Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 289, Author Bio, Marketing Materials

24 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 289, Author Bio, Marketing Materials

Announcement: My new novels should be available from any webseller or can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore.  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.
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 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo ferry pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

I'll make a slight digression because I'm developing advertising and publisher materials for my newest completed novel, Lilly.  Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer. 

Cover Propsal

Before you can market a novel to the public, you have to market it to publishers or potential publishes.  This means you need to develop materials to market your novel.  These marketing materials can be used when the book is published.  We've already looked at two main pieces used in marketing: the title and the book cover proposal.  These are necessary for a web design, and they are also necessary for a publisher.  You can live without a cover proposal for a while, but you need a title right away.

The next step is to build the marketing information you will use to present your novel to publishers and to the public. Here is an outline:

Title of Work:

Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer

Author(s) Name:

L. D. Alford

Type: Either Screenplay or Book

Book

Length: Either # of words for books, or # of pages for screenplays

105,300 words

Keywords and Market Focus:

Fiction, Washington State, Tacoma, Spanaway, Seattle, Computer, Pacific Lutheran University, Hacker, goddess, sushi, Redemption, kami, Japan, Shinto, torii, Shrine, engineering, math; will fascinate anyone interested in the spiritual, mystery, and suspense—will appeal particularly to those who enjoy historical mystery and suspense novels.

Genre:

Fiction Suspense

 

Author Bio: Approximately 120 words

The finest escape in literature is an escape into a real and inviting culture—so asserts L. D. Alford, a novelist who explores with originality those cultures and societies we think we already know.  He builds tales that make ancient people and times real to us.  His stories uniquely explore the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive.  L. D. Alford is familiar with technology and cultures—he earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton, and is a graduate of Air War College, and Air Command and Staff College.  He is widely traveled and has spent long periods in Europe and Central America.  L. D. Alford is an author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality.   
Synopsis:  Approximately 500 Words

Concept of the Work:  Approximately 250 Words

Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.

Other Information:  If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.

 

Reviewer’s quotes.

I added in the author bio and made it bold.  Every author must provide a bio.  I have a 120 word bio, a 60 word bio, a 30 word bio, and a sentence bio.  I'll eventually show you the sentence and the 30 word bio.  Different groups and publishers want different size bios about you.  The trick is o provide them something that encapsulates your skills and writing history in a pithy, quick, and interesting paragraph.  I've been using this one for a while.

Some author's bios are funny, some are very serious, some are a mix.  You want to match the bio to your style and genre of literature.  You want to show off you writing skill even in a bio paragraph.  My emphasis is the connection between history and cultures and writing.  That, in a nutshell, is what I write about.  I hope that the paragraph about me will make a publisher (or a reader) wonder about my writing.  I want them to be curious simply by reading that paragraph. 

In a bio paragraph, you are marketing you, and I believe you are marketing your writing.  You need to convince the reader that you are skilled and understand the world enough to be a writer.  You need to convince a publisher that you have gravitas and can write.  Perhaps this is the reason many best selling authors change their bios to be more funny after they are successful.  Success as a best seller provides a lot of gravitas.

At this point everything I'm doing with and for this work is about marketing to a publisher and building a website.

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 284, Name, Marketing Materials

19 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 284, Name, Marketing Materials

Announcement: My new novels should be available from any webseller or can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore.  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.
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 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo ferry pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

I'll make a slight digression because I'm developing advertising and publisher materials for my newest completed novel, Lilly.  Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer. 

Cover Propsal

Before you can market a novel to the public, you have to market it to publishers or potential publishes.  This means you need to develop materials to market your novel.  These marketing materials can be used when the book is published.  We've already looked at two main pieces used in marketing: the title and the book cover proposal.  These are necessary for a web design, and they are also necessary for a publisher.  You can live without a cover proposal for a while, but you need a title right away.

The next step is to build the marketing information you will use to present your novel to publishers and to the public. Here is an outline:

Title of Work:

Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer

Author(s) Name:

L. D. Alford

Type: Either Screenplay or Book

Book

Length: Either # of words for books, or # of pages for screenplays

105,300 words

Keywords and Market Focus:

Fiction, Washington State, Tacoma, Spanaway, Seattle, Computer, Pacific Lutheran University, Hacker, goddess, sushi, Redemption, kami, Japan, Shinto, torii, Shrine, engineering, math; will fascinate anyone interested in the spiritual, mystery, and suspense—will appeal particularly to those who enjoy historical mystery and suspense novels.

