Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 795, Climax Examples, The Fox’s Honor

14 June 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 795, Climax Examples, The Fox’s 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 Fox’s Honor.  The Fox’s Honor is a science fiction novel about the Emperor’s Fox and head of intelligence, Prince Devon Rathenberg.  Devon is in love with the daughter of the least Duke in the Emperor, Tamar Falkeep.  He would never be allowed to marry the girl so he plans to tell her his love the night he is supposed to die.  The problem is that Devon doesn’t die.  Tamar saves him.  Now, he is in a pickle.  Devon Rathenberg was supposed to intentionally lose a duel and his life to cause a specific incident that would reveal the Emperor’s enemies in the government.  Devon’s death causes an insurrection—the same insurrection that costs the Emperor his life and Lyral Neuterra hers. 

 

Devon Rathenberg’s telic flaw is that he has lost his honor.  Additionally, he has aligned himself with a woman he isn’t supposed to marry or love legitimately.  He also has an internal telic flaw that he blames himself for the current condition of the Empire.  The expected climax is that Devon will get revenge and retrieve his honor.  The reader might also guess that he must resolve the Tamar problem and the Empire’s problem.  This is the unexpected resolution.  I won’t tell you what it is. 

 

The action in the climax should be obvious—at least I’ll tell you he should fight a duel just like the one that precipitated his problems.  The how and the where are also unexpected.  Further, you might get that this novel has more than one climax—an external telic flaw climax and an internal telic flaw climax.  It does.  I have to say, this novel is fun and unique.  I’d never read a novel with this type of premise before.  My next published novel is A Season of 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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