Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 297, more on Reviewer's Quotes, Marketing Materials

1 February 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 297, more on Reviewer's Quotes, 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.

None

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

Reviewer’s quotes.

Lilly is a fun novel filled with mythical creatures and Japanese gods and goddesses—how Lilly handles becoming a goddess herself is delightful and suspense-filled. 

Dane Vale became the infatuation of a genius math girl, Lilly who unexpectedly became a Japanese goddess—Lilly’s problems go well beyond the normal or the spiritual.

Lilly Lin Grant became a kami, a Japanese goddess—her kannushi, priest, is her boyfriend—their adventures in saving a Shinto shrine involve every Japanese creature of myth, dragons, and Japanese gods and goddesses.

Find someone who will tell you the truth about your writing.  I know, I know, most authors have no desire to know the truth about their writing, but if you don't, you will never become better.  I love feedback--I desire strong and emotional feedback.  I always like positive feedback, but any feedback that shows me the reader actually read and thought about my work and characters makes me happy. 

Everyone wants to be praised, but praise can never improve your writing.  What improves your writing is discussion and strong editing--not editing for grammar, spelling, or punctuation, but editing for content, feel, plot, and characters.  I don't need more grammar checkers, I need someone to say: this part is choppy, or this doesn't sound right, or I don't know who is speaking here.  These are editorial comments that can make good writing great--but only if you use them.  This is why I tell my readers and reviewers and editors, I use every comment and idea they give me.  I might not take their ideas of editorial comments without putting my own touch on them, but I use them all.  I don't believe anyone can give you bad editorial comments.  Remember, it may be just their opinion, but where writing is concerned, their opinion is always better than your opinion--novel writing is about entertainment.  Entertainment is in the eye of the beholder.

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 294, Concept of the Work, Marketing Materials

29 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 294, Concept of the Work, 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

The concept behind Lilly is to present an intercultural message about spiritual ideas especially forgiveness.  Lilly and Dane are both Christians.  Lilly is stronger than Dane.  They encounter a miraculous situation where a Japanese kami, god, endues Lilly with his power.  The kami knows and worships God (Kami-sama in Japanese terms).  The concept of the world is that the gods of the past still exist and they have either chosen to accept God and His Son or reject God and His Son.

The primary theme is that God uses a culture’s own ideas about the spiritual to enact his power and will—thus a church in Japan and a church in Britain use different symbols and cultural concepts to worship the same God.  This is extrapolated through Shintoism.  The novel also depicts Japanese cultural concepts.

A secondary theme is forgiveness.  Lilly has an abusive mother and no father.  One of the primary ideas is reconciliation concerning a person who is not repentant.  Lilly broke laws and stole to survive—she finds ways to repent and reconcile.  Lilly and Dane are physically attacked—Lilly insists the attackers repent and reconcile before they are forgiven.

Another secondary theme is marriage and sex before marriage.  Lilly’s change to the mind of a kami comes with ancient baggage.  She desires Dane.  The novel shows the man acting in a responsible way to seductive enticements.  

 

     The novel also shows a functional family with slightly dysfunctional parents, and contrasts Lilly’s abusive upbringing with Dane’s more normal upbringing.

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 have never written a "concept of the work" section for a novel before.  I don't think I would share this with a publisher--I do put this kind of information on my "secrets" pages for a novel.  Why share it here?  I thought you might be interested.  This is really an expanded theme statement that says what the author really wanted to convey in the novel.  I thought that this (when the marketing materials were written) would be a good time to put the concept of the work on paper.

This really is secret information.  There is no reason for the reader or the publisher to know it.  In the novel, the ideas of contrasting the Christian concept of God and the Japanese concept of Kami and Kami-sama are at the forefront.  They are treated in a direct but subtle way.  Why wouldn't two Catholics wonder about the concepts of the Kami when one of them becomes a kami and the other a kannushi (Shinto priest).  About 80% of USA Americans and a higher percentage of other Americans are Christian or believe in God.  Most of those are Christians.  The fact that most authors ignore religions and especially Christianity is silly to me.  How can you ignore something that is important to 80% of your audience?  Spiritual concepts and ideas are important to people--just look at how they flocked to Harry Potter or to the numerous shiny Vampire novels.  These are fundamentally about the spiritual and intentionally exclude religion.  Kinda strange, isn't it?   