Genre:

Fiction Suspense

 

Author Bio: Approximately 120 words

Synopsis:  Approximately 500 Words

Concept of the Work:  Approximately 250 Words

Registration: WGA, ISBN, or Library of Congress, Write the number.

Other Information:  If you have more work, a website, anything interesting and professional, especially any awards or recognition.

 

Reviewer’s quotes.

I'm a little out of order here.  I should have started with names first.  There are few reasons for not using your real name on your novels, but like all marketing decisions, it may mean the sale of more or less books.  This is a critical lesson for many who have already made a place in the business.  Every decision about a novel is a marketing decision--even to the name the author uses.  Because of this, I recommend you think long and hard about the name you will use to publishers and to the public.  I did.

Think of the names of authors.  Many are contrived (pen names).  Many are intentionally changed.  Most are shortened or modified in some way to make them easier to say or more majestic on the cover.  Think of celebrities.  Many of them (if not most) change their names to be more dynamic and special.  Authors don't necessarily need to change their names for marketability (although some do), they need to just evaluate the name they will put on the cover of their novels for the way it looks and how it sounds.

I decided to use my initials and last name, "L.D. Alford."  This looks good on the cover.  It is easy to say.  It is a good handle.  Plus it represents the kind of writing I would like to be associated with--literature.  If my specialty were Romance novels, I might have chosen a different pen-name.  If my specialty were horror novels, I might have chosen something different.  Just look at the name Stephen King--it looks like the name of an author of horror novels.  This is how you want your pen-name to be viewed--matched appropriately to your writing.

At this point everything I'm doing with and for this work is about marketing to a publisher and building a website.

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Interlude - yet more Khione

30 January 2014, Interlude - yet more Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

I received the idea for Khione from some reading, movies, and my previous writing.  The idea was to be able to place a real fox-girl in the world.  I was introduced to the idea of fox-people from Japanese Manga and Anime.  I didn't want to make the setting Asian for many reasons.  The primary was the difficulty in properly expressing an Asian character.  I am still studying Japan for the future purpose of writing a novel.  I've mentioned before, I want to write a Japanese novel set in about 1000 AD.  I may or may not be able to write such a novel--it is a complex undertaking, but I'd like to be able to express an historical Asian culture in a way a non-Asian can understand it.

As it is, I set Khione in the modern world at a modern university and in a modern city.  Khione is an ancient character and one who is very Greek and yet very ancient.  My prepub reader liked the novel, and she doesn't like aggressive female character--Khione had to be aggressive in many ways.  Khione is a character truly out of time, but who's questions are the same as people today.  Khione is a demigoddess and a creature of both limited and unlimited capabilities.  This is the kind of character I love and the Aristotle wrote about.  This is the type of character who truly has telic flaws.  Those flaws lead either to tragedy or comedy.  Death or life, for in Greek tragedy the protagonist dies and in a Greek comedy, the protagonist lives.  Khione is a comedy, for this reason--it is also a comedy because of my writing style.  I don't write laugh-out-loud comedies--I write works that gain some of their strength from the light-hearted and hard conversations that come out of my characters.  Plus, what is not to like about a fox-girl hunting cats in modern Boston?

More tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Interlude - more Khione

29 January 2014, Interlude - more Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

Khione, my new novel, follows with my other Enchantment novels.  They haven't been published yet, but they also follow on the ideas presented in Aegypt.  Th Aegypt novels are a set of eight interrelated books concerning two unknown Egyptian tombs and the ramification of their discovery.  My Aegypt novels are either on contract with my publisher or are in consideration, and my publisher has already given me a couple emails that they want the entire series.  They are currently working on the overall marketing of the novels.  I don't really like -ogies.  I like true series.  A true series is a set of novels that are interrelated, but each novel is a whole and complete.  You can read each novel in the series without reference to the others, but if you read the series, you can be happy with the continuity and the characters.

