Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 328, still more Enchantment First Paragraphs Initial Scene

4 March 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 328, still more Enchantment First Paragraphs Initial Scene

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 shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Propsal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene.  I'm writing about the initial scene of my newest novel, "Escape."  Escape is the working title.  I'll decide on the proposed title when I finish the novel.  I'm at the twelfth chapter right now.  That means I've written about 240 pages.

The entertainment (and excitement) should start with the first sentence and paragraph and grow to envelope the first scene.  Let's compare the excitement and entertainment I'm recommending with some of my published and unpublished novels.  As I grew as a writer, my awareness of the importance of the first paragraph grew.  It's one thing to be taught or realize and another to implement.  Next example the first paragraph from, Khione: Enchantment of the Fox:

A young man stood at the edge of the darkness and cupped his hands around an advanced night vision scope.  The autumn night was cold and crisp, and the white clouds of his warm breath kept billowing up around the lens of the scope.  He wore a black uniform, but he had carefully tucked his white identification badge into his pocket.  He whispered right under his breath, “Okay Pearce, move up slowly, very slowly and take a look.”

    
Khione is a yet unpublished and uncontracted novel that follows Hestia in my Enchantment novels.  It's a complete stand-alone novel that weighs in at about 85,500 words. 

Here--I've redeemed myself.  Perhaps Hestia doesn't have everything I want from a first paragraph, but Khione does.  The first sentence implies and includes action.  With the action comes mystery.  What are they doing out in the dark with a night vision scope?  There is scene setting--and lots of it.  You get the scene, the time, the weather, the season--not yet the place.  You get character introduction.  Note, I introduce the character Pearce and not the other (Jason) because Pearce is the protagonist in the novel.  You get character description and that also drives mystery.  Why dark uniforms?  Note that the black uniform is undercut with the "white identification badge," that is tucked into the pocket--they can't be military.

In this first paragraph, we have everything I recommend for a first paragraph.  This is the point I would like you (and me) to wrap our heads around; you can write a great novel, but if you (or I) submarine our novels with the first paragraph, we aren't going to be published or have people buy our books.  The point is this--look at that first paragraph.  Ensure it includes all the excitement and entertainment possible.  If there is no action, adventure, mystery, excitement, etc. in that first paragraph--change your novel.  Fix it so there is.
 

More tomorrow.

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

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 306, more Initial Scene

10 February 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 306, more Initial Scene

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

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene.  I'm writing about the initial scene of my newest novel, "Escape."  Escape is the working title.  I'll decide on the proposed title when I finish the novel.  I'm at the eight chapter right now.  That means I've written about 160 pages.

The initial scene is the scene that defines a novel.  When you pick up a book in a bookstore, first you see the cover, then you read the title, then you read the other information on the front.  Second, you turn it around and read the back blurb.  This is assuming a paper back book or a book with a paper cover.

If you like what you read on the cover, you will turn to the first page--not the middle or the end, but the first page and read a paragraph or two.  If you like what you read, you might just sit down and read the entire novel--most people buy the book and take it home. 

Similarly, if you note a book on a website, you will likely read the web-material.  You will open the book using the book tool and read the first few paragraphs or pages.  This is how books are purchased and this is how books are published.

Since the first scene and, indeed, the first paragraphs are the most important in the novel, we will take a closer look at them in this new 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 - New Novel, part 305, Initial Scene

9 February 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 305, Initial Scene

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

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene.  I'm writing about the initial scene of my newest novel, "Escape."  Escape is the working title.  I'll decide on the proposed title when I finish the novel.  I'm at the eight chapter right now.  That means I've written about 160 pages.

When I begin a novel--I should say, before I begin a novel, I imagine the initial scene.  The initial scene is the most important scene in any novel, and it  is the scene that defines the novel.  The initial scene in "Escape," jumps back and forth between Reb and Scott.  Scott is the pilot who is flying an illegal flight path across the island nation of Freedom.  Reb is the citizen who longs to escape Freedom.  Their paths cross when Scott's high altitude cargo shuttle has an engine failure and he has to crash land on the island of Freedom.  This scene sets up the entire novel.

