Development - Rules of Writing, Modified Character Symbols

8 July 2012, Development - Rules of Writing, Modified Character Symbols

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

All language is symbols. Therefore it shouldn't surprise you that your writing should include higher level symbols. What are higher level symbols? I mentioned before the cross as a symbol. The cross is a higher level symbol--a symbol that doesn't depend on language. Symbols can be ready made or author made symbols. Some symbols are a mix.

Using, developing, and modifying symbols are the author's job.  This includes language and other symbols.  It is the other symbols that I have been writing about.  Yesterday, I gave an example of description that used symbols exclusively to begin to define a character.  The symbols were a clerical collar, a smoking jacket, an Oxford accent, a cheap cigarette, and cheap whisky.  These are simple and strong enough symbols that they don't need modification.  Let's choose a symbol that is easily modified and that has some real power to it.  Let's use tea--Russian tea.

In one of my yet unpublished novels, Shadow of Darkness, the main character, Sveta, drinks Russian tea with milk and sugar.  Russian tea itself, like vodka represents the people and the resilience of Russia.  Unlike vodka, Russian tea doesn't represent the underside of Russia and Russians--that is laziness and drunkenness.  Russian tea connects Russia to Europe and to Britain.  Russian tea connects Russia to Imperialism and power.  Russian tea is a wonderful symbol.  The fact that Sveta like her Russian tea with milk and sugar connects her directly to Europe and to royalty.  I modified the symbol of Russian tea by making the symbol personal and by putting sugar and milk into it.  Russians usually drink their tea without sugar or milk.  The way Sveta likes her tea is a powerful statement about who she is and who she was.  It tells the reader who she really is.

The who she really is, is a secret in the novel.  This is a secret that isn't revealed until very late in the novel and even then, the reader isn't certain it is true. 

There is much more to writing without confusing your readers. I'll write about that 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 190 Thank you, Matushka

A New Novel, Part 190 Thank you, Matushka

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.


The priests and Matushka Ekaterina in the Ecclesia in Wien discussed what to do about Aksinya.  In the morning, she wakes...

Aksinya didn’t wake until late the next morning. The pain in her chest finally overcame even sleep. Her eyes opened to a dark windowless cell. She lay on a cot. Her hand went to her breast. The crucifix was still there and so was a deep stinging pain. Her eyes felt oddly damp. She wasn’t certain what that meant. Perhaps it was from straining to see in the darkness.


Her clothing had been changed. She felt the fabric. It was very coarse and thin. Her eyes were well enough acclimated to the darkness that she could make out much of the room. She sat up and set her feet on the floor. She sat on a cot. A woolen blanket had covered her. She was cold, and she needed to go to the toilet. There wasn’t anything else in the room.

Aksinya wanted to make some light. She knew exactly how, but she consciously stopped herself. She was confessed, and she intended never to do sorcery ever again.

Aksinya stood. She was a little wobbly. She staggered to the door and tried the latch. The door was locked. She tapped on it.

Almost immediately she heard a bar raised and a key scratch in the lock. The Matushka from the Ecclesia pushed open the door. She smiled at Aksinya and began to curtsy. Aksinya grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up. Aksinya tried to speak, but her throat was raw, and she couldn’t squeeze even a squeak out of it. She shook her head. The Matushka took Aksinya’s hand, “Come with me, Countess. I’ll show you where the outhouse is and where the bathroom. Then we can go to breakfast.”

Aksinya nodded.

The Matushka kept very close to her. They went out the door at the back and to the outhouse behind the rectory. She waited for Aksinya then took her to the bathroom. The water was tepid, but it wasn’t cold. The Matushka stayed right beside Aksinya.

They went to the kitchen, and Aksinya sat down. The Matushka served Aksinya tea and a bread roll. She sat down opposite Aksinya and sipped on a cup of tea herself. After Aksinya had drunk half her tea, she tried her voice again. Her throat was still raw but she forced out in a hoarse whisper, “Thank you, Matushka.”

At last, the climax of the novel is complete.  We are beginning the falling action.  In most of my novels, the climax is near the end of the book.  In this one it is not.  We are not finished with Aksinya or with her very significant problems.  This calls for a strong sequence of falling action and indeed a secondary climax to round out the novel.  I will not reveal this to you now, but you might guess.

Aksinya has confessed, but how has the world changed for her.  Perhaps, like most of us, the world itself does not change, but our actions, priorities, and responsibilities become different.