My Enchantment novels are not really a series at all.  If anything, they are a series of a theme.  The theme is similar, but the plots and characters are not.  In Khione, I didn't originally intend for the novel to follow Hestia, but it just worked out that way.  The characters and the plot fit perfectly into the world and the ideas of Hestia.  They did so well, I went back to Hestia and added the two special characters in Khione, into Hestia.  They and their names appear for just a moment, but enough to create continuity across the novels.  I didn't have to add them into Hestia, it just made since to fit them in with their descriptions.  My publisher has shown an interest in the Enchantment novels, and I hope they will contract Hestia and Khione.  Khione may be a difficult sell.  It is a very complex and edgy novel about the negatives of modern morality, but it is set within that modern morality.

More tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Interlude - Khione

28 January 2014, Interlude - Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

I just finished writing my 22nd novel, Khione: Enchantment of the Fox.  I haven't put up a website for the novel yet, and I haven't finished the marketing materials.  I'm working on them now.  I did send a copy to a coupe of prepublication readers.  I heard back and made corrections to the manuscript. 

Khione is a really fun and a really serious novel.  It is a follow-on to Hestia and fits in the Enchantment novels.  It is a stand-alone novel.  I set it at Boston University, one of my alma maters.  This was for thematic and not just locational reasons.  The novel fits in the unique space I've been defining my novels, but it has some philosophical twists like Hestia.  The novel asks some very difficult questions about God and modern morality--that's why I set it on a modern college campus.  It is a fun story and a very unusual one.  Still, my prepublication reader liked it, and she is very difficult to please.

Khione is the protagonist's helper and a being out of my current novel themes and plots.  This means she is a demigoddess of some type.  Pearce, the protagonist, is a hardworking ethical graduate student at the University.  A large part of the novel is a revelation theme.  It is centered around the mystery of just who Khione is.  The second part of the novel is based on just what it means that Khione is who she is.  Like most of my novels, the conversations drive the plot and the action simply punctuates the storyline.  In general, the fun of the novel is in the situations and the conversations.  How interesting is it to speak to a person, like Khione, who is out of time. 

More tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 146 Extrapolating Military Technology, even more Armor Defense

24 December 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 146 Extrapolating Military Technology, even more Armor Defense

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction.  I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.

By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated.  Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.

The major areas in warfare technology are:
1.  Software
2.  Weapons
     Heavy Weapons
3.  Countermeasures
4.  Defense
5.  Communications
6.  Robots
7.  Vehicles
8.  Environments (personal equipment) 

There are potentially many means to provide armor defense many potentially that don't use armor.  I discussed countermeasures already, but these are not necessarily countermeasures, they are materials used for armor protection.  For example, a local plasma field, layers of armor and plasma, layers of armor and magnetic fields, and etc.  In my novels, I routinely mention ceriplast and plasteel.  Ceriplast stands for ceramic plastic while plasteel stands for plastic steel.  I leave it partially to the reader's imagination to determine exactly what ceriplast and plasteel is.  This is how Jack Vance does much of his technological and cultural shaping--he gives names to things and that makes them real.  This technique is especially powerful when the names self describe their purpose or material.

There are potentially other means of producing defensive armor.  I wouldn't go for shields--they sure sound great, don't they?  But they have no basis in any known science.  I can see a plasma field or a magnetic field, but what exactly is a shield.  Just too Manga for me.  I'm not so certain about tractor beams either--you have to have a basis for the science and there is no basis for beams that can move other vehicles--that is, unless you have gravity control.  Gravity control could potentially explain shields, tractor beams, and certain types of propulsion systems, but the problem is that with gravity control, many other technologies need to come into play.  The assumption with gravity control is that I can force objects away from the target.  There is much more here than just shields, and this moves into the next type of defense--area defense. 

More tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 34 more Science Creativity

3 September 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 34 more Science Creativity

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

So, assuming you have some degree of science expertise, we can begin with science fiction creativity.  If you don't have any training or expertise in science, you need to either acquire some or give it up.  I mean, if you do have $60M you can make a bad science fiction movie and retire.  To tell the truth, Gene Roddenberry was a military officer and a pilot--he developed Star Trek.  Hard to tell he knew anything about real science.  He did understand the military--kind of. 

George Lucas, on the other hand, was a car enthusiast before he made movies.  He should have known better and more.  Maybe these two guys never really understood their subject matter.  I hope that is true.  Both of them were educated in California--maybe that is more of an indicator of the horrible government run education system in California.