The reason this is so important is that this scene is the one that will get  publisher or a prospective reader to pick up your novel and read it.  If a publisher reads your novel, you might get published.  If a potential reader likes the first scene, they might buy your novel.  This is why this scene is so important.  You can louse up the scenes in the middle of the novel and few will care, but if the first scene is bad, a publisher or a potential reader will no t read your novel.  No read, no buy.  No read, no publish.  That is why the first scene is so important.

Additionally, this is why I'm not in favor of prologues or anything else that gets in front of the first scene.  Don't self eliminate your novels with this kind of bad writing.  Better to dump the prologue and bring it in later as a flashback than to screw up your first scene.

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 246 Next Scene

6 April 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 246 Next Scene

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'm not giving this series up quite yet.  I'll review some of what I've already described and tie it together. 

The ideas I'm discussing in this overall conclusion are not just for science fiction, but relevant to all writing.  I'm putting together the sequence of events for writing a science fiction novel.  Once you have written the first scene, the rest of the novel will almost write itself.  The entry into the first scene is the theme statement.  The setting and characters come out of the theme statement.  The action for the initial scene comes out of the theme statement and the characters.  In the latest novel I am writing, the theme is about the relationship between a vampire and a government agent.  The government agent is shot while on assignment and accidentally gets involved with the vampire.  I know I told you that vampire themes are overused--I just had an inspiration and couldn't let it go.  Every scene, including the initial scene, has an input to the scene.  The input are the conditions that set the scene and make it come into place.  As a writer, you don't need to tell all the initial conditions for the initial scene, you just set the scene and put it into motion. 

In my newest novel, the inputs to the first scene are very complex, but simply, the agent has been tasked with a simple contact assignment and is shot through the chest.  The vampire is a girl who was hunting and the agent happened to get in the way.  She is starving and asks the agent if she can have some blood.  In the exchange, the agent doesn't become a vampire, but the vampire gives him back his life, while the vampire has become dependent on the agent.  The point is the scene is almost all setting and conversation with the strong action at the beginning.  At the end, the vampire is gone and the agent is unconscious.  The next scene should be obvious.  The output of the first scene is that the vampire saves the agent and the agent saves the vampire.  The agent is out and previously pressed the crises button on his phone.  Since we follow the protagonist, the next scene must be the agent in the hospital.

In my latest novel (not science fiction), the first scene is filled with action and excitement, blood and guts.  That first scene is critical to the entire 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 - How I Start a Novel Part 5, Scene Building

9 July 2013, Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 5, Scene Building

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

I like to drive a scene through conversation. You can see in yesterday's example, I used a snippet of conversation between Byron and an anonymous girl to introduce Dana (Diana). This is the power of conversation. You can express many, many ideas without a single word of narrative or description. For example, instead of telling us, she is crying, you can have another character state, "There's no need to cry." In that single string of words, I told you something about the girl, she is crying, and about the observer. Let's look at Dana-ana as an example of the conversation driving the first scene. My comments are in [].

[Dan and Jack are bit characters. There is no reason to break the action to give them much description.] Dan held Diana’s arm. [Here is the input to the scene, Dana is stealing lunches] He put his pimply face in hers and yelled [I don't like to ever use said. I want to use more descriptive words or show the actions of the speakers], “Thought you could just take it, didn’t you?” He twisted her arm and Diana flinched. She turned slightly until Jack’s hold on her hair stopped her.

Byron took a step forward, “What’s up Dan, Jack?” [We see Byron reluctantly get involved. His actions show he isn't really interesting in saving Dana, but rather he feels compelled to prevent the other students from hurting her too much.]

Dan glanced quickly up at Byron. His eye twitched, “Don’t interfere Macintyre. She stole Sherrill’s lunch. We’re sure she took Jane’s the day before. She’s been taking lunches since the beginning of school. We just finally caught her at it this time.”

“How’d you do that?”

Dan twisted Diana’s hand around and squeezed it open. “Take a look,” he grinned, “red handed.”

Diana’s hand was stained blue.

“Put that powder from the last chemistry lab on the handle,” he showed his teeth again, “add a little water, and the blue hand shows who touched it.” [Here is the proof that Dana is stealing lunches. The other character, Dan, just showed it to the reader and explained how--no need of narrative.]