Aksinya wakes to a dark and very bare room.  The pain of her burned chest wakes her.  Her eyes are oddly damp.  Don't miss this, it will become important later.  She attributes this to the darkened room.  With this technique I show you how dark the room is and I draw your attention to her damp eyes.  I don't want you to miss this.  She is dressed in a coarse dress.  She has only a woolen blanket and I show you again that the room is bare.  The room is cold.

I don't remark this directly to you, but it should be obvious that Aksinya has gone from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low.  Before she had heat and fine clothing in a fine house with fine servants.  Now, she has nothing, she is nothing.

She stops herself from doing any sorcery, and I tell you empthatically, she doesn't want to do sorcery ever again.  The door is latched.  Note her change of thought.  Before, Aksinya might have made a spell to open the door.  Before, she might have railed against the door or demanded to be let out.  Instead, she taps on it.

The Matushka was waiting for this.  She opens the door and makes a curtsy.  Aksinya tries to prevent her.  Aksinya can't speak.  The Matushka takes her to the outhouse and to the bathroom (note they are different). Aksinya has in some ways returned to the very beginning.  Do you remember, her house in Russia was not much different than this.  The water is a little warm.  It is the left over water from the use of the household.  The Matushka stays close to her.  Remember Father Dobrushin's warning--they must watch and keep Aksinya safe.  They don't want her to run away from the Ecclesia.

In the kitchen, we see again the contrast from before.  The meal is tea and a roll.  Do you remember all the wonderful food Aksinya liked at breakfast.  She always liked a hearty breakfast.  This is very different than her usual beginning.  We know Aksinya is kind to those who serve her.  Her first words are thanks.

There is a lot in this short section and we will see more of the contrast and actions of Aksinya tomorrow.

A New Novel, Part 127 Teach Me Sorcery

We are watching Aksinya in a slow train-wreck and Natalya in a role reversal of great magnitude.  Ernst von Taaffe brought this upon them, and Asmodeus was behind it all.  Aksinya and Natalya are discussing sorcery and Ernst...
A knock came from the door. Aksinya jumped. Natalya turned toward the sound, “You may enter, sister.”


Sister Margarethe opened the door and brought in the tea service. Natalya pointed to the tea table. Sister Margarethe placed it on the top. Natalya pointed again, “Sister, you may pour.”

“Sister Margarethe poured the tea.”

Aksinya sat quietly in her chair.

Natalya picked up her cup, “Thank you, Sister Margarethe, we have everything we need. I’ll put the Countess to bed.”

Sister Margarethe curtsied and stepped back to the door.

Natalya called at her back, “I’ll prepare the Countess for school tomorrow. If you could please see to our breakfast?”

“Yes, Lady, I shall tell the novice sisters.”

“Thank you.”

Sister Margarethe closed the door.

Natalya waited a moment, “When will you teach me sorcery?”

Aksinya stared at her, “Nata, I don’t ever intend to teach it to you. It does me no good and only causes me to suffer. If you only knew…”

“I do not know. I only see the good you do. I don’t understand why you won’t do this for me.”

Aksinya let out a breath and glanced down, “I have already begun to teach you Latin, but I do not intend to teach you sorcery.”

“Why Latin? What is the purpose of it?”

Aksinya mumbled again, “It is the words.”

“I’m sorry Aksinya. I couldn’t understand you.”

“I said, it is the words. Sorcery can be accomplished in Latin or Greek. Latin is more common. The words and the sounds are critical. They must be said precisely. If they are spoken incorrectly, at best, the enchantment will not work, at the worst, it will injure you. The first step is to learn the language of sorcery.”

“Why Latin or Greek?”

“Although I have heard that sorcery has been successful in other languages, I have no evidence of it. The documents of the church were first in Greek and next in Latin. Those have been the languages of sorcery since then.”

“What of Hebrew?”

“There is a possibility of sorcery in Hebrew, but I don’t know the language, and I have never seen any books. The books are necessary.”

“Why necessary? You have made enchantments without your books.”

“If a single piece of the enchantment is wrong or incorrectly done, it won’t succeed. The books give explicit directions to make it work. If you forget, or if you make a mistake, your life or your health can be forfeit.”

“But you do it so easily.”

