Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 794, Climax Examples, The End of Honor

13 June 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 794, Climax Examples, The End of Honor

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’ll try not to introduce spoilers, but please read my novels and see for yourself these examples.  My next published work is The End of Honor.  The End of Honor is a science fiction novel about a Prince, John-Mark, his fiancée, Princess Lyral Neuterra, and the leadership of the Human Galactic Empire.  In this novel, Prince John-Mark espouses Lyral Neuterra with the hope of founding a new dynasty and power in the Human Galactic Empire.  Unfortunately, his brother murders John-Mark’s father, the Emperor, and has Lyral executed.  A civil war ensues between the different factions in the Empire.  The obvious plot climax is the resolution of this civil war.  You might wonder how that could be resolved.  If you think of the protagonist’s telic flaw, it’s not so difficult.

 

John’s external telic flaw is that his fiancée is dead.  This can’t be fixed—the resolution must then be revenge.  The internal telic flaw is that John knows his actions led to Lyral’s death.  He must resolve this in the climax.

 

The climax is expected—revenge and an end to the civil war (for a comedy).  The unexpected part is the means of the resolution or the method of the resolution.  I can assure you, they are not expected.  So, we have the expected climax and the unexpected resolution.  We have the potential resolution of the protagonist’s telic flaw.  Finally, the climax must be action oriented. 

 

This novel is entirely action oriented.  It isn’t that subtle.  The climax is a great space battle.  Does that have enough action for you?  I hope so.  I like to write space battles—I’m good at it, and I assure you, it is scientifically accurate.  My next published novel is The Fox’s Honor.           

     

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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