Byron put out his arm, “That’s enough, Dan, Jack. Just tell her to keep her hands off other people’s lunches and let her go.” [Sounds reasonable, but in the next bit of dialog, Jack explains why Byron doesn't understand the problem of Dana.]

Jack shook his head, “That won’t be enough for her. She’ll do it again unless we teach her a good lesson.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Sherrill has to get her piece, and Jane.” [Sherrill and Jane are bit characters, no need to break the action to describe them.]

Byron glanced at Jane then Sherrill. Jane shook her head. Sherrill tossed her hair, “That’s enough for me. She didn’t get my lunch. Diana, you keep your hands off my stuff—you hear?” [Sherrill's response is due to Byron's intimidation. No need to tell you how he affects them, but rather show you the results. The dialog explains it all.]

Dan had Diana’s arm behind her back, and Jack twisted her head back with her hair. Her face was turned upwards and her eyes were squeezed shut.

Byron addressed the girl, “What do you say, Diana?” [This is ironic because we find out Dana will not respond. This also indicates how little Byron knows Dana.]

Dan twisted her arm a little more. Diana flinched. Dan squinted, “She won’t say anything. She never says anything. Just slinks around and steals stuff.” He turned a little more toward Sherrill, which twisted Diana’s arm a bit more. Byron thought her arm looked close to breaking—still Diana didn’t make a sound. Dan nodded to Sherrill, “Sherrill, pop her one. That’s your right and that’ll teach her.”

Sherrill stepped forward, took a look at Byron, and stepped back, “You do it. I’m done.”

Without any warning, Jack pulled back his fist and tugged Diana’s hair toward it. His fist met her cheek with a crack, and she sagged forward. Dan’s hold was the only thing that kept her from falling flat on her face. He released her arm, and she flopped forward into the dirt. [This is the output of the scene and the input to the next scene--Dana is knocked out.]

Sherrill scowled, “She didn’t admit to anything. Pants her. That’ll teach her.” [Once Dana is entirely helpless, the cruelty of the students comes out. This gives us insight into them and shows us what they think about Dana.]

Dan reached down and grabbed the back of Diana’s pants. She didn’t have a belt on. He tugged down and half bared her buttocks. Byron moved quickly, “That’s enough Dan. You made your point.”

Sherrill laughed, “She doesn’t have any underwear on.” She pointed, “Look at that. I thought she was low, but I had no idea she was like that.” [we find out more about Dana]

At the edges of the crowd a call went up, “Teacher. Beat it.” [The result of this announcement should be obvious.]

The input into the next scene is Dana is knocked out cold and Byron takes her to the infirmary. Whew, lots of notes. I could give you even more.

Here is the development of the scene from beginning to end. First the input, Dana is stealing lunches and she was caught. She is about to be beaten for it. The action revolves around this and the dialog tells you what is happening and gives you insight into the characters. Mainly, in terms of plot and storyline, this is the beginning of the introduction of Dana and Byron. This is the event that first brings them into contact with each other. The event is somewhat commonplace and not out of place for the characters. Neither Dana nor Byron want to be there and neither are interested in each other. Circumstances simply bring them together and the bond between them is Byron's attempt to help her in light of the actions against her. The output from this scene is Dana is knocked out. The input to the next scene is also this event. As the reader, you can start to imagine the next scene, but the details have not been revealed yet. The point of these scenes in the storyline is to build a pretext for Byron's interaction with Dana. In the real world people don't just meet each other and interact without some degree of connection. Interaction is a process and this process gives play to future and other potential interactions. The point of this and the rest of the scenes in the first chapter are to give a reason for Byron's interest in Dana. There is much more to building scenes. I'll give some more examples tomorrow.

See more writing secrets at www.ldalford.com.