If you want to write science fiction, you must have knowledge and expertise in science.  The reason for this is to allow you to extrapolate science into the future.  I'll start with an example of technology so you see how extrapolation works.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 33 Science Creativity

2 September 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 33 Science Creativity

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

I've written a little about this subject--that is creativity in science.  First, what is your area of expertise in science.  If you don't have one, you are going to have a really difficult time creating new and advanced science.  Michael Crichton's expertise was medical science.  He usually got most of that stuff right although he tended to mess up some science in other fields.  Asimov was a biochemist.  He didn't get the physics of space travel right much, but he was great meshing his field with mechanics--as in his robots and to a lesser degree his Foundation series.  Clarke was a radar technician with some knowledge of space mechanics.  His works are great where they extrapolate electromagnetic systems and communications.  Heinlein was a navel officer in communications and early carrier operations.  His understanding and work with military operations and military technology was excellent.  All of these men were trained in science and used their science knowledge to extrapolate future science and technology.  John Brunner was also a military officer.  His writing contains likely the best predictions of future technology of any science fiction.

If you want to write great science fiction, you must have some expertise in science and be able to extrapolate from that basis of knowledge.  My expertise is in military, cyberwar, and aerodynamics.  These are the areas I try to capitalize on in my science fiction writing.  If you want to write science fiction, again, the first step is to begin with your science expertise and work from there. 

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 30 even more Driven Plot

30 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 30 even more Driven Plot

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

So how do you wow your readers with your writing?  You must write very well.  This is true of all writing.  There was a time when a second rate writer could write science fiction and have the possibility of being published.  That isn't true today.  There are too many good authors writing science fiction.  The problem today is there are few science fiction writers who have any knowledge of science.  The lack of science in science fiction makes an opening for science trained people who want to write science fiction.  All you need to do is write well.

Well, there is a little more than writing well--that is, if you don't include creativity in the concept of writing well.  I've been trying to point out how to produce powerful science fiction themes, characters, and plots.  There is more than one concept in writing well.  You can write technically perfect drivel, it might get you an "A+" in a writing class, but no one will publish it.  On the other hand, you can write very creatively so poorly that no one could stomach to read it.  For science fiction, you need powerfully unique and creative writing that is technically strong that includes science.  

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 28 Driven Plot

28 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 28 Driven Plot

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

The theme drives the setting which drives the culture and the characters.  The characters drive the plot which drives the theme.  This is intentionally recursive.  A science fiction theme drives a science fiction setting which drives a science fiction culture and makes the characters science fiction characters.  Those science fiction characters drive a science fiction plot which drives the science fiction theme. 

I already discussed what makes a theme and a setting a science fiction one.  Each and every part of a piece of science fiction drives the science fiction.  Now, this whole sequence should make you think: just as I can have a historical novel that is simply a modern novel in a historical setting, is it possible to have a science fiction novel that is just a modern novel in a science fiction setting.  The answer is a resounding--yes. 

Bad science fiction can get much worse than that.  For example, I started this whole discussion with some warnings about recreating bad science fiction.  I mentioned Star Trek and Star Wars.  These are pretty bad science fiction, but pretty good science fantasy.  They really do miss the point of science fiction--the science.  In a similar manner, there is a lot of soft science fiction out there.  Soft science fiction is a code word for science fiction without the science.  In other words, written by those who don't have a clue about science.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, www.thefoxshonor.com, www.aseasonofhonor.com.

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 26 Don't Tell

26 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 26 Don't Tell

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

When you hear the statement, "show and don't tell," this means that you only describe those things that are physical.  You may use narration, "tell," to describe the physical.  You must "show" (actions and conversation) history, mental, emotional state, thoughts.  You may not "tell" us any of your characters' ideas, thoughts, nothing in their mind.  I know this sounds redundant, but many writers don't seem to get what the statement "show and don't tell" means.  It means that you don't let your readers into your characters' mind.

This is really difficult for first person characters--it is almost impossible.  This is one of the reasons I don't recommend using the first person in a novel. 

Am I being clear here?  This is the reason most writing fails on the most basic level.  Writing is about revealing characters.  If I were to write--Janet was a drunkard and a bad girl; she hated her mother and couldn't hold a job--I just told you everything about Janet.  Well not everything, but most of what I you could reveal in a novel.  The above statements are what you might write in your character development--they are not statements you should write in a novel.   