I decided I would write about the concept of the work while it was fresh in my mind.  This isn't necessary and it isn't needed--except for your secret pages or your readers information-- not in the novel.  I just thought you might like to see it.  I used in in putting together my webpages.

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 291, more Synopsis, Marketing Materials

26 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 291, more Synopsis, 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

     Dane Vale saw the girl come into FastMart about once a week.  She was filthy and always looked hungry.  She bought food, not with dollars, but with FastMart bucks you earned from purchases at the convenience store.  She always used a different account and phone number, but because her password was correct, he didn’t think much of it.  That changed when she used the phone number and password of another customer in line.  Dane had to rescue her.  That was Dane’s introduction to Lilly Lin Grant.

Lilly Lin was a genius.  She was only sixteen, but had a full ride scholarship to his University.  It oddly didn’t include room and board.  For some reason, she suddenly was signed up for every advanced level class Dane was in.  For some reason, she followed him everywhere he went on campus.  Dane’s sister, Phelia, said Lilly was infatuated with Dane.  He didn’t know much about women at all—he couldn’t understand why the genius, Lilly Lin wanted to hang around with him.

There was much more to Lilly Lin than met the eye.  She could hack as easily as a person could type.  She wrote software at the assembly code level.  She made her own operating system and tricked out her junk laptop.  Dane traded Lilly three squares for her operating system, computer enhancements, and her class notes.  She shared her Spartan meals with an old homeless Japanese man.  Since Dane helped Lilly get a job at the FastMart and fed her, he was suddenly part of Lilly’s gift of offerings.  The old man appeared in the evening near a Shinto torii that Dane could never find without Lilly or during the day.  Dane wasn’t certain if the man or the torii really existed.

The old man invited Lilly and Dane through the torii—they entered a Shinto shrine that could not be part of the world in Seattle.  The old man claimed to be a Japanese kami, the Japanese god of metal.  He was tired of existence and confused by the modern world.  He had brought his shrine to Seattle because he hoped to find purpose in a new place, but there he only found unbelief and a young woman who would bring him offerings.  He wanted Lilly to assume his duties as kami and Dane to become the kannushi, the priest of the shrine.

Dane and Lilly found themselves in possession of a Shinto shrine.  Lilly discovered she had powers over metal.  Dane was responsible for the shrine itself. 

The old kami was gone, but Lilly and Dane now face the pantheon of Japanese gods and goddesses who are skeptical of a human made a goddess with her inexperienced kannushi.  They must use their new-found powers to keep the shrine successful and purposeful in spite of its place.  Dane must also contend with Lilly who is infatuated with him and now endued with memories and ideas from a different culture.  He was struggling with her attention before—now she demands much more from him.
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.

With a synopsis, your first job is to impress the publisher.  The second step is to impress the potential reader.  The publisher is harder than the average reader.  Because it is so important, we'll get a little more in depth about writing a synopsis.

The trick of writing a synopsis is to focus on the most important points about the characters, the plot, and the theme of your novel--then you weld them into a short, pithy, and creative piece of writing.  Once you have a 500 word synopsis, you can write a 250 word synopsis and a 100 word synopsis, etc.  The point is that this is a necessary part of novel writing and of writing your marketing materials.  Even if you intend to self-publish, you need a synopsis for your back cover, your website, and your press release.  Whatever you do, don't neglect the synopsis.

 Start your writing of the synopsis with the characters.  The most important and hopefully the most exciting scene in your novel is the first scene.  That first scene should be the meeting or first interaction of the protagonist, antagonist, or protagonist's helper.  The first scene can be the initial focus of your synopsis.  In the example above, I started with that scene and that introduction of the protagonist and the protagonist's helper.  Next is the plot.

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 282, Marketing Materials

17 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 282, 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:

Genre:

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'll get to how to fill in the rest in the next few days.  For now, note that I put in the title, the author's name, the type, and the number of words.  The name is my pen-name.  It isn't much of a change from my regular name, but I thought a log time about what name should go on the front of my novels.  Perhaps I'll discuss that next.

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 280, more Mystery Title

15 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 280, more Mystery Title

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

If you are setting a title on a work yourself or your publisher asks you for ideas (assuming you don't have a title already), here are some ideas for developing a title.