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

Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 4, Scene Building

8 July 2013, Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 4, Scene Building

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

Why and what: you need to begin scene writing with the input and a "what." The "what" is something that will be entertaining to your readers. Let's continue with the example of Dana-ana. The main character has been accused of stealing lunches in school and is about to be beaten for it. The tension in the scene is obvious. The excitement in the scene builds through the description and conversation. Description is the critical ingredient in building the scene. You have to set the scene for your readers. I follow Arlo Guthrie's advice and use description in many ways to tell the reader when, where, and who. Without description the reader isn't anywhere. You have to establish the reader in the world you are building in the scene. I do this early on. Let's look at the first few paragraphs of Dana-ana:

     The yells of students burst from the halls and classrooms and pressed into the yard. Byron Macintyre was carried along with the crowd. He just wanted to get to lunch. He rolled his eyes and kept up with the moving mob. The halls of their old school building were not very wide, and the lockers on either side made them smaller. The high school didn’t have that many students, but when they were all out of class and moving in one direction, it was nearly impossible to travel anywhere else. Byron figured he would just wait until he could get outside the doors, then he could duck back to his locker, the cafeteria, and then the library.

Byron was tall, but he still couldn’t see what was going on ahead. Out of exasperation, he yelled over the noise of the crowd, “What’s going on?”
From beside him, one of the sophomore girls laughed, “It’s that girl Diana. The stinky skank, who wears crappy clothes.”
Yeah, Byron knew about Diana. Everyone knew about Diana. She was never very far from trouble with teachers, students, or parents. She didn’t have any friends, but she usually kept a low profile.

In these few paragraphs, I establish for the reader the place (a High School with some info about the school), the time (it's lunch, modern world is kind of obvious too), Byron, and the main character, Dana (Diana). This, in my mind, is necessary. You have to establish the reader solidly in the scene, then you can let them go to experience the rest of the action. Note, the action moves even in this descriptive portion. You can't let your readers loose by simply stating a description. You need to keep your readers involved throughout. Once you establish the basics of where, when, and who for a scene, you can continue to build with description in the conversation and narrative.

One more point about scenes: show don't tell. Don't tell us motivations. Don't reveal everything. Show us what is going on in the scene and let it play out like in real life. You don't know motivations in the real world. You don't know what others are thinking. You don't know even that much about yourself--sometimes. Reality becomes real in a scene when the reader can see the entire situation, but doesn't know the internal motivations of the actors. This is the way of the real world. This is what builds tension in the real world--and this is what drives the power of a scene. Tomorrow, I'll delve deeper into moving the scene through conversation and narrative. You can read the rest of the chapter at www.Dana-ana.com

See more writing secrets at www.ldalford.com.

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

Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 3

7 July 2013, Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 3

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

It would be impossible for me to tell you everything you need to know to write a scene. There is already a lot of great writing on this specific subject. What I will try to do is tell you how I write a scene. First, I need an input and an output. The scene has to have something that is the cause of it--that is the input. It has to have an end with a potential transition to the next scene--that is the output. You can see the input is driven by the previous scene transition (or by another earlier scene transition--your scenes don't necessarily have to be back to back in time). So to start a novel, your first scene must have an implied or explained transition from the imagined scene before. You detail this at some point in the novel or the first scene, but that's getting into the details--I'll stick a little higher than that for now. You could call the input to the scene the "why" of the scene. The "why" is necessary, but the most important part of a scene is the "what." The what of a scene is what happens to entertain the reader and drive the plot. I develop a scene around this singular "what." The "what" can be an event, a revelation, a conversation, an adventure, a joke, whatever. The most important key is that the "what" must be entertaining to your reader. It should draw emotion and or excitement. For example, in the first scene of Dana-ana, www.Dana-ana.com, the main character Dana is accused of stealing lunches and is about to be beaten for it. There is the excitement. The reader has no idea who this Dana-ana person is, but already the novel jumps into adventure and danger. Within the scene, I deliver all kinds of information to the reader explaining the "why" and the "what." That's what is so great about a scene--in it you show the reader what is going on, but at the same time, you can reveal important information for the plot and theme of the novel. So, the most important thing to me in writing is to entertain my reader--the scene is the mode I employ. Each scene must be entertaining. If it is not entertaining, there is no purpose in the writing. I'll go into more detail tomorrow on the scene.

See more writing secrets at www.ldalford.com.