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, www.thefoxshonor.com, www.aseasonofhonor.com.

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 24 yes the Part not Described

24 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 24 yes the Part not Described

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

After we see the character in a stage play, the play begins and the character is revealed.  The only way a character in a stage play is revealed is through the conversation and actions of the character.  This is also how a novelist should reveal the parts of the character that are not physically evident. 

The character is already developed by the author before the character is revealed in a novel or a stage play.  In other words, the author of either work has already defined the character, but the character is not revealed.  The character may never be fully revealed.  For example, how much do you really know about anyone in your life.  You may or may not know much at all.  You certainly do not know the full revelation of any person--not even yourself.  Most people do not fully understand themselves or their motivations.

The author must fully understand his characters.  He must fully develop them before he writes his novels.  The characters are already developed before the novel is written and the author reveals the characters.  How does she reveal her characters? That is for tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, www.thefoxshonor.com, www.aseasonofhonor.com.

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 18 more Science Fiction Characters

18 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 18 more Science Fiction Characters

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

The first point about characters is that you must have a physical description.  This description needs to be at least 100 to 300 words long.  Within physical description: what does the character look like.  Their facial features, their height, weight, their demeanortheir hair and eye color are basic physical description.  Secondary physical description is their clothing, tattoos, hair style, shoes.  You can show your readers quite a lot through this basic description.  Here is the initial description of Sir Devon de Tieg (secretly Devon Rathenberg) from The Fox's Honor. 

This young man was arrayed in colloquial finery. An officer’s uniform, yes, but the style and the natural materials left little doubt that it and its owner obviously came from a culturally deprived planet.  The gentleman’s boots were real leather; they creaked. His pants bloused over his boot tops, and as he walked they swaggered like a Cossack dance.

The seneschal announced the young officer: “Sir Devon de Tieg, Knight of the Red Cross.” A small number of the Duke’s less cautious guests let loose a traveling titter that lost its momentum in a few muffled guffaws.

The knight said nothing. Those who recognized the order of a Knight of the Red Cross instantly sobered, and the Duke made a second appraisal of the man.

The knight’s eye glinted with his bold smile, and he strode across the broad floor of the ballroom. His ceremonial dagger clinked against his left leg, balanced by an oddly shaped cylinder on his right, and his knight’s spurs jingled with each step. He stopped with a flourish and a low bow before the Duke. “My lord Falkeep, will you grant me the privilege of a dance with your daughter, the Lady Tamar?”

There are a couple of big points I want to make with this description.  The first is this--note how much I show you about the knight with just description.  I don't need to tell you anything about some of the things I describe--you realize their importance right away.  All of this description is about the secondary characteristics.

The second point in this description is that it is wholly science fiction.  There are elements that could be from a historical setting, but the description punches the points about a culturally deprived planet, his real leather boots (compared to those that are more modern), and to the odd weapons at his belt. 

In science fiction, try to make your descriptions sing science fiction.  That's the point of writing science fiction, after all.  If your characters can be found around the corner, you might be setting your novel in the wrong century. 

Note the character has a name--names are the next point.  I'll get to the other attributes later.

Remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 9 Plot

9 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 9 Plot

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

If you are going to write science fiction, you need a science fiction based theme.  Here's one definition for theme I will repeat:

theme (theem): a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or even moralistic. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor. One theme that may be extracted by the reader of Mark Musa’s interpretation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy Volume I: Inferno is the need to take account of one’s own behavior now, for it affects one's condition in the afterlife. One example of this theme can be found in Canto V - “...when the evil soul appears before him, it confesses all, and he [Minos], who is the expert judge of sins, knows to what place in Hell the soul belongs: the times he wraps his tail around himself tells just how far the sinner must go down” (7-12). In addition, Dante’s use of literary techniques, such as imagery, further accentuates the theme for the consequences of not living right, for he describes “the cries and shrieks of lamentation” (III:22), “…the banks were coated with a slimy mold that stuck to them like glue, disgusting to behold and worse to smell” (XVIII:106-108) and many other terrifying examples of Hell. In truly great works of literature, the author intertwines the theme throughout the work and the full impact is slowly realized as the reader processes the text. The ability to recognize a theme is important because it allows the reader to understand part of the author’s purpose in writing the book. See Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms, and Literary Terms: A Dictionary. Susan Severson, Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

