29 August 2016, Writing Ideas
- New Novel, part 871, more 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.
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|
Cover
Proposal
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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 with cigars and Brandy this
time. This is from my Ancient Light novel which should be
published soooooon… Sister of Darkness. In this short piece, Paul has infiltrated
the Vichy French Army at Marseille.
Colonel Barraud has been sitting on Paul’s orders to Berlin for a
while. Paul and Lafont need to get the
Colonel out of the way or figure how to get him to give Paul his orders. They determine to remove the Colonel.
Paul could not broach the subject with
the Colonel for the next week. Paul was
surprised when Colonel Barraud asked him up to his office late Friday. The sun had already dropped below the
horizon. It was turning very dark. The troops were in their barracks or in town,
the officers at their homes. Paul knew
the time had come. He had alerted
Sergeant Lafont. This would be the
moment to take care of the Colonel. Paul
carried his long knife and his sword.
The Colonel was jovial and greeted Paul
with a large glass of brandy and a cigar.
The Colonel remained standing and sat Paul in his easy chair, “You rest
Major. In spite of what Lisette says, I
know you deserve it.
Paul took a drag on the cigar—it was
pleasant and strong, a Partagas.
The Colonel leaned out of the
window. Late October, the air was still
warm, but cooling. He let out a mouthful
of smoke.
Paul tensed himself. A fall, an accident. He had planned to give the Colonel a little
push and that would take care of everything.
Sergeant Lafont was stationed in the court below. He would provide the alibi, and their mission
could take the next planned step.
The Colonel turned around before Paul
could make up his mind. Paul cursed
himself under his breath.
“You know, Paul, it’s been only three
months. You have made great friends and
had great success here. The training is
the best it has been. My officers run
their units like clockwork. Even the
Germans have remarked on the quality of our forces here. We are the best on the coast and maybe the
best in Vichy
“Great cigar,” Paul’s voice came out of
the now fully shadowed room. If only he
would turn back to the window. Paul
readied his knife—in case. He bunched
his muscles and prepared himself to spring.
“You made everything happen just as I
requested, and you wisely planned. Now I
have something I must tell you that saddens me immensely. You are the best officer I have worked with
in my entire career. I must admit, I
tried to downplay your capabilities in my reports. Headquarters and the Germans saw right
through me. They observed you at the
dinner Lisette put on for me. After
that, I couldn’t hide you much longer from them. I tried to keep you out of their sight, and I
ended up putting you where they saw you shine.”
He turned back around to the window again.
Now or never Paul thought, he began to
move, a single fluid motion.
“I have your orders for promotion and
transfer to Germany
Paul stopped. He slowly eased himself back into the chair
and quietly picked up his cigar and glass.
“Did you say something, Paul?”
“No sir, just slightly shocked that they
would want me in Germany
“Not just Germany ,
you have been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and transferred to SS headquarters
in Berlin
“Yes, I understand.” Paul thanked God that he had not had to kill
the Colonel.
The Colonel smiled around his cigar, “I
will miss you, Paul. I really don’t want
to let you go, but I must. My
headquarters and the Germans are bothering me now about the whole affair. I could only sit on the orders so
long—commander’s prerogative.”
“I see.
What will my assignment be?”
“They have placed you under the
international liaison branch as the main coordinator with the Légion des
Volontaires Français contre le Bolchévisme.
They are the French volunteers fighting for the Reich. You will integrate their operations into
those of the German Armies. I think you
will find the work boring and unfulfilling.
I hope then you will return. But
until that time, I must give you your orders and bid you au revoir, although I
hope it doesn’t mean adieu.”
The Colonel stepped across the darkened
room and handed Paul his orders and papers.
He clasped Paul’s hand, “Back to your Lisette, my friend. She will surely be expecting you—this is
Friday night.”
“Thank you, mon colonel.”
Paul left
Fort Saint Nickolas and went home to tell Lisette the welcome news.
This is a deep conversation. This is also a conversation filled with
secrets and tension and release. The
Colonel has no idea how close he is to death.
Paul likes the man and has no desire to kill him, but he has a mission,
and that mission is more important than the life of a single man. Paul’s work will potentially change the
outcome of World War Two. That is, at
the time, the Allies had no idea if they would win or lose. Paul and their group must reach Berlin and
the bowels of the Third Reich. You can
see how important this is. You can also
see how the conversation moves and the different levels of the
conversation. This scene is from a
contracted novel. You can also see the beginning
and the end of the conversation.
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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