1.  It needs to be pithy. 

2.  It needs to be marketable. 

3. It needs to be short, but not too simple.            

4.  It needs to be unique, but not too unique. 

5.  It should not be too similar to works with negative connotations. 

6.  It should encapsulate some measure of the theme. 

7.  It should build mystery.  Your title must be able to get the potential reader to want to look closer at your novel--this means the title must immediately build interest.  I wrote mystery because that is ultimately what you want.  You want the potential reader to be intrigued.  Let's look at some of my titles.  First the newest. 

Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  The name Lilly isn't so great a pull although, as I mentioned before, tying it with computer and enchantment does convey some mystery.  The question in the potential reader's mind is: what does this girl, Lilly, have to do with enchantment or computers?  I noted the name pitch.  I chose the name, Lilly, intentionally because it sounds gentle and innocent and the protagonist is gentle and innocent, but acts the opposite.  Lilly as a name does convey some degree of interest and matched with enchantment and computer gives mystery.

The words computer and enchantment in the same sentence and the context of a computer being enchanted or a enchantment and a computer do indeed convey mystery.  The potential reader will think: what does enchantment and computer have to do with each other?  The book doesn't disappoint because the title is ted directly to the theme.  Lilly isn't published--yet--so I should use some examples of mystery from my published novels.  The point is to choose a title that conveys mystery.

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 278, Theme Title

13 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 278, Theme Title

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

If you are setting a title on a work yourself or your publisher asks you for ideas (assuming you don't have a title already), here are some ideas for developing a title.

1.  It needs to be pithy. 

2.  It needs to be marketable. 

3. It needs to be short, but not too simple.            

4.  It needs to be unique, but not too unique. 

5.  It should not be too similar to works with negative connotations. 

6.  It should encapsulate some measure of the theme.  This should be the basis of the title--the title should make some reference back to the theme of the novel.  Thus Centurion is about a centurion.  Aegypt is about ancient Egypt and Egyptian ideas.  The Second Mission is about the second mission into time.  The End of Honor is about the end of honor in a culture.  The Fox's Honor is about the honor of an individual called the Fox.  A Season of Honor is about the reclaiming of honor in a culture.  Sister of Light is about the sister of light.  Sister of Darkness is about the sister of darkness.  I'll leave you to read the books and gather who these people are.  That's my connection to the next recommendation, but I need to give you a little more about theme.

In building a title, the theme is a primary consideration.  You are trying to put together an idea in a word or a short statement that meets all the requirements above and below.  This shouldn't be that difficult.  If it is really hard, use a note from brainstorming and bring in your readers.  I've done that before. 

I've brainstormed every word and word combination I could think of that grounded the theme and fit the general criteria I've listed.  I've asked my readers to brainstorm too.  I've presented my list to my readers and asked their opinions.  I did this especially with Ancient Light.  My publisher wanted a title for the overall series.  I put ideas out to my readers, and they helped me pick a series title.  This is a good way to get an idea that might be different from what you expected.

7.  It should build mystery.

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 276, Unique Title

11 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 276, Unique Title

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

If you are setting a title on a work yourself or your publisher asks you for ideas (assuming you don't have a title already), here are some ideas for developing a title.

1.  It needs to be pithy. 

2.  It needs to be marketable. 

3. It needs to be short, but not too simple.            

4.  It needs to be unique, but not too unique.  This is easy to check.  Pick your title and make an internet search or make a search on amazon.  If you get a thousand results for that title, your title is not unique enough.  If you get a few that are similar or even one or two that are the same--especially outside the decade--the title might be about right.  If you don't get any results or any results that are books, you might be too unique. 

The sweet spot is a few book related results.  If you get no book related results, people won't find your novel without putting in the specific name (and/or your name)--they can't accidentally find your novel.  In the world of the internet, accidental finds are what you can hope for.  You can set up websites, and you can advertise, but the most effective finds are accidental.  This is also why the title should represent the theme or a major idea in your novel.  For example, Aegypt my novel about Egyptian ideas and concepts. 

If you get way too many results with your title, the searcher will not be able to break your novel out of the crowd--plus who wants to have a title that is so similar or overused.  Too unique is too much.  Not unique enough is too much.  There is also another consideration in looking at titles--similarity to negative works.

5.  It should not be too similar to works with negative connotations.

6.  It should encapsulate some measure of the theme.

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 273, more Title

8 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 273, more Title

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

If you are setting a title on a work yourself or your publisher asks you for ideas (assuming you don't have a title already), here are some ideas for developing a title.

