to know how to write.  Thus, I teach you the fundamentals (plus a bunch of very detailed secrets).  This is understanding. 

 

Look back at my outline for a novel—you know inherently this is the way a novel should be constructed.  If you know this, you have a chance at writing a great novel.  Even if you can’t write a great novel, you know what should go into one.  This is my point—it isn’t enough to identify how a novel is constructed, what the author needs to know is how to construct a novel.  If I tell you, you need an entertaining and exciting initial scene, and you write one—you are on your way to writing a good novel.  I wish I knew this from the start.  I might have written some of my published novels a little differently. 

 

I’ve already confessed and explained the mistakes I made—my novels still were published.  They are fun and exciting novels.  They just could have been better, but so is life.  As authors we progress—unless we are the very very few who write one bestseller and give up writing forever after that.  How that could be, I don’t know.  I think such a person either didn’t really write their “great” novel or they need a bop on the back of the head.  So troublesome.  An author is supposed to love to write.  If you don’t, please don’t try.  Thank you.

 

Back to understanding.  This is what I do for you and for myself.  As I analyze my writing and others’ writing for the purpose of understanding, I become a better author.  If you read this blog, I’m trying to pass some knowledge to know about what I’ve learned over the years.  Many times I know my ruminations might not be as clear or well developed as you or I would like, but much of this is trying to put into words very difficult ideas and concepts.  Concepts like manner and style or about how to write a scene or conversation.  I suspect many experienced writers would balk at trying to explain these ideas.  They are difficult for me, and I’m used to explaining hard ideas and concepts.       

 

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 748, more Conclusions, My Distinct Manner of Writing Q and A

28 April 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 748, more Conclusions, My Distinct Manner of Writing 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.

     4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage of the novel.

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, proposed title, Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

I just started writing my 27^th novel, working title, Claire, potential title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse.  This might need some tweaking.  The theme statement is something like this: Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.  

Here is the cover proposal for Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si.  Essie is my 26th 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 editing many of my novels using comments from my primary reader.  I finished editing Children of Light and Darkness and am now writing on my 27^th novel, working title Claire.

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)

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-sequiturs, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).

Moving on to 16. 16. Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequiturs, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).

The road of the author is one of great effort and love.  The continuing road of the author is great effort and love. This is my simple point about writing.  To become an accomplished writer, you need to write.  I have read some very great writing both in print and not in print.  I know there are people out there who’s writing skills are not recognized, but I also know—if you develop your skills to a certain level, you will most likely be acknowledged and published.  There is also this pesky thing about markets—that can be a real problem.

 

Acknowledged is required before published.  Part of the problem today is the ease of publication and the lack of professional access.  There are so many people writing novels out there, the market is saturated.  Many, if not most don’t have the skills or the experience to write well.  There is nothing wrong with fighting for your works.  This is a natural skill the writer needs—the skill of presenting her works to publishers.  The problem is the writer doesn’t usually get back much feedback. 

 

Most writers get echo chamber feedback.  Their readers are so worried about the writer’s feelings, they don’t give good feedback—or they mistake feedback for editing.  I’d rather get feedback than any editing.  If someone doesn’t like my writing, that is as important as those who do.  The real problem is why they don’t like the writing.  If they say, I didn’t like it—you can’t do much with that.  On the other hand, if they say, I didn’t like it because… That is wonderful.  I can do something with that—I can revise and reflect.

 

Most writers aren’t looking for feedback—they want echo chamber.  I’m looking for truth.  I once had someone read a book that is now in publication, their response—I don’t like that kind of literature.  That’s cool too, but obviously the wrong person to enjoy the writing.  I have traded feedback and editing with other authors with mixed experiences.  I want to provide feedback.  Many want editing.  I want feedback—any editing is just extra topping on the cake.

 

What’s the point?  Manner of writing and style come out of experience.  Experience is developed by writing and feedback.  The feedback isn’t editing—feedback is when a person gives you a response about your writing that leads to you making changes in the writing.  Not editorial changes like grammar or spelling but rather changes in plot, character, or theme.  Even a person who doesn’t like your type or theme of literature can provide constructive feedback—like, I didn’t like your protagonist because...  I’ve provided that kind of feedback before.  I want to like the protagonist.  I don’t need the protagonist to always be romantic or pathos building, but I’d like one who seems fun or interesting.  Always remember, the point of novel writing is to entertain.  The way to develop a manner of writing and style is through practice, feedback, and understanding. I’ll discuss understanding next…  

 

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