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

Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 1

5 July 2013, Writing Ideas - How I Start a Novel Part 1

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

I wish I could spend every moment writing on novels. The problem is that I can't physically or mentally do that. I begin to write a novel when I have a novel length inspiration. They come about once every six months now, so I can potentially expect to write a novel every six months or two a year. My usual inspiration is an opening scene or a developed scene. These usually manifest themselves as a theme question. You can see some of these theme questions in the novel secret pages at www.ldalford.com. In the case of the newest novel I wrote, the scene was a girl being beaten and a young man rescuing her. The first question is what could drive such a scene. My answer isn't as simple as you would think.  It doesn't, at first, seem contected to the incident at all. The ultimate plot question I derived from this scene is what incidents would drive the circumstance of an Anglo-Saxon maiden in the modern world. That's the plot statement of the novel. Once I had a plot statement and an opening scene, I could begin on the novel. The novel called for me to write it. I couldn't stop the flow of ideas. Once I fleshed out the major characters in the first chapter, I began to outline the novel. I usually outline very loosely by scene. I add scenes and develop plot details by chapter. When I am writing, I write daily from about 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. I usually write a chapter a day about 6000 words or 20 pages. I aim for a novel of around 100,000 words. About 20 chapters. I finish a novel after about one month. Tomorrow, I'll give you more details on writing my latest novel and generally about how I go about writing a novel.

See more writing secrets at www.ldalford.com.

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

Answers to Some Questions, Number 1

14 November 2012, Answers to Some Questions, Number 1

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

1. The beginning
2. The rising action
3. The Climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement

Every scene has these parts:

1. The setting (where, what, who, when, how)
2. The connection (input)
3. The tension development
4. The release
5. The output

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Place is the obvious next place we go in scene setting.  I'll take some time to answer the following questions from one of my readers.  Questions in blue, answers in black:

I was trying to systematically review your writing installments, and organize them w/in the context of 'Elements of Literature'..ie, (Plot, Setting, Theme, Characterization, Point of View, etc.) and I had couple of questions:

1. W/in Plot: What's the best way to intro the conflict, and do outstanding plots nearly always get abstracted down to the big themes, such as Man vs Man, Man vs Nature, Man vs Society, Man vs Self, Man vs God, Man vs Satan?

The theme should begin first.  Some of the writing I'm doing about creativity and how to turn that into theme and plot hasn't published yet.  It will soon.  In looking at creativity, you begin with a creative idea and turn it into a theme.  From the theme comes the protagonist, antagonist, and protagonist's helper.  So, looking at one of your theme examples: Man vs. Man.  In this large theme is already two characters, a protagonist and an antagonist.  The theme itself is too broad and needs to be refined--that's the point if creativity.  If I had a creative idea related to this theme, it might be something like this:  Man vs. Man--a man has given everything he has to charity and is about to be kicked out of his rental house, the landlord wants to kick him out but agrees to allow him to stay as long as he pays the mortgage.  Okay, that's maybe a lame theme, but you can still build a plot out of it. 

You have your major characters: protagonist and antagonist.  You develop them, the setting, etc.  Now, with this information, we can find a point to intro the conflict.  In a novel like this, the first point of conflict would be the meeting of the protagonist and the antagonist.  To really get this right, we need the developed characters in front of us.  Let's make up some development.  The man who gave everything to charity has never met the owner of the house--all the business was done through a rental agency.  The antagonist heard from the rental agency about this destitute person who gave everything to charity, and the antagonist is intrigued and wants to meet the protagonist.

There...we have set up the first scene of the novel, and it seems this will be a rousing scene.  The input of the scene will be the protagonist has just run out of money and can't pay the rent.  The antagonist is coming over to call.  This could be a very energetic and exciting scene--it all depends on the author. 

So, the operation is theme, theme refinement, character development, novel setting, and first scene.  Of course, the first scene must lay out the entire theme and conflict.

2. W/in Setting: How important vs detrimental, is it for the action to changes form one place/time, to another, during the early,middle & ending of a novel. Is there a rule of thumb, or is that subject, depending on story, plot, style, scene & theme?



4. Characterization: (Agent, Who): We know characterization is generally made up of three elements, appearance, personality & behavior. Can one rank their relative importance, and do you have a rule of thumb of how you go about developing it. Also, do you make use of stock characterization, or common types or not? I know you get very sophisticated in presenting character detail in many forms (physical feature, clothing, possession, communication, etc.) ; do you every consider that your audience doesn't have the literary knowledge, memory or intellect to grasp your character detail...ie, gets lost in the detail. How do you guard against it; your novel, for example was very complex.