1.  It needs to be pithy.  I'm not certain how Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer hits you, but I do intend for it to be pithy and eye-catching.  If someone comes across your novel on the web or sees it in a bookstore, you want them to be intrigued and interested in the work.  I like single names for my books, and in fact, my publisher proposed that I develop single names for all my novels.  I kind of thought about it and did make some, but that went by the wayside.  I'll write more about this--that is, publisher and marketing ideas in titles.  A single name is intriguing especially an intriguing name like: Valeska, Hestia, Khione, Aksinya, and Lilly.  I chose the name Lilly for many reasons--that was a character development concept, but the name itself has simple power.  It is a simple, but interesting name.  You don't necessarily put it with computer, so there is a dichotomy.  There is a further dichotomy with enchantment and computer.  You can kind of imagine a Lilly and an enchantment--hard because the name is so innocent sounding, but Lilly and a computer are outside the norm of consideration.  When you put them all together, you have multiple odd intersections.  These intersections, I hope will interest a reader into picking up the book and thumbing through it.

2.  It needs to be marketable.

3.  It needs to be unique, but not too unique.

There is more and more to being pithy.

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 271, Cover

6 January 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 271, Cover

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

Every novel needs a proposed cover.  The cover you develop for your work can be used in a website and will be necessary for your publisher to create the cover for your novel.  When a work will be published, the publisher will ask you for a cover proposal.  They will usually ask you to look at available art and photos and to recommend the photos you like to represent your novel.  I recommend you already have a cover as an example for your publisher. 

The publisher will take your proposal and give it to their cover company or artists.  They will make a cover based on your recommendations and ideas.  They may produce more than one cover recommendation for you to choose from.  If you go to the secret pages for my novels, you can see the preliminary art and my cover recommendations. 

You an also use a proposed cover to populate your website.  This can stand in for the cover until you have an actual cover from your publisher.

The cover proposal is simple--the idea is to provide a starting point and a basis for a website for he novel.

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 - Writing Science Fiction, part 115 Extrapolating Military Technology, Cyberwar

23 November 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 115 Extrapolating Military Technology, Cyberwar

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
3.  Countermeasures
4.  Defense
5.  Communications
6.  Robots
7.  Vehicles
8.  Environments (personal equipment) 

If you look at the above list, everything there is affected by and includes software.  How can you defend and defend against software?  We know that we protect our computers with antivirus software, but that only goes so far--there are more types of attacks than viruses.  In fact, the primary means of cyberattacks are social engineering.  Humans trying to get passwords and cryptokeys from other humans.  Once you can get into the software, you can control or attack the software.  So, what if you isolate the software--that's a great idea.  If you can find my article on cyberwarfare on line, you can see that is one of the primary recommendations, unfortunately, isolation means you can't use all those really nice features of software: remote control, updating, system access, electronic controls, electronic operations, etc.

The problem is the minute you put the system on the grid, you guarantee its attack.  Unless you protect yourself in the way I describe in the article, you will never know when you are attacked and when you are infiltrated.  Think about it, unless the infiltrator leaves tracks, you will never even know you were compromised--unless something bad happens.  Then it is too late. 

In the future, every system will be protected by anthropometric and either passwords or tokens or tokens and anthropometric systems.  Anthropometric means body parts.  Whether it is finger prints, eye prints, face recognition, other body part recognition, that will be a part of the protection.  The second part will be a token or password.  We are already seeing these types of systems.  I like a token and an anthropometric because that allows you to catch and track infiltrators.  It is also very simple for the user.

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 105 and more Subversion, Economics, and Technology

13 November 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 105 and more Subversion, Economics, and Technology

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.

A great science fiction theme along these lines would be how to limit government to prevent the use f technology to spy on its own citizens.  Perhaps you imagine that leaps in technology give the common person little power in the overall mix--my point is that science fiction authors should be giving us the means to counter government overreach. 

How can you limit the government so it doesn't abuse its powers.  The Shockwave Rider by Brunner gave us some ideas on the how.  The main character in that novel made a computer virus to take over the spy apparatus.  The novel also was the model that led to the first real computer virus.  Viruses are likely not the appropriate solution--notice how viruses have been contained in the last 10 years.  But computer programs as well as legislative mechanisms will be part of the solution.  It would also be a great thing if people valued freedom as much now as they did in the past.  It is kind of difficult to write about freedom when a majority of the people are clamoring for limits on their freedom.  Since many of the classic science fiction novels are about fighting tyranny, newer novels should give ideas of how to fight information tyranny or perhaps computer tyranny.

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