Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 943, Publishing, Protagonists, Example: Ancient Light

10 November 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 943, Publishing, Protagonists, Example: Ancient Light

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.

 

These are the steps I use to write a novel:

 

1.      Design the initial scene

2.      Develop a theme statement (initial setting, protagonist, protagonist’s helper or antagonist, action statement)

a.       Research as required

b.      Develop the initial setting

c.       Develop the characters

d.      Identify the telic flaw (internal and external)

3.      Write the initial scene (identify the output: implied setting, implied characters, implied action movement)

4.      Write the next scene(s) to the climax (rising action)

5.      Write the climax scene

6.      Write the falling action scene(s)

7.      Write the dénouement scene

 

Would you like to write a novel that a publisher will consider?  Would you like to write a novel that is published?  How about one that sells? 

 

You can really observe how I learned to develop Romantic characters who are also pathetic characters.  Klava, from Warrior of Darkness is the epic pathos developing character.  In the novel, she has her issues, but she also drinks, smokes, is blind, and becomes pregnant from a rape.  This is about as pathetic as you can get in literature.  At the same time, she is a Romantic character. 

 

Characterize this, if you will, with Aegypt and my protagonist, Paul Bolang.  You can purchase and read the novel yourself.  Aegypt or the Ancient Light novels begin with a powerful Romantic character.  I realized then that readers like and want Romantic characters.  I also knew that they usually don’t get enough of that type of character.  It’s not that authors shy away from Romantic characters—it is rather that modern literature seems to push for more realism and simpering snots without any bravery or strength are all the rage.  On the other hand, if you look at the most popular literature, which unfortunately at the time is young adult—you see a plethora of Romantic characters.  You also see a host of supporting characters who would be Romantic if they were the protagonist.  Think about it: Twilight, Harry Potter, Allegiant, and all have Romantic protagonists.

 

Let’s also look at some other bestselling literature.  Take a gander at Dune.  Dune’s protagonist is a Romantic character.  He is also made somewhat pathetic, but to no great degree.  He is a powerful Romantic character.  Think about other bestsellers, and I think you will find many Romantic protagonists.  For example, Ayn Rand’s works exude the Romantic protagonist.  You find Romantic protagonists all though science fiction writing.  Dune is just one example of that.  Turning back the clock, ERB (Edgar Rice Burroughs) was the king of the Romantic protagonist.  Least we forget, the Romantic protagonist is always opposed in some way to her or his culture and society.  The Romantic character is usually a mask for protest or at least the basis for a protest theme of some sort.  If you look above, the adult novels in this paragraph as all protest characters of one type or another.  The science fiction novels are more inward looking. Ayn Rand is a definite protest.  With that short synopsis of the characters in Ancient Light, let’s move on to my other novels and see how those characters meet this ideas of Romantic and pathetic.  

 

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