5. Point of view: Which point of view do you prefer to employ in telling different types of stories, and why? How careful are you at tracking what he/she is aware of, at various stages of the story? Any rules, tricks, techniques or warnings for 1st Person narrator, 3rd Person Limited narrator or 3rd Person Omniscient Narrator?

Just a few questions. Thanks in advance. And, may I briefly add, I have certainly enjoyed reading your postings on the art of writing, and apologize if I'm asked Q's that you've already covered in the past. If so, I must have missed those particular installments, or more likely, was looking for a bit more elaboration, should you care to provide it. :)
I'll answer more, tomorrow.

My Notes: once you have a theme, you need to begin to visualize your plot, focus your theme, and define your characters. More tomorrow.

I'll move on to basic writing exercises and creativity in the near future.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: Please elaborate on scene, theme, plot, character development in a new novel creation....ie, the framework, the development, order if operation, the level of detail, guidelines, rule of thumb, tricks, traps and techniques.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovelthesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor, http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - Initial Scene

23 October 2012, Development - Initial Scene

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

If you have been following this blog, you knew I would get to this point eventually.  If you have a focused theme, developed characters (with some storyline development), a setting, and a beginning, you have enough information to write the initial scene of the novel. 

If you have that information and can write an initial scene, you can develop the plot of a novel.  These are all easy pieces.  I showed you how to get a cretive idea--I even gave you an exercise in doing it.  I showed you how to turn that idea into a theme, then a focused theme.  I told you how to define and develop your major characters.  I told you how to determine a setting.  Finally, I gave you an exercise in how to determine an initial scene.

The next step is to begin a scene outline.  I will go into detail on how to make a scene outline.  This is the way I write novels.  There are other methods, but in my humble opinion, every method of writing eventually gets to a scene outline.  Therefore, if you know how to write one, you can write a novel.

I'll write more about this tomorrow, but the theme should define the major characters which defines the potential settings of the novel. That is especially evident from the examples of my science fiction novels.

My Notes: once you have a theme, you need to begin to visualize your plot, focus your theme, and define your characters. More tomorrow.

I'll move on to basic writing exercises and creativity in the near future.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: Please elaborate on scene, theme, plot, character development in a new novel creation....ie, the framework, the development, order if operation, the level of detail, guidelines, rule of thumb, tricks, traps and techniques.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor, http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - more Historical Study

4 May 2012, Development - more Historical Study

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/.

I'm writing about sources of historical research and how to make historical research. These apply to any novel or any subject you might wish to study. Here is a list:

1. Primary source documents or artifacts
2. Secondary source documents or artifacts
3. Tertiary source documents of artifacts

I looked at primary source documents yesterday--I'll get more in depth about them later.  Today, I want to define secondary source documents.

A secondary source document is the direct report of an eyewitness account from someone who was not an eyewitness.  In a legal court this is called hearsay evidence.  In history, secondary sources are some of our best sources.  Generally, they are documents like these:

1.  Newspaper accounts
2.  Official biographies (written from interviews of a person)
3.  Interviews
4.  Reports on actual events post the event (part of such a report can be considered primary)
5.  Court reports
6.  A painting or sculpture made from an actual person or place

A secondary document or artifact is never considered more accurate than any primary document or artifact.

All secondary accounts are considered interpretive.  Since they are not the actual eyewitness to the event they may or may not accurately portray the event, but like I mentioned, sometimes secondary evidence is the best we have in history.  For example, before photography (which is a primary source, unless reenacted), painting and sculpture was about the only visual witness we had to history.

I will use secondary sources when primary sources don't exist, but they are always considered less accurate and less reliable than any primary source.

I'll write more about this and the study of history, tomorrow.

I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - an example of a Classical First Scene

2 May 2012, Development - an example of a Classical First Scene

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/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development. The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I'll write about the beginning of my final published novel. Final in the sense of the sixth one I've written about. In The Second Mission, the protagonist and the protagonist's helper are introduced in the first scene. This is a classical means of beginning a novel. The novel begins at a very exciting point and begins to build very nicely from there.

