Development - Setting up Voice in the First Scene

15 March 2012, Development - Setting up Voice in the First Scene

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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/.

Character voice is the last stage of character revelation.  Many people call this character development.  I'll make the point again.  The characters must be developed prior to their revelation in the novel.  In a novel, you don't develop the characters, you reveal them.  There is a step of true character development, but this is very particular and usually reserved for the main character.

So the point is to reveal the character that you have already developed.  The revelation is letting the reader know the character of the character.  When you do this, you can't tell the reader anything.  You can use description.  For example from Aksinya:

The woman was dressed in a black gown that was much too large for her.  Beautiful handmade lace cascaded down the front of the dress and decorated the sleeves.  Thick velvet competed with black satin to form a perfect attire to greet a Tsar, but certainly not a commissar.  The gown fell loosely away from the woman’s thin chest and small breasts.  It looked odd draped on her body, like a girl playing dress-up from her mother’s closet.  But this gown obviously came from the closet of a princess.

Aksinya, the woman within the pentagram, squinted across the dark cellar.  She was barely eighteen and much too thin for her age.  She was petite; that was a polite way of saying small.  And underdeveloped, that was a polite way of saying she didn’t yet appear much like a woman.  Aksinya’s hair was dark brown and silky and beautiful, bound up in a long braid, but her face was plain and Russian, so Russian.  Her voice was soft and sometimes too shrill.  When she was excited it rose in strength and pitch, so she never sounded very mature or well mannered.

From this description of Aksinya, you know a lot about her.  You see more than once that she is small, thin, and underdeveloped.  You know she is Russian.  You can see her features in your mind, if you know anything about Russian women.  You know her hair is long and brown and braided.  You know her voice is soft, but shrill when she is excited.  You don't know anything about her character, but you might be picking up a little about her personality.  The description just begins the process of revelation.  The true revelation happens through the character's words and actions.

We'll look more at voice in the first scene in the creative process in Aksinya tomorrow.

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 - more Tension and Release in the First Scene

12 March 2012, Development - more Tension and Release in the First Scene

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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 picture developed for the novel is turned into action within the first scene through the use of tension and release.  An important question is this: can a novel have action without tension and and release?  Yes it can, but it shouldn't.  For example, I could have built up the picture of Aksinya and Asmodeus and then simply had them walk around and talk to each other.  Is there any tension (that perhaps depends on what they do and talk about), but theoretically, they could just speak of banalities and just "walk around."  This would be neither entertaining or exciting, but it isn't far from what many writers do.  It isn't enough to have good characters in a great setting with fantastic potential; you must set them in motion with tension and release in every scene.

Simply put, the tension is what makes the novel entertaining and exciting--what makes it worth reading.  The release is what naturally occurs in proper development of a scene.  If there is no tension, you need to add it.  If there is no release, you have improperly handled the tension.  Look, it is really difficult for me to imagine a scene without tension, but I have read examples (I've probably written examples in the past--far past, I hope).  Likewise, it is difficult for me to imagine tension without release, but I'm certain someone has done it. 

What is more important is this--if you recognise the pattern of tension and release in the scenes, you can properly address them in your writing.
We'll look more at the first scene in the creative process in Aksinya tomorrow.

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 - The First Scene in the Creative Process

10 March 2012, Development - The First Scene in the Creative Process

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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 have a picture to begin the novel.  All that picture needs is to be turned on--that is, the scene needs to start.  All the research is not complete, the novel isn't written yet, but all the necessary elements are in place to begin.  My creative process has started.  My next step is to write the first scene.

The first scene of any novel is the most important.  If you grasp your readers with the first scene, you will most likely hold them through the entire novel.  To turn the picture into the first scene, I need a couple of things. 

First, I need the entertaining and exciting part that will make up the scene.  Every scene must be exciting and entertaining.  If your scenes are not entertaining or exciting, rewrite them.  If you can't write an entertaining or exciting scene, give it up.  Your primary purpose as a writer is to write things people will read and that entertains them. 

To make an entertaining scene, you must develop the tension and the release in the scene.  Tension and release is the means to make a scene exciting and entertaining.  A scene is exciting because it has strong tension and release.  This is the only means to make a scene.  The tension and release is how you write a worthwhile scene.  I've been discussing this topic in depth on my Zen of Scenes blog at www.novelscene.wordpress.com.  I'll extend some of that discussion here in the future.

Second, I need the voice of the characters.  The history and description of the characters is not enough.  An author gives a voice to his characters.  The voice of the character includes their history, description, personality, et al, but it is the individual feel and writing that brings that character alive.  You will understand what I mean if you think back to characters in books who had little voice--you had no idea when that character was acting or speaking.  The author failed to bring that unique character alive.  This is akin to character revelation (development).  However, you can have a perfectly developed or revealed character who has little or no voice.
We'll look more at the first scene in the creative process in Aksinya tomorrow.

