Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 849, The Stage of the Novel, more Developing Action on the Future Stage

7 August 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 849, The Stage of the Novel, more Developing Action on the Future Stage

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 finished 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.

 

Let’s go back to the beginning.  I’ll use my newest novel as an example.  It’s a historical novel, and you can see the theme statement just above.  Let’s look at a novel from the standpoint of a stage play.  A novel is not a stage play or a screenplay, but the author should approach some aspects of the novel from this vantage point. 

 

In setting the stage of the novel follow my rules for writing 4a 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.

 

Think about warfare skills.  In the far to near past from about 500 AD to 1920 AD, shooting, riding horses, and sword fighting were the primary skills of the warrior.  Before that, from 2500 BC to 1500 BC, the primary skills were shooting, sword fighting, and chariot riding.  Between 1500 BC to 500 AD, the primary skills were shooting, sword fighting, and running (athletics).  Today, the primary skills of war are, shooting, driving, and running (athletics).

 

What will be the primary skills of future warfare?  If we look at current advance warfare skills, we see flying (an analogue to driving), weapons employment (an analogue to shooting), and a new skill electromagnetic interference (jamming and cyber effects).  The future warrior will be using electronic and mechanical capabilities that are analogues to those used today.

 

Notice that there was a period when driving disappeared before riding appeared.  Without a means of improving and increasing the direct power of the warrior (horses or chariots), the warrior must depend on his own athletic skills and stamina.  In the future, the warrior will have vehicles, aircraft, robots, mechanical enhancements, etc.  We already see the use of robots to increase the skills and power of combat troops. 

 

Could we see a similar effect in sword-like weapons that happened with horses and chariots?  Yes, and not only yes, but it is very likely future warfare will see many inversions.  If you notice, changes in warfare and skills have been changing faster in the modern era.  One of the skills I mentioned was electronic.  At some point electronic skills will be one of the major skillsets for the warrior.  That doesn’t mean other skills won’t be necessary.

 

In aviation ground attack, the major skills for the warrior are flying, weapons employment, and defensive systems skills.  All of these are based on and require some degree of electronic manipulation and skills.  Systems are becoming more and more based on electronics and electronic systems.  What will we see in the future?   

 

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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