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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Writing - part x369, Novel Form, A New Novel, Conclusion Investigation Example Initial Scene

10 January 2018, Writing - part x369, Novel Form, A New Novel, Conclusion Investigation Example Initial Scene

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.
These are the steps I use to write a novel including the five discrete parts of 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
I finished writing my 28th novel, working title, School, potential title Deirdre: Enchantment and the School.  The theme statement is: Sorcha, the abandoned child of an Unseelie and a human, secretly attends Wycombe Abbey girls’ school where she meets the problem child Deirdre and is redeemed.  
Here is the cover proposal for Deirdre: Enchantment and the School
 
Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action. I continued writing my 29th novel, working title Red Sonja.  I finished my 28th novel, working title School.  If you noticed, I started on number 28, but finished number 29 (in the starting sequence—it’s actually higher than that).  I adjusted the numbering.  I do keep everything clear in my records. 
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.

For novel 29:  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.

For novel 30:  Lady Azure Rose Wishart, the Chancellor of the Fae, supernatural detective, and all around dangerous girl, finds love, solves cases, breaks heads, and plays golf.

This is the classical form for writing a successful 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 (protagonist, antagonist, and optionally the protagonist’s helper)
d.      Identify the telic flaw of the protagonist (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
              
The protagonist and the telic flaw are tied permanently together.  The novel plot is completely dependent on the protagonist and the protagonist’s telic flaw.  They are inseparable.  This is likely the most critical concept about any normal (classical) form novel. 

Here are the parts of a normal (classical) novel:

1.      The Initial scene (identify the output: implied setting, implied characters, implied action movement)
2.      The Rising action scenes
3.      The Climax scene
4.      The Falling action scene(s)
5.      The Dénouement scene
             
So, how do you write a rich and powerful initial scene?  Let’s start from a theme statement.  Here is an example from my latest novel:

The theme statement for Deirdre: Enchantment and the School is: Sorcha, the abandoned child of an Unseelie and a human, secretly attends Wycombe Abbey girls’ school where she meets the problem child Deirdre and is redeemed.

Here is the scene development outline:

1. Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)
2. Write the scene setting (place, time, stuff, and characters)
3. Imagine the output, creative elements, plot, telic flaw resolution (climax) and develop the tension and release.
4. Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.
5. Write the release
6. Write the kicker
          
If you have the characters (protagonist, protagonist’s helper, and antagonist), the initial setting, the telic flaw (from the protagonist), a plot idea, the theme action, then you are ready to write the initial scene.  I would state that since you have a protagonist, the telic flaw, a plot idea, and the theme action, you have about everything—what you might be lacking is the tension and release cycle in your scenes.

With a protagonist, a telic flaw, a theme statement, and an initial setting, I’m ready to begin a novel.  I’ll move to the telic flaw for the novel.  Since I am going to provide the first chapter as a teaser any way, I might as well show you the initial scene.

Here is the theme statement as a reminder:

Lady Azure Rose Wishart, the Chancellor of the Fae, supernatural detective, and all around dangerous girl, finds love, solves cases, breaks heads, and plays golf.

Number one—once I’ve introduced the protagonist, I must reveal the protagonist in all her glory.  This isn’t the full glory of Lady Azure Rose Wishart, but it’s pretty close, or at least, her detective persona.  Azure is trying to act like a bad girl.  She did deserve her JPS and she needs a Guinness.  Here I continue the initial scene for Lady Wishart:

La Cross made a motion toward the ladies to follow, and they headed out of the Bank.  La Cross led them up the street to The Counting House.  They entered and took a seat at a table.  La Cross and Ms. Morris ordered tea.  Miss Rose ordered a pint of Guinness stout. 
As she did, La Cross told the barmaid, “Check her ID.”
The barmaid turned La Cross an evil eye, “Of course I was going to ask her.  She looks like she isn’t even in a form yet.”
Miss Rose scowled but pulled an ID card out of her purse. 
The barmaid stared at it, “You don’t look that old, sweetie, but who am I to say.” 
Before she could hand the card back, La Cross grabbed it and stared at it himself.  He tossed it back, “This says you are Neel Rhosyn and you are twenty-five.”  
Miss Rose laughed, “I have a few others, but I won’t show them to you.”
La Cross leaned back and crossed his legs, “Who are you really?”
“That, I certainly won’t tell you.  It is enough for you to know that I am available to help solve the crimes you cannot.”
“We would have eventually solved the Price murder.”
“Ah, you would have eventually found Ms. Phillips body—after it began to stink.  You would not have been able to put it all together.  Where are my two thousand pounds?”
Ms. Morris fidgeted with her going out bag, “Will a check be acceptable?”
“Actually, no.  I’d like a cashier’s check or cash.”
Ms. Morris made a call on her phone, “I’ll have it for you in a jiffy.”
The barmaid brought a pint of Guinness and two cups of tea to their table.  Miss Rose lit another JPS.
La Cross put his hand over his face, “Before you get your money young lady, I’d like you to answer a few questions for me.”
“About the case?”
“Yes, yes.  About the case.”
“Very well.  Ask away.”
“You knew the name of the bank manager.  That information was not public knowledge.”
“You are a silly man.  There is only one bank manager at the Bank of London.  By letting the press report on the murder investigation of the bank manager, you told me exactly who it was.”
La Cross’ stared at her, “That was perhaps an easy search, but what about the employment information for the bank?”
“I hacked the bank’s employment files.  The rest was easy.”
“You must have also hacked Ms. Phillips hospital employment files.”
“Yes, indeedy.”
“Those are both criminal activities, Miss Rose.”
She lifted her Guinness, “Underage drinking and smoking are also illegal, but you first have to catch me in the act, you have to, second of all, identify the perpetrator, and third, you have to make it stick in a court of law.  You have no idea who I am, you can’t identify me even then, and try making it stick.”
“I hate lawyers.”
“I am not a lawyer.  I am a detective.  I am happy to help you at the current rates we have established.”  She pulled a white card with a blue rose marked across it and placed it on the table.
Ms. Morris picked it up and handed it to Chief Inspector La Cross.  He inspected the card.  He gave a loud sigh, “It has a phone number, an email address, and reads Blue Rose Supernatural Detective Agency.”  He stared at her, “Am I to believe you think there is such a thing as the supernatural, and you are willing to investigate it?”
Miss Rose smiled at him, “I will investigate any crime you wish, but the supernatural is my specialty.”
La Cross gave a humph.
Ms. Morris sipped her tea, “Miss Rose, how did you immediately know the Price murder was not supernatural?”
“That’s easy, Ms. Morris.  Vampires only hunt during the full moon, they don’t go for the jugular, they don’t leave evident puncture holes, and they can’t enter a building unless invited.”
“How do you know so much about vampires?”
“I am acquainted with more than one.”
“I see.”
La Cross humphed again.
Inspector Corbyn entered The Counting House pub and headed directly toward their table.  When he arrived he sat down in the empty seat beside Miss Rose and handed Ms. Morris a cashier’s check.  He raised his brows at Miss Rose.  Looked sideways at La Cross and Ms. Morris, “I’d hoped to see this Neel Rhosyn.”
La Cross pointed at Miss Rose, “There she is inspector—in the flesh.”
And there we have the kicker.  Every scene needs a kicker.  That is a statement, pithy saying, an act or action that completes the scene in some witty way.  It doesn’t have to be great.  It does need to be a little witty.  It shouldn’t be too corny. 

In the aftermath of the criminal solution scene, I have a little fun at La Cross’ expense.  This isn’t a funny novel.  It is an entertaining novel.  The fun and funny is just a good addition to the novel.   This provides an interesting and fun adjunct to the conversation.

Thus, we have La Cross tweaking Azure about her age and trying to find out about her.  We see the continuation of the issues we know Azure will have and cause with New Scotland Yard. 

This is just fun.  This is also what my friend calls the sequel.  I just call it a scene.  In the sequel, the characters regroup and rethink their positions.  Azure has nothing to think newly about—the other characters do.  Notice, I don’t tell you—I show you.  Showing is what it is all about.

With this pub scene, we end the initial chapter and the initial scene.  I told you, this first scene is all about entertainment and excitement.  So, we continue with the work.      

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic

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