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 - Further Developing the Picture of the Creative Process

26 February 2012, Development - Further Developing the Picture of the Creative Process

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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 initial picture for the novel Aksinya is coming into focus.  I am showing how the main character came into being for this novel.  With a demon involved and the concept of calling a demon, I intended the theme of the novel to be about temptation.  Already, we see the main character is an aristocrat, a loner, a person of some skill, obviously one who is fearless (or almost fearless), but who loves her or his family.  Now, I want to settle on the person. 

I mentioned before that I sought a pathetic character.  A pathetic character is one who evokes emotion.  A man who is tempted and succumbs to temptation is viewed as either weak (for succumbing to temptation) or as over pious (for resisting temptation).  Generally, in terms of temptation, a man will not do.  A boy is similar.  There are pathetic circumstances for young men and boys, but most of them are romantic.  Pathos is very easy with a woman and especially a girl or young woman.  This is the character I thought would best represent temptation and most believably fit in the picture I was developing. 
We'll continue to explore the concept of the main character for the novel Aksinya, tomorrow.

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 - Developing Picture of the Creative Process

24 February 2012, Development - Developing Picture of the Creative Process

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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/.

We have a picture of a demon and a person who called the demon.  The place is Russia at the end of the Great War (WWI).  The occasion was to save a family.  There is a choice here.  To save a common family (or a Bolshevik family) from the Russians or to save an aristocratic family from the Bolsheviks.  The choice was easy for me.  The Bolsheviks (Communists) are the most evil force in the modern world.  The person therefore became someone who needed to save a family (their family) from the actions of the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution.  This is a very historically accurate position since there are many records of the Russian Communists murdering the aristocracy for no other reason then they were part of the Russian aristocracy.  The Communists literally murdered men, women, and children who were aristocrats.  The most famous was the murder of the Tzar's family.

Part of the reason for this choice is to produce a pathetic character.  A pathetic character is one who evokes emotions.   

We'll continue to explore the concept of the main character for the novel Aksinya, tomorrow.

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 - Continuing the Creative Process

21 February 2012, Development - Continuing the Creative Process

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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/.

For me, the creative process always begins with a picture.  I've called this a scene before, but the simplest form is a picture.  I usually use the example of the stage for a play in describing a scene.  We can make this example simpler by freezing the beginning of the scene.  When we do this, we see the setting, the characters, and the action ready to play out.  This is the picture.

In a stage play, the stage is set, this is the setting.  When the lights go down, the characters take their places.  They are ready to act.  The play is about to commence. 

The picture I am describing for you is similar.  Imagine the scene setting and the characters like a picture.  At the beginning of the novel, the initial scene is the same.  To begin the creative process, you have to imagine this scene, that is, the complete picture.  This complete picture is the characters, the setting, and the actions.
We'll continue to explore these ideas for the novel Aksinya, tomorrow.

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 - The Creative Process

19 February 2012, Development - The Creative Process
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, 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.

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've already given you the novel Aksinya complete with comments and notations.  You could use that as a basis to understand much of my creative process, but I thought it might be even more effective to begin at the beginning and go through the steps that led directly to writing Aksinya.  Those same steps can be applied to the creation of any novel as well as any creative endeavor.

What I'll try to do is to define the process of creating a novel length idea, fleshing it out, and finally completing the novel.  Through the definition of this process, we can look at many concepts and problems writers face, and I can try to clearly explain how to generically use the creative process to at least develop a novel.
I'll begin to write about the reasons I wrote and conceived of the novel Aksinya, tomorrow.

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/.

Publication - Steps

29 October 2011, Publication - Steps

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, 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.

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.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  If you go to my writing website www.ldalford.com and select "production schedule," you will be sent to www.SisterofLight.com where there is a record and list of the steps in the publishing process.  Here's what that process looks like:

Steps in the publication process:
üContract

ü     Proposal with novel information and synopsis sent to publisher - 3 June 2008

         This novel was odd because the publisher requested a sequel and therefore knew it was coming.  Generally, the publisher wants information and a synopsis in their format prior to receiving the manuscript.

ü     Manuscript sent to publisher - 3 June 2008, 10 January 2009, 8 October 2009

ü     OakTara agreed to contract the Novel - 11 June 2008
ü     OakTara sent a contract - 20 July 2008
ü     Contract signed and returned - 22 July 2008
ü     Final signed contract copy returned from publisher - 1 August 2008, 19 Feb 10
Cover - will move to the author page when I have an initial cover, this section and info will also move to the secrets page with a cover.
     Request from publisher for cover ideas - when I finish a novel, I develop a title (if I haven't already), produce the marketing information and synopsis (usually a 500 and 250 word synopsis), and work on a cover concept.  I have one in mind for this novel, but it is a take off on the original cover for Aegypt.
ü     Sent cover ideas to Publisher - 16 October 2008
     Publisher's recommended covers
     Final front cover development
     Development of cover back
     Final entire cover
     Cover spine sized for book
Contents
ü     Manuscript sent to publisher - 3 June 2008, 10 January 2009, 8 October 2009
     Proofs sent from publisher
     Proof corrections to publisher
     Final sent from publisher
     Final approved

Completion

     Publisher sends completed novel portfolio to press

     Publication - copies in hand

Marketing
     Press release
     Excerpts
     Web presence

Tomorrow, I'll start to write about these steps?

