28 August 2016, Writing Ideas
- New Novel, part 870, Cigars and Scotch, Developing Conversation on the Stage
of the Novel
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 27th 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 28th 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.
All conversations follow a similar
development and cycle of events. If an
author is sensitive to this development and cycle, he can write more natural
sounding (read realistic) conversation. The
cycle of conversation moves like this: greetings, introductions, casual words,
deeper words, ending. Let’s look at the setting
for conversations.
I still need to delve into the how
much a bit—I don’t think my explanation was adequate, but I’m still working on
the thought. Instead, I’ll give you an
example of characters who sat down for a deep chat. This is from my Ancient Light novel Warrior
of Light.
Daniel kept quiet
about most things, but he did get an opportunity to speak to Mr. Bruce Lyons on
the night prior to their departure for America Mr.
Calloway invited Daniel into the study with Bruce Lyons and Daniel’s
father.
Mr. Lyons opened
a tarnished silver cigarette case and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it.
Mr. Calloway filled the men’s glasses with a dram of Scotch. He poured Daniel a small glass of cider. It was real British cider, so Daniel nursed
it as long as he could. It was a sign of
great respect and trust that Mr. Calloway treated him like that, and that
Daniel’s father didn’t say no.
When they all had
their drinks and Mr. Lyons settled with a thin wreath of smoke encircling his
head, James leapt up, “Terry, are you up for a game of billiards?”
“I’d love to have
a go.”
“Bruce, Daniel,
if you will excuse us, we’ll be in the billiards room.”
Daniel was amazed
at his luck. This was the moment he
hoped for since he found the declassified documents in the library. He had written a letter for Mr. Lyons’ eyes
only, Sveta’s suggestion, but that was his last resort. As soon as Mr. Calloway and Mr. Long were out
of the room, Bruce and Daniel leaned toward each other. They both said at almost the same instant,
“Now, we can talk…”
“What’s this?”
Bruce chuckled.
Daniel hadn’t
laughed along with many older people. He
did now.
“Go ahead…” they
both said and laughed again.
Bruce stared at
Daniel, “You have been planning to speak to me.
I can tell.”
Daniel replied in
French, “I have been trying to find a private moment for a while.”
Bruce lapsed into
French, “Your French is excellent. Did
you get it from your mother, Rosalie?”
“Yes. And you?”
Bruce’s eyes
glistened, and his smile widened, “My mother.”
Daniel changed
his speech to German, “Where did you get your German?”
Bruce responded
in perfect German, “From my schooling, in Germany
“Yes, sir.”
“You speak
Russian too. From your father, I
know. But don’t try any on me—I can’t
understand a word of it.” He grinned,
“You didn’t want to corner me to practice your German or your French. I understand you have been using Sveta and
Klava for French and Russian practice. What’s
on your mind?”
“First, Mr.
Lyons, I must inform you I didn’t discover any of this from my father or from
anyone else who might know.”
“Might know
what?”
“Might know about
the organization.”
“The organization
is no secret, Daniel.”
“You are the
director. My information will be
important to you.”
Bruce leaned
closer, “Let’s use French, please. Just
to ensure no untoward, accidental eavesdropping, shall we?”
Daniel fell
easily into French, “I must make this very clear. No one told me these things. I discovered them myself. That’s what makes them so disturbing.”
“Yes, yes it
does.”
“You believe me?”
“I do.”
“Then you need to
know this; the government declassified the wartime information on MI19 along
with the other MIs.”
“I was aware of
that. They did it against my wishes…and
advice.”
“They also
declassified the lists of officers and employees of those organizations.”
“Blast! Pardon me, I knew of that too.”
“Then it should
not come as a surprise to you that I discovered everyone in our neighborhood works
for MI19.”
“For, the
organization, if you please, sir. We
don’t call it MI19 anymore—political reasons.”
“It is also
obvious that MI…the organization absorbed MI2, MI3, MI9, MI11, and MI14.”