The Second Mission is about the second mission of humans into time. The protagonist, Alan Fisher, is accidentally brought along on the mission. The protagonist's helper is Sophia, the true time traveller. The exciting beginning is the moment when Alan is accidentally whisked from the end of the twentieth Century and Sophia is sent to Greece in 400 BC on the second mission.

This first scene shows their meeting and their first moments together. Alan is astounded and surprised because he is now in Greece in 400 BC, and Sophia for the same reason--because Alan is in Greece in 400BC.

The point is that in a novel with a classical form, you introduce the protagonist and either the protagonist's helper or the antagonist in the first scene. The first scene needs to and should be an action and excitement oriented scene.

I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - an example of a less than Classical First Scene

1 May 2012, Development - an example of a less than Classical First Scene

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/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development. The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

Since I'm showing examples from a classical standpoint, I might as well continue with this theme.  My published novel, A Season of Honor, begins by introducing the protagonist in the first scene.  We don't meet the protagonist's helper until the second scene.  The first scene is not characterized by excitement.  There is some revelation and emotional action.  The novel begins at just the right point, but that point isn't as excitement filled as it should be.  The beginning of the novel could have been improved by either an action based point or by moving it to the second scene.

The action based point for the beginning might have been when the protagonist, Baron Shawn du Locke comes to the planet, Acier.  Still, I'm happy with the novel.  It is published and has a small following.  The novel builds very satisfactorily from the beginning to the end.  If you read this novel, you might agree, it would be difficult to begin anywhere else, but a strong beginning is important to any novel.
I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - an example of a Classical First Scene

30 April 2012, Development - an example of a Classical First Scene

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/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development. The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

The beginning of my published novel, The Fox's Honor, introduces the protagonist and the protagonist's helper.  The novel is a romance as well as a romantic novel.  Although it quickly delves into action, the first scene action in The Fox's Honor is a kiss and a confession of love.  There is a degree of excitement and entertainment in that.  Although The Fox's Honor is not a story about love, it starts out strongly in a romance atmosphere.  If anything, The Fox's Honor is about forbidden love with lots of space combat thrown in.  Don't stop reading--I'll explain.

The protagonist, Prince Devon Rathenberg, declares his love to the Lady Tamar Falkeep.  The problem is that Devon plans to die in a duel that night, and his rank makes any thought of marriage with Tamar unthinkable.  Pretty strong beginning for a novel.  The set up is really fun.

Here's today's point, in the first scene of a novel, you must set up the entire novel.  If you have developed your characters properly and sufficiently, the novel will flow out of them.  You must also pick a beginning scene that encapsulates the power of the novel and the characters.  There are a lot of places I could have started The Fox's Honor:  Devon's leave-taking from the Imperial Planet, Tamar at school, etc.  None of these would have the excitement or the power of the current beginning where Devon declares his love and then runs off to die.  He doesn't die; Tamar saves him.  And...so begins Prince Devon Rathenberg's greatest problem--he engages himself with a woman he would not be allowed to marry, but a woman who is already known as a powerful political manipulator.  It's a fun novel.

I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - and still more on Classical First Scene

29 April 2012, Development - and still more on Classical First Scene

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/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development. The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

Aegypt begins with the protagonist and should have a more exciting beginning.  I've already confessed this slight fault with the novel.  It is classically published and has attracted a good audience of readers.  Two follow-ons are on contract.  In spite of any shortcoming with the beginning scene, it has been successful.  The problem is that if you evaluate the novel, I doubt you can find a better place to start it.  You can't introduce the protagonist's helper or the antagonist.  If you move to the next level of high action, you miss any of the buildup (in this novel, like most suspense novels, the buildup is very important).

There is some excitement and adventure in the first scene, but it could use a little more.  I might have started the novel during the raid alluded to in the first scene.  That would have probably been the best beginning, but I didn't, and the raid, except that it expresses the mental state of Paul Bolang, has no real importance in the novel.  Remember, don't leave in anything extraneous. 

So, I confessed again.  Still, this is good for you to see.  Writers should not be above critically reviewing their own works.  There is no novel that is perfect; all can use improvement.  The trick is to get it as perfect as possible.

I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.