Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 786, The Climax

5 June 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 786, The Climax

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 started writing my 28^th novel, working title Red Sonja. 

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.  Since I’m writing a new novel, we need a new theme statement.  Here is an initial cut.

 

Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns about freedom, and is redeemed.

 

I can’t imagine how a Soviet spy could come to the USA, see the freedom and luxuries of the place and remain a Soviet spy.  The one with families or hostages back in the USSR, those I understand.  The lives of their families and friends were more important than their freedom.  But for those who had no family or friends of note in the USSR—what about them.  I can imagine that the planners and the spy handlers didn’t fully understand the circumstances and experiences a spy would have in the USA.  This is what I want to fully capture in my novel about Red Sonja. 

 

Red Sonja is an orphan fully trained with a Midwest accent in English to be a Soviet spy.  She is trained in everything the Soviets can imagine about the USA, but they don’t know everything.  Her experiences are very different from her expectations.  She expects a lecherous pilot boss.  He is nice and goes to church on Sundays.  She expects the wealthy and the impoverished, she sees mostly wealth and little poverty.  She sees people with great freedom and plenty of food.  As she tries to continue her mission, she wonders if she is doing the right thing. 

 

Red Sonja was trained as an engineer and a spy.  An engineer so she can understand the secrets she is supposed to steal.  A spy to steal them.  She is also a pilot in her own right.  She wasn’t the best engineer or the best pilot, but she was a great spy.  The irony is that she sees in the USA what she might have been.  In the USA she could have been an engineer.  She could have been a pilot.  In the USSR, these are merely dreams they fill the people with.  The reality is that only party members can be pilots or engineers.  She was only fit to be a spy and being a Soviet spy is no fun at all.

 

This experience and life is what I want to show in this novel.  The beauty of the USA in the eyes of a Soviet spy and her attempt to escape.  Can you see the potential climaxes?   

     

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