13 June 2026, Writing - part xxxx443 The Novel, Starting and Finishing
Announcement: I
still need a new publisher. However, I’ve taken the step to republish my
previously published novels. I’m starting with Centurion, and
we’ll see from there. Since previously published novels have little
chance of publication in the market (unless they are huge best sellers), I
might as well get those older novels back out. I’m going through Amazon
Publishing, and I’ll pass the information on to you.
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 websites http://www.sisteroflight.com/.
The four plus two 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.
6. The initial scene is the most important scene.
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 31st novel,
working title, Cassandra, potential title Cassandra:
Enchantment and the Warriors. The theme statement is: Deirdre and
Sorcha are redirected to French finishing school where they discover difficult
mysteries, people, and events.
I finished writing my 34th novel
(actually my 32nd completed novel), Seoirse,
potential title Seoirse: Enchantment and the Assignment. The
theme statement is: Seoirse is assigned to be Rose’s protector and helper at
Monmouth while Rose deals with five goddesses and schoolwork; unfortunately,
Seoirse has fallen in love with Rose.
Here is the cover
proposal for the third edition of Centurion:
|
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 30th novel,
working title Red Sonja. I finished my 29th novel,
working title Detective. I finished writing number 31,
working title Cassandra: Enchantment and the Warrior. I just
finished my 32nd novel and 33rd novel: Rose:
Enchantment and the Flower, and Seoirse: Enchantment and the
Assignment.
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 32: Shiggy Tash finds a lost girl
in the isolated Scottish safe house her organization gives her for her latest
assignment: Rose Craigie has nothing, is alone, and needs someone or something
to rescue and acknowledge her as a human being.
For novel 33, Book girl:
Siobhàn Shaw is Morven McLean’s savior—they are both attending Kilgraston
School in Scotland when Morven loses everything, her wealth, position, and
friends, and Siobhàn Shaw is the only one left to befriend and help her
discover the one thing that might save Morven’s family and existence.
For novel 34: Seoirse is assigned to
be Rose’s protector and helper at Monmouth while Rose deals with five goddesses
and schoolwork; unfortunately, Seoirse has fallen in love with Rose.
For novel 35: Eoghan, a Scottish National
Park Authority Ranger, while handing a supernatural problem in Loch Lomond and
The Trossachs National Park discovers the crypt of Aine and accidentally
releases her into the world; Eoghan wants more from the world and Aine desires
a new life and perhaps love.
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: Let me tell you a little about writing. Writing
isn’t so much a hobby, a career, or a pastime. Writing is a habit and an
obsession. We who love to write love to write.
I want to start with these definitions as
a premise for writing.
1. Write to entertain
2. Write using the
common outline for a novel
3. Develop a telic flaw,
a protagonist, an antagonist, and plan to resolve the telic flaw.
4. Start with an initial
scene.
5. Develop and define a
modern protagonist: you get a telic flaw, a potential protagonist’s helper, and
a potential initial scene from the development.
6. Write to reveal the
protagonist.
And here is the scene:
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
I’m working on finishing my latest novel
number 33, Book girl: Siobhàn Shaw is Morven McLean’s
savior—they are both attending Kilgraston School in Scotland when Morven loses
everything, her wealth, position, and friends, and Siobhàn Shaw is the only one
left to befriend and help her discover the one thing that might save Morven’s
family and existence.
I was writing about the writing of this
novel for a while then I got caught up in taxes and finances for the season,
but I’m mostly caught up. Now, I have
work at the ranch plus other basic life things getting in my way. Still, I intend to finish up this novel. It’s taken on a life of it’s own and become a
little of an albatross because although I’ve gotten to the end and the really
fun development of the end, I’m not sure how to create the climax I really want. I know what the climax should be, but it’s become
a little less powerful as my protagonist has gained power. Plus, I really want to write Aine or Eoghan. That’s novel 35. My numbering system is all screwed up. I’d also like to get back to novel 30 about Red
Sonja. Recognize, I don’t have much
scope for getting a publisher because I’m not pursuing a publisher as strongly
as I should. I also should be working on
independent publishing like one of my author friend recommends, but I’m not
doing much of that either. I’m not enamored
with Amazon publishing, but they rule the roost. They really couldn’t do a good job with my
previously published novel, Centurion, but Centurion is back in
the market. None of my other works,
except The Second Mission is.
Plus, I’m really not interested in working all the advertising
angles. My good friend, the author is
and is a genius at it, but I’m not as interested. I just want to write fun stuff that people
will want to read. The problem is then
getting it published and before an audience.
In any case, I want to finish this
novel. It’s a fun novel and really moved
into the place where I wanted it to go—you might say, where was that?
My novel Bookgirl is all about a
strange girl from Scotland who was put upon all her life, but who has very
special qualities. Those special
qualities are that she is a goddess and the rebirth of Dana-ana as Anu. Wow.
That’s a strange approach. The
reason is this, and you don’t have to read my novel, Dana-ana: Enchantment
and the Maiden to understand Bookgirl, but Bookgirl is a kind
of follow on about Dana-ana. How’s that?
I wrote the novel Dana-ana about a
goddess who was banished and her power taken from her because of the actions of
her followers. Further, the novel Dana-ana
was about her life after she was banished.
The novel Azure: Enchantment and the Detective, showed why Dana-ana
was tried and eventually banished. Bookgirl
shows one of the possible reasons Dana-ana was banished and what happened as a
result of her banishment. Bookgirl’s
mother the goddess Morrigan made Bookgirl to be the rebirth of Anu with the
powers of Dana-ana. This was to prevent
the problems of Dana-ana which resulted in her banishment. There are also other reasons like Dana-ana’s
crazy sisters, but that’s just a side story not in the novel. The main point is that in Bookgirl,
the protagonist is the rebirth of the goddess Anu with the powers of
Dana-ana. I don’t fully explain this,
but the point the reader should get is the power vacuum caused by the loss of a
goddess or goddesses. In the modern era,
the existence of these beings is ignored, but in my novels, I like to reflect
the ideas of the world and so the supernatural exists. I would say the supernatural exists to point
the reader to the real supernatural in the world, but that’s entirely the point.
There is more to write about this novel, Bookgirl.
I’ll try to build it up and then I’ll complete it. If I can work this out properly, I’ll be
producing the marketing materials for you soon.
That’s coming.
There’s more.
I want to write another book based on Rose
and Seoirse, and the topic will be the raising of Ceridwen—at least that’s my
plan. Before I get to that, I want to write another novel about
dependency as a theme. We shall see.
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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