“Is it that
obvious?”
“To me, from the
records, yes.”
Bruce sighed,
“Daniel, do you know what the organization does?”
“I gather it
provides language infiltration and support.”
Bruce leaned back
in his chair, “Your research is spot on.
May I ask where you did discover it?”
“From the British
Library.”
Bruce lit another
cigarette, “Who gave you the idea to look?”
“It was all my
own. I was curious about my father’s
work.”
“Are you sure
Sveta and Klava didn’t encourage you?”
Daniel didn’t say
anything.
“You don’t need
to tell me, Daniel. The girls have taken
a liking to you. They are indoctrinating
you—you realize that?”
“No, sir. Indoctrinating me?”
“They are a
dangerous pair. Except that you’ll
likely experience the greatest excitement and fun you’ve ever had around them,
I’d tell you to run away as fast as you can.
Now, I will give you the Uncle speech.”
“The Uncle
speech, sir?”
“Yes, the Uncle
speech. First, you must call me Uncle
Bruce. That is an order.”
Daniel nodded,
“Yes, Uncle Bruce. I am a bit old for
that, sir.”
“Age means
nothing when you are an official member of this household, Uncle Bruce and Aunt
Tilly.”
“Aunt Tilly too?”
“The girls use
those titles, surely you can.”
“Very well.”
“Now, here is the
rest of it. Those girls are like life to
Aunt Tilly.” Bruce cleared his throat,
“And to me. Therefore, I won’t accept
any breaking of their hearts, nor hanky-panky.
Do I make myself clear?”
“I really didn’t
have any romantic inclinations toward them.”
“If you didn’t,
you are a fool, son. They are the most
beautiful young women in England
“I will keep
myself in check, sir.”
“Good. Next, they have chosen you as their friend. You are older and must also be their
protector. They are very capable of
defending and taking care of themselves, but they are also young and like most
girls, fragile. Look after them like a
brother. They might think up some
harebrained scheme. You must keep them
from hurting themselves or others—yes?”
“Yes.”
“Their
grandfather is a very good friend of mine…”
“Colonel Paul
Bolang?”
“Yes, and their
grandmother, Leora Bolang. I have
already sent special instructions to him—about you.”
“About me, sir?”
“Yes. Leora intends to train Sveta and Klava in
some special skills. I don’t know what,
and I don’t care to know. While you are
there, Paul Bolang will teach you some skills.”
Daniel gazed at
Bruce expectantly.
Bruce stared
back, “Isn’t it obvious?”
“I think so, but
I would really like to hear it from you, sir.”
“If you can
progress as well as you have, when you are finished with your schooling, I am
willing to hire you for the organization.
That is, if you want that kind of headache.”
“You mean as an
operative?”
“I mean as an
agent. Now keep your mouth shut and your
nose clean. Finish your schooling. I need agents in German and Russian
particularly. We aren’t at war with the
French right now.”
“I intend to
study Mandarin at the Grey
Coat Hospital
Bruce’s smile
broadened, “I need that skill above all, but you’ll have to be really good at
it.”
“By the way, sir,
did you offer me a job just to keep my mouth shut?”
“No, I offered
you a job because you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and fantastic
language skills. With Sveta and Klava
make sure you keep your head where it belongs.”
“Yes, sir.”
“By the way, Mr.
Long. Just so you know, I did ask Mr.
Calloway to play billiards with your father so we might have this little tête-à-tête.”
“Yes, sir. I did have a question for you.”
“Oh you did, did
you?”
“Yes, sir. I wondered how you received the scar across
your face?”
Bruce nursed his
scotch for a long moment, and Daniel thought he might not answer. The look on Mr. Lyons’ face was not angry,
but Daniel thought he might have angered the man. Finally Bruce turned back to him, “I will
tell you because it might help you. I
ask you not to share the information because it is still embarrassing to me.”