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/.

About Book Covers

Book covers are like titles and marketing. They are necessary to the finished product and necessary for the writer to develop. First, no one is going to read your book and make the perfect cover for you. You are the most knowledgeable source for your work and only you will be able to put together an idea that will capture it in a single picture--usually with help. When you finish your work: fix on a title (as described below), work up your marketing materials, and then put together a rough idea for a cover. You can see the process at www.ldalford.com look in unpublished novels. You can check the secrets pages for each published novel to see the process the covers went through.

Don't expect artwork unless you are willing to pay a lot for it or you are a best selling author. You can do it yourself, but unless you are really good (I mean a professional who sells or has sold or been trained or won real awards) don't even think about it. Many people who think they are great artists can only produce junk. As a matter of a fact the number of rotten writers is directly proportional to the number of rotten artists. Most of the time, you aren't both, but there are rare exceptions. The artist who did some of my artwork is also a writer, and she is an awesome artist.

Expect the publisher's cover department to put together photos, writing (fonts), and backgrounds to make your cover. This is a very cost effective means to make a cover and is the most common today. You can do it as easily as they can. The trick is that they have much better equipment, photos, fonts, software, etc. at their disposal. All you have to do is search the web or clip art to find the approximate photos that match your ideas. You put them together and send the idea to your publisher.

Generally, your publisher's art department will use your ideas to come up with a great cover or a couple of covers for you to choose from. If you look on my site at www.aegyptnovel.com under secrets, you will see the cover proposal I sent, their proposed covers, and the final design. You can find these for each of my published novels. You can also look at my new novels to see my rough cover proposals.

Sandi Andrews of the Book Club Network www.bookfun.org wrote this about a couple of my covers:
Because I have both Centurion and Aegypt in front of me, I’ll address your question first. Perhaps it would help to understand the progression that led from not being familiar with your work to actually buying two of your books.The shortest answer is this site. The longer explanation starts with your friendship with Bruce. Because he posted in the discussions here, I became aware of him and his work. I checked out his website and online retailers to discover more about his background, books, and what others were saying about his work. Garnering enough information to justify a purchase, I ordered two of his books. By the time I was not very far into the second book, I determined not only did I enjoy his descriptive style and well researched content, but the man definitely had something to say that was worth my time to read and ponder. I then purchased the third book in his series and continued some exchanges with Bruce. In one of them he mentioned your friendship, suggesting that I might be interested in your book, Centurion, so I repeated the research process focusing this time on you and your work.What Bruce did not know was that if my father had not insisted that my undergraduate degree be in Finance, I would have pursued a course of study that would have led to a career in Biblical archaeology. The fact that I spent the greater part of my London vacation this past February at the British Museum underscores my interest in the subject matter of your books. I ordered both Aegypt and Centurion.So after that long winded aside, the answer to your primary question is that I think the covers of your books are both appealing and appropriate. The photo of the centurion on the book with the same title is riveting. My eyes immediately locked on the statue’s eyes which appear to be focusing on something or someone that is causing inner turmoil. The cover poses unspoken questions compelling a potential readers to seek the answers inside. Once the cover had my attention, I reread the back blurb which I had previously read online and then flipped through the pages to read a writing sample. Satisfied that I would enjoy the book, it was placed on my “to be read soon” stack. BTW, thank you for the Lexicon at the back of the book…it will help my understanding and limit interruptions to research terms online.The cover of Aegypt needed the blurb information on the back to clarify the time period of the novel but it is still compelling enough that I would have picked the book up in a B & M. Because I purchased online, the other pertinent information was visible with the cover for the purchase decision.
You have not only caught my interest because of the archaeology aspect of your writing but I think my husband will also be reading your work especially the sci-fi. He may already have read some of your air and space related articles in some of the aviation magazines he receives. Early in his career, Pete worked at both Carswell AFB in Fort Worth (where he first learned to fly) and at McClellan AFB in Sacramento where he worked on software for the FB-111A.So… is our inclination to explore your work based upon your covers alone? Probably not, but I do believe the covers would not repel anyone except those with no imagination or little interest in historical novels.As an experiment, I might present a sampling of some books for the club members to indicate their first reactions to the various covers.