Writing - part x661, Developing Skills, Day 6 Scotland

29 October 2018, Writing - part x661, Developing Skills, Day 6 Scotland

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business and publishing environment.  I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher.  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 29^th novel, working title, Detective, potential title Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.  The theme statement is: 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.  

Here is the cover proposal for Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective. 

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action. I am continuing to write on my 30^th novel, working title Red Sonja.  I finished my 29^th novel, working title Detective.  I’m planning to start on number 31, working title Shifter. 

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 30:  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 31:  TBD 

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

          

Today:  Second morning at the Brownlee B&B, and we didn’t run out of hot water.  I’m not sure why, but I had a reasonably comfortable shower.  The breakfast was great.  I had the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.  The coffee was drinkable, but typically British instead of typically European. 

We were off to Carnustie for a round of golf on the championship course.  When we arrived, I was surprised by the new and horribly ugly clubhouse.  For the second oldest course in the world, you would think they had a wonderful ancient stone structure or perhaps a simple castle, but no, the new clubhouse looks like a farm implement stuck to a modern barn.  Perhaps it is functional—it is not aesthetic.  And…it needs to be aesthetic, the course is a pasture.

I don’t mean that in a negative or pejorative way.  The course is wonderful, but treacherous.  There are over 100 bunkers on it.  Back to preparation.  There is no regular practice facility—they have an indoor electronic facility, and an outdoor putting green.  We went to put about 45 minutes prior to our tee time. 

The practice green was not at all like the actual greens.  The practice green was very slow and the greens on the course were just sanded and very fast.  Thirty minutes prior to your tee time, they invite you into the electronic facility. 

In the electronic facility, there is no waiting.  Everyone had their own space.  The use was simple, but I’m not sure of the accuracy of the electronics.  I’d rather have a regular outdoor range any time.  After we were warmed up, we went to the starter shack to meet our caddies. 

My caddy was Alf.  I think it was short for Alfred.  He was a great caddy.  Perhaps the best I have had in Scotland, and that’s among a host of great caddies.  Alf was classically Scottish and wonderfully helpful.  He was likely a scratch golfer, but he put out with me.

I was very happy with my game.  I played worse on the front, but better on the back.  I should note, I was right up to the first green in three, but the practice green was much slower than the actual greens.  I was off the green back and forth, and didn’t get a feel for them until the second green.  Oh well.  I also had a sausage roll at the tenth. 

We returned to Saint Andrews for a well-deserved supper.  The plan was for the Grey Friers but they were full so we walked over to Market Street.  The fish mongers had a restaurant in the back, and they could take us if we were out in 50 minutes.  We did.  The fish and chips was the best we had.  The beers were not tap.  The service was adequate.  It’s not a scenic spot, but good for supper.

We roamed around Market Street for a while then headed back to the Brownlee B&B and to bed.       

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