“Then perhaps you
shouldn’t tell me.”
“I will. If I don’t hear it from Sveta and Klava when
you return, then I will know you are mature enough for my trust.”
“That’s not very
fair, sir.”
“Not fair, but
that is life. When I was a youth, I was
the cockiest young man you ever met. I
could woo in three languages and diagram in four—I studied Latin then. My father was on the embassy staff in Germany
Daniel shook his
head.
“They were sword
fights made for honor and dueling scars in the German Universities. I subscribed to those antics to preen my
vanity and lord over other men. You
wouldn’t imagine that I was once an overbearing braggart.” Bruce tendered Daniel a sad smile, “The
German world, at the time, was on the cusp of Nazi fervor. One day I gave insult to a Hitler supporter
and we entered a duel that was supposed to be Mensur—only to wounding and
blood. I worked him over pretty
well. I was a wicked swordsman. He was bleeding from his face and arms—all
clean and proper, but his second hadn’t called an end to it. I knocked my opponent to the ground. I should have noticed well before, that the
crowd in the Hirschgasse Beergarten were all Nazi supporters. None of my friends or comrades, only my
second had been allowed inside. Their point
was to settle with the smart aleck Englisher who constantly showed up the
German students. When I knocked my
opponent down, the Menseur became a melee.
I lost my mask and received this well placed slice. I almost lost my eye. I have other scars to show for my
foolishness. I was well protected by the
fencing garb, my second was not. They
killed him. When that happened, I was
unstoppable. I killed a couple of
men—they were the first men I ever murdered.
It was not an entirely fair fight on either side. Afterward, I landed in hospital until my
father could whisk me out of the country under diplomatic immunity. My parents never fully forgave me—I don’t
blame them.”
“Why wouldn’t
they forgive you, sir?”
“Because my
second was my younger brother, Brian. He
was a good man and a good brother. It
was my fault he was involved. I could
have killed him with my own hands and not done worse by it.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Not as sorry nor
as grateful as I am. The incident
changed my life. It changed many lives. I went into this business because I was good
at killing, and because I wanted revenge on myself and others. By the grace of God, I have become what I
am.”
“And what is
that, sir?”
Bruce gave Daniel
a steely look, “Now, I still must oversee the killing of men, but I am a
compassionate reaper. I try to meet out
justice. I realize my justice may not
always be right, but I try my best in this dirty business.”
“And you believe
God’s hand is in it?”
“I know God’s
hand is in it, son. I trade the lives of
one or two truly bad men for the lives of thousands sometimes millions.”
Daniel stared at
him, “And no one realizes.”
“No one has any
idea.”
“I thought the
organization handled language only. You
make it sound like an MI6 affiliate.”
“Daniel, the most
effective MI6 agents are recruited, tested, trained, equipped, indoctrinated,
and shared out of my organization. Each
of them are my responsibility. James
Calloway is an MI6 share. I won’t say
what his expertise is.”
“James? What about my father?”
“You should ask
him.”
“He won’t tell
me, but you share him with the Foreign Office.”
“Your father is
much more important than you might think, and I certainly will not tell you
what he does. Someday you might end up
working for him, only my best shares do.”
“I would like
that, sir.”
“I would like
that for you too, Daniel. There isn’t
much killing in that line of work although it is all dangerous, very
dangerous.”
“That’s why my
mother…?”
“That’s why your
mother.”
In this scene, Daniel Long and Bruce
Lyons speak about very deep subjects.
They are not smoking, but they are drinking. This is the typical/atypical mentor
conversation. I write typical and
atypical because I rarely find these discussions in much modern writing, but I
think they represent what readers wished their mentors, parents, and teachers
told them and did for them. As I’ve said
before, authors should entertain. Part
of entertaining is providing an inviting world that your readers see as
real. You would also like them to lose
themselves in the world you develop as well.
I’ll provide a cigar and Scotch example tomorrow.
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
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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