In the Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox novels, I used a theme based on honor.  In the minds of some writers and literary professors, the concept honor is sufficient to be a theme.  I'm not so sure.  I will try to give you a more cohesive theme statement for The Fox's Honor.  The Fox's Honor is the second book in the Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox.  It isn't a trilogy, but rather a series of separate novels that use the same characters and times.  The theme statement for The Fox's Honor is the easiest for me to write down succinctly.  It is: "A Prince, in a society where leaders are genetically chosen, who dies for his Emperor by intentionally giving up his honor is given back his life by the woman he loves and strives to regain his honor."

The setting for such a novel can really only be in the future.  There have been no societies where leaders are chosen through their genetics (unless you define this as through inheritance).  This is a science fiction theme.  Now, if I take away the statement "in a society where leaders are genetically chosen" or modify it slightly, the theme could be placed in the past.  It isn't and I didn't. 

I've written before that once you have the theme statement, you can build the characters and set the novel.  This is the beginning of the plot.  The setting must be this future when and how leaders are chosen genetically.  Luckily, the future of the Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox presupposes this future.  Through the theme we have a prince (the protagonist), a woman he loves (the protagonist's helper), the Emperor, and we need to develop an antagonist. (the one who kills or has killed our prince).  Note, with such a theme statement, there is a lot of latitude for the development of the plot.  There is huge latitude for the entire plot.  In the beginning of The Fox's Honor, we find Devon Rathenberg coming to dance and woo, Tamar Falkeep.  He meant only to pronounce his love before he died for the Emperor, but he didn't realize Tamar would fall in love as well.  The Emperor is no evil person or leader.  We find that Devon Rathenberg is going to death as a result of his own plans to help the strength of the Emperor and the Human Galactic Empire.  Devon is an honorable man, but he didn't realize that what Tamar Falkeep wants, Tamar Falkeep gets.  The plot derives directly out of the theme, and the plot drives the storyline.  If you want to see how I develop this theme and plot, get the novel.  It's available in paperback or electronic versions from most Internet sellers.  You can read more about the novel at www.TheFoxsHonor.com.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 8 Theme

8 August 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 8 Theme

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

Some writers and scholars suggest that a theme is a single word concept, for example, death, life, redemption, goodness, etc.  I think this is silly.  Most writers and scholars consider a theme to be encapsulated in a single sentence--I'll go for that.  If this is true, then there can be at least close to infinity themes.  Here's one definition I gave you yesterday:

theme (theem): a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or even moralistic. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor. One theme that may be extracted by the reader of Mark Musa’s interpretation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy Volume I: Inferno is the need to take account of one’s own behavior now, for it affects one's condition in the afterlife. One example of this theme can be found in Canto V - “...when the evil soul appears before him, it confesses all, and he [Minos], who is the expert judge of sins, knows to what place in Hell the soul belongs: the times he wraps his tail around himself tells just how far the sinner must go down” (7-12). In addition, Dante’s use of literary techniques, such as imagery, further accentuates the theme for the consequences of not living right, for he describes “the cries and shrieks of lamentation” (III:22), “…the banks were coated with a slimy mold that stuck to them like glue, disgusting to behold and worse to smell” (XVIII:106-108) and many other terrifying examples of Hell. In truly great works of literature, the author intertwines the theme throughout the work and the full impact is slowly realized as the reader processes the text. The ability to recognize a theme is important because it allows the reader to understand part of the author’s purpose in writing the book. See Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms, and Literary Terms: A Dictionary. Susan Severson, Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Using this definition of a theme, I defined the theme in Dana-ana as "The redemption of an Anglo Saxon maiden caught in the twenty-first century."  From such a simple sentence, I developed an entire novel.  For Aksinya, the theme was something like this: "a girl who calls a demon to protect her family finds redemption."  These are very simple examples, but I think you get the idea.  You can produce very unique themes based on a theme statement.

The point is to have unique themes.  In the modern world, you will not sell a book to a publisher unless it is new, refreshing, and unique.  Like I wrote before, we don't need any more Star Trek or Star Wars knock offs.

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.