Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 798, Climax Examples, Sister of Darkness

17 June 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 798, Climax Examples, Sister of Darkness

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.  You can’t read these novels yet, but it’s worth writing about the process of developing the climax for them.  I have two contracted novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness.  These are supposed to be published in a three-in-one and individually.  The economy has delayed their publication.  I’ll write about Sister of Darkness.

 

At the end of Sister of Light, the world is on the cusp of World War Two.  Just before the invasion of France, French and British special forces are assigned to help protect Norway from the Germans.  Paul Bolang goes with his troops to Norway.  When Germany invades France, Leora and her children are rescued from capture and sent to England.  Paul is reunited with his family, but their eldest daughter, Lumière, is captured by servants of the Goddess of Darkness and brought to Germany to be trained as a Goddess of Darkness.  There is much more to all this, but I want to get to the climax ideas.  The obvious historical climax is the defeat of Germany.  The expected climax for the novel is the recovery of Lumière.  There is and should be an unexpected resolution.  Since this is an historical novel, the unexpected resolution can’t be that Germany is not defeated.

 

Paul and Leora team with Major Bruce Lyons to infiltrate Vichy France and eventually Hitler’s headquarters.  They are moles within the military sending information to the Allies.  Leora is searching for Lumière.  The only problem is that to rescue Lumière might mean the end of their efforts to undercut Hitler and pass information to the Allies.  Leora is the protagonist in this novel.  Her external telic flaw is the loss of her daughter.  Her internal telic flaw is her powerlessness and duty.  The resolution must resolve the telic flaws while being unexpected and expected and match with the historical climax. 

 

Additionally, there must be action.  I guarantee you action.     

 

My next as yet uncontracted novel is Shadow of Darkness.           

     

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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