Development - Personality and Mental Illness and Change of Voice in a Novel

24 March 2012, Development - Personality and Mental Illness and Change of Voice in a Novel

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/.

Sometimes (rarely) character voice must change.  You may and should change character voice in these circumstances:

1.  Development of the character
2.  Mental illness
3.  Physical or mental effects
4.  Personality
5.  Seduction
6.  Subterfuge
4.  ...there may be more, I'll think of them as I write about the others.

The revelation of the character in a novel (a change of personality) many times requires a change of voice of the character just like mental or physical effects.  I will discuss some of the details of how to portray this change.  The descent into mental illness or the ascent out of mental illness requires the writer to express the character's voice as singular and unique, but changing.  For example, a character who is not ill at the beginning of the novel may act very reasonably.  The author defines their unique voice and then over chapters and with each scene, the character begins to act in ways that gradually shows the change.  A character may have an affected attitude, mannerism, or appearance that the author begins to show as repetitive as the novel progresses.  The point is not to tell the reader that the character is going crazy, but rather to reveal the change through the voice. 

This is the entire point--in a novel about the onset of a mental illness, the author should not expressly tell the readers what is happening.  The author should show the evidences and allow the reader to gradually discover what is happening.  If you look back at Aksinya, Aksinya slowly begins to descend into what her captors think is mental illness.  She sees a demon.  She appears to attempt suicide.  She tries to get needle and thread to put crosses on her clothing and does use her own blood to mark crosses on her clothes.  These actions are mistaken by her ecclesiastical and secular judges that she is insane.  The reader realizes (or thinks they realize) she is not insane but rather making intelligent choices.  I intentionally change the voice of the character for two reasons.  The first is that Aksinya does have a true change in personality.  The second is that I want the reader to not assume she is completely sane.  As I wrote in my commentary on the novel, I want the reader to question, in their own mind, the sanity of Aksinya.  I could have been more deliberate with this (like I was in Aegypt), but I didn't.

How to project the character's voice is an important tool to a writer.  I'll discuss this and the other circumstances for change of voice, 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/.

A New Novel, Part 258 Because You Believe Me

19 June 2011, A New Novel, Part 258 Because You Believe Me  

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Aksinya's secular trial is about to begin.  Aksinya and Father Dobrushin are in the courtroom in the Rathaus in Wien.  They are discussing more than the case.  Father Dobrushin is trying to prepare.  Aksinya wants to know why Father Dobrushin is helping her...

The prosecutors came to their table.  They nodded toward Aksinya and to Father Dobrushin.  Father Dobrushin stepped over and shook their hands.  Aksinya heard only quiet greetings between them.  The priest sat down again and continued to glance through his papers.  The benches of the courtroom began to fill behind them.  Aksinya fidgeted for a while then asked Father Dobrushin, “Why are there so many people in the benches?  Is there an important trial later?”

Father Dobrushin’s lips turned down, “You haven’t seen the papers for a while.”

“They don’t give me anything to read in the jail.  I only have the Greek Bible you brought me.”

“You have been on the front page of every paper in the city and perhaps Austria since well before the ecclesiastical trial two weeks ago.”

“I have?”

“If you look closely, the men on the back row are all photographers and reporters.  They are not allowed to take pictures in the courtroom.  When you leave here, they will all try to snap your picture.”

“Really?  What did they say about me?”

“Nothing flattering.”

“But what did they say?”

“They called you a witch and a sorceress.”

“That’s pretty innocuous and besides, it’s true.”

“There were other things less flattering, but mostly they called the Cardinal and the inquisitors to task for trying a mentally ill girl in an ecclesiastical court.”

Aksinya’s brow wrinkled, “The mentally ill girl was me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“Why this time?”

“Because you believe me.”  She glanced at him from the sides of her eyes and sighed, “I’ll try not to bother you again.”

“When?  Now?  It’s too late.”

So, Aksinya and Father Dobrushin continue their conversation, the focus is a little different now.  We see the entrance of the prosecutors.  They are pleasant, but not familiar.  There is not much reason for me to describe them right now.  Father Dobrushin greets them.  We know this is good policy for the defender in a trial. 

Aksinya can't keep still.  She is interested in everything.  The world seems comforting and bright to her.  We can feel the freedom she knows.  Aksinya wonders about the number of people who are in the courtroom.  This is a technique to point them out to you without using description.  Now, we learn more about the situation around Aksinya.  From Frau Becker, we learned about the reporters and the news.  Here, we hear more information from Father Dobrushin.

This piece of conversation is intended to show you about the potential problems Aksinya will face with the press and how important her story has been in Austria and Wien.  We learned that the Cardinal and the inquisitors are being called to task for their actions.  Do you remember, I told you the demon would try to ruin them all.  By trying Aksinya, the Cardinal and the inquisitors have caused themselves problems for the Catholic Church and for themselves as individuals.

