Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 775, Designing Characters on the Stage of the Novel in the Initial Scene

25 May 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 775, Designing Characters on the Stage of the Novel in the Initial Scene

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)

 

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.

 

Let’s be very specific about setting and description in the initial scene (and all scenes).  Set the stage of the novel.  Here is a repeat of rule for writing number 4 (listed above).

 

4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

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

 

I have an idea for a new novel.  I’m still whirling the idea around in my brain, but the basic concept is a Russian spy at Edwards AFB during the height of the cold war during the X-15 era.  I’m working on this idea.  I want the spy to be my protagonist.  Her covert name is Red Sonja.  I’m still thinking about her American name, but I’m contemplating Dorothy Smith.  Her Russian name will be Sonja something.  In other words, I am beginning to develop a new protagonist character.

 

I start with a concept and put a name to it.  From my viewpoint, her telic flaw is that she is a Russian spy in the USA.  This is a delicious irony.  Can you imagine a Russian spy in the USA?  She would have to experience all the wonderful things and freedoms of America and slowly begin to grasp the differences between the USA and the Soviet.  Sure, she’s bought in, but how can you continue to be bought into an idea that is shown to be completely false by everything around you. 

 

I’m still contemplating how crazy this might make you.  The climax is kind of obvious.  She would accept the ideas of the goodness of the USA, but how can she recover?  If she confesses, she will be incarcerated. If she is caught, she would be incarcerated or sent back to the USSR.  How terrible for a person who is bought in to an idea of freedom. 

 

This is my signature idea or concept.  I like to take a character and contrast their life and existence with another culture.  I can’t imagine a more powerful concept than the contrast between capitalism and communism.  There is so much to write about and so much to delve into intellectually, I can barely wait.  I want to start the novel right away.  I’m currently developing the protagonist and designing how her life and training was in the USSR.  I know something about this although it was kept from the American people.  I suspect Russia trains their spies the same way now.  Perhaps many nations do.  The first step is the development of the protagonist, but at the same time, I’m imagining the initial scene and the plot development.       

 

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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