Writing - part x662, Developing Skills, Day 7 Scotland

30 October 2018, Writing - part x662, Developing Skills, Day 7 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:  Third morning at the Brownlee B&B, and we didn’t run out of hot water.  The breakfast was great again.  I ate the Scottish breakfast: bangers and scrambled eggs.  Same coffee. 

This was castle day.  We went to Scone Castle, the home of Scottish kings.  The Marquis was in, but he didn’t see us.  This is where the Scottish kings were crowned.  A copy of the Scone Stone stands before the chapel of kings.  The chief claim to fame is that Queen Victoria visited and spent the night.

We entered the front door to the palace and a docent proceeded to give us an overall talk about the palace.  The Marquis and his family still lives there, but they were hiding.  To the left is the dining room.  This room is filled with the most extensive collection of carved ivory in Europe.  The table is set for dessert.  A couple of Van Dykes hang on either side of the end of the room.  The famous story for the room is that Queen Victoria came on a very chilly day and selected the seat by the fireplace rather than the head of the table—what a fun queen.

The next room was the lady’s drawing room.  It was magnificent with paintings and French silk walls.  The only problem was that the French silk was worse for wear and the girls who had been boarded in the floors above during World War Two had burned their toast and caused major water damage to the room.  By the way, the doors were pivots and not hinges.

The next room was the library—only most of the books had been removed and replaced by a past marquis’ china.  The china is remarkable and from all over the world, but I would rather see books in a library.  Off to either side of the library were small private reading rooms.  They were locked, but small volumes like typical English novels covered the walls.  There were two comfortable chairs and a small coal fireplace in the rooms.  In the chilly Scottish climate, they must have been wonderful.

The next room was a long hall filled with stuffed bears and paintings.  This led to the long presentation hall and chapel.  This was supposed to be the longest hall in Scotland.  A pipe organ stands at the far end, and the hall is filled with artwork.  Most interesting is a painting of a young Contessa with her hair down and a slight appearance of undress.  The docent couldn’t explain the whys of the paining. 

This led to the queen’s room.  A room especially prepared for her visit.  There were other remarkable rooms and displays, but they weren’t exceedingly exciting.

Lunch was at the Gleneagles Golf Course.  The lunch was nice as were the drinks, but the mixed drinks were poor and overpriced, and the beef sliders tasted like they were mixed with pork, which is typical in the UK.  All in all, it wasn’t as pleasant as other meals, but it was still good.

Off to Stirling Castle.  This is the preeminent castle in Scotland.  It was both a royal palace and a royal castle.  Mary Queen of Scotts stayed here, William the Bruce fought here, and the Jacobites were ultimately defeated here.  The castle is awesome.  It has medieval and Victorian features, but the medieval are most prevalent.  There are many other historical points.  I certainly recommend it, although the medieval character reduces the interior excitement.  It’s a great castle to explore.  We took the free tour.  It was 50 minutes and presented by a Scotsman of great humor and greater voice. 

We returned to Saint Andrews to go to the Russel Hotel for supper.  They put us in the locker room.  This is a small room that fits eight.  Around the room are faux wooden lockers for golf pros with their pictures.

Mixed drinks are wonderful and the menu is local but varied.  The food is excellent.  I had oysters and a ribeye with stocky toffee pudding at the end.  It was all excellent.  Afterwards, we 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  

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