The press already calls Aksinya a mentally ill girl.  She picks up on this immediately.  It bothers her because of the issue of her sanity.  The fact that Father Dobrushin believes her makes Aksinya happy.  He is literally her only hope.  Tomorrow, the trial really begins.

A New Novel, Part 257 Do You Love Me Like She Loves Me?

18 June 2011, A New Novel, Part 257 Do You Love Me Like She Loves Me? 

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Aksinya's secular trial is about to begin.  Aksinya and Father Dobrushin are in the courtroom in the Rathaus in Wien.  They are discussing more than the case.  Father Dobrushin is trying to prepare.  Aksinya wants to know why Father Dobrushin is helping her...

“So I guessed.”  Father Dobrushin pulled a stack of papers out of his briefcase, “Princess Aksinya, I intend to defend you to the best of my ability.  I don’t wish you to go to prison or the workhouse.”

She crossed her arms, “I asked before, why would you care?”

He folded his hands, “Because you think the way you do, that is difficult to explain in a way you might understand.  A normal person would not ask why, they would simply be grateful for the assistance.”

“Do you think I am insane?”

Father Dobrushin took her hands, “Look at me, Aksinya.”

She raised her eyes to his.

“I do not think you are insane.”

“Then would you tell me why you are helping me?”

He laughed, “You are a Russian Princess.  That should be enough for any honest Russian.”

“Father Makar doesn’t think so.  Does that mean he is not an honest Russian?”

Father Dobrushin drew in a deep breath, “Father Makar is an honest Russian, but he thinks your problems are all mental.”

“If they are all mental, doesn’t that mean he should show me even greater sympathy?”

Father Dobrushin smiled, “Sometimes you astound me.”

“Is that good?  Is that why you are helping me?”

He cleared his throat, “I am helping you because you are a Russian and a refugee.”

“I know you have helped many refugees, Ekaterina told me, but is that the only reason?”

“You confessed to Christ through me.  Since that time I have been determined to help you.”

Aksinya smiled, “You are my priest and confessor.  I am glad you haven’t given up on me.”  She glanced away, “Ekaterina has also been a great help to me,” she finished quickly, “but I am glad she is not here to see my shame.”  She brought her eyes back to Father Dobrushin, “Do you love me like she loves me?  Do you think she loves me like a friend now?  Is that why you are helping me?”

“About that, you’ll have to ask the Matushka.  She does love you, and I love you.  I’m not certain I am your friend, but I would like to be.”

“Because I astound you?”

“That and many other things.”  Father Dobrushin pulled out a fountain pen and began to organize his papers. 

Father Dobrushin is very straightforward.  He does not wish her to go to prison or the workhouse.  He will defend her.  Do you remember that Aksinya wished to be punished and she wishes to lose this trial just as she lost the ecclesiastical trial.  There is much more riding on the secular trial.  Where the ecclesiastical judge might excommunicate you (as he did Aksinya), a secular trial can take away your liberty, property, and life.  The ecclesiastical trial ruined many, the secular trial can put Aksinya in prison.

The reason for Aksinya's questions is that she doesn't believe she can be defended.  She knows she is guilty.  We kind of imagine that she is ignorant of both the gravity of the trial and of her own guilt, but this is something we shall see during the trial.

Father Dobrushin implies that Aksinya does not think like a normal person--we knew that.  We realized that her way of thinking was off.  She is not insane--we know this.  Aksinya knows she is not insane.  Father Dobrushin's answer is very important to Aksinya.  There is a play on words here.  Father Dobrushin obviously does not want to tell his full reason for helping Aksinya.

The logic Aksinya uses in speaking about Father Makar, her own sanity, and Father Makar's attitude toward her is exact.  She used this kind of logic with the Fraus and the inquisitors.  Aksinya isn't even aware that she thinks so precisely.  Father Dobrushin taps at her intellect and finds she is very knowledgeable and intelligent.  Also, that she is very perceptive.  This leads to the next important topic, that is about love.  Like Father Dobrushin, we are not exactly certain what Aksinya means.  We know she doesn't understand human love very well.  We don't see confusion in her words, but we feel the lack of understanding in them.  Listen to Father Dobrushin's acknowledgment:  "She does love you, and I love you.  I’m not certain I am your friend, but I would like to be.”  There is a foreshadowing in this and an important connection.  Father Dobrushin hides behind his comment: “That and many other things.” 

We realize there is much between Aksinya and Father Dobrushin that has not been said and that will not be said here.  We also realize that within the courtroom, much is occurring that is outside of the full understanding of Aksinya or Father Dobrushin.  Tomorrow, the trial begins.