Aksinya took Natalya’s hands, “Listen closely to me, Nata. I spent nearly every free moment of my childhood studying sorcery. I had no friends. I had no one, so I read the books. I collected the items. I practiced everything over and over until I perfected it. When I began, I quickly discovered the danger. My fingers were covered with wounds. I have scars on my body from every failed enchantment.”

Natalya’s voice was low, “I have scars on my body and nothing to show for it.”

“I am happy to have you for my friend. I will do anything to keep that including teaching you sorcery, but I suspect I will not be able to let you ever do it. I will be too afraid to allow you to harm yourself.”

Nata stood, “It is late, Aksinya. Let me prepare you for bed.”

Natalya took Aksinya’s arms and lifted her up from the chair. Aksinya passively stood and Natalya began to remove her clothing.

Strangely, the demon didn’t visit Aksinya this night either.

Aksinya is jumpy and agitated.  The world is out of her control for the moment.  Natalya, at this moment, is making all the decisions and is totally in control.  Watch how she addresses Aksinya--she easily uses Aksinya's name.  She directs Sister Margarethe and instructs the sister to pour the tea.  This is the responsibility of the lady of the house, not Natalya.  But nothing is amiss.
 
When the sister is well away, Natalya gets directly to her point--it was the same point before the interruption:  “When will you teach me sorcery?”  Aksinya does not lie.  She tells Natalya straight out that she does not intend to teach her.  Natalya asks the same question we might.  She has only seen good come about through the sorcery--so what's the problem with it.  Natalya is not conniving, but she knows what she wants--you might ask why she is so suddenly forceful and direct with Aksinya.  Then we get a primer on sorcery.  Aksinya mumbles when she doesn't wish to reply, but she will not lie.  Natalya is a very bright girl.  She asks very hard questions.  We find out about the origins of sorcery in the definitions of this novel, and we get the reasons for the books of sorcery.  I don't tell any of this to you; I show it to you through the dialog of these characters.
 
That's when we learn more about Aksinya.  We knew she was a lonely child with few if any friends.  Now she tells us a little about it and why she turned to sorcery. We also discover the danger of sorcery, but we already knew some of that.  It was alluded to before.  Natalya's argument about her scars is a body blow to Aksinya.  How could she deny Natalya's request after that? 
 
Aksinya's response tells you how far she is willing to go for Natalya, but because she loves Natalya, she is unwilling to allow her to use sorcery.  This is a strong paradox, but one we face in many areas ourselves--like letting go of out children.  Natalya is still in charge here.  Aksinya is depressed and out of her league.  As I mentioned, her world is out of control.  Her passivity indicates this.  The demon didn't show up, but tomorrow a letter will.

A New Novel, Part 125 He Has My Book

In the evening following dinner, Aksinya and Natalya return to Aksinya's house across the street.  They are greeted in the most gentle manner and Aksinya and Natalya go up to Aksinya's bedroom.  Aksinya has some explaining to do...

Natalya and Aksinya returned to their house across the street. When they left the dining room, Sister Margarethe joined them at the door. Aksinya didn’t acknowledge the nun, but Natalya gave her a greeting in German.


They went across the street and Natalya unlocked the door. The house was warm. A coal fire burned in the fireplace. Two novice nuns, dressed in black and white, came to the foyer to greet them. They removed Aksinya, Natalya, and Sister Margarethe’s cloaks and saw them up to their rooms. They made sure the coal fires and the gaslights were lit, then curtsied and returned to the lower floor. At her door, Aksinya took Natalya’s arm, “Sister Margarethe, would you please bring us tea?”

“Yes, Countess.”

Aksinya glanced at the nun then pulled Natalya into her room and closed the door. Aksinya placed Natalya in front of an overstuffed chair in the sitting room. She moved hurriedly to the other chair before Natalya could move and pulled it close. She sat quickly knowing Natalya would only sit after her. Natalya sat almost as quickly and leaned expectantly toward Aksinya. Aksinya sucked on her lower lip, “Nata, I do apologize that you were not the first to know about Ernst von Taaffe.”

Natalya smiled, “I realize you did not purposefully keep the information from me.”

Aksinya held the sides of her head, “I was in no condition last night to explain anything to anyone.”

“Tell me about him.” Natalya reached out her hands.

Aksinya grasped them, “He was an interesting man.” Her brow creased, “And he has my book.”

Natalya’s eyes widened, “He has your book.” Natalya sat up a little, “Does he…does he…?”

“Yes, he knows it all. He was the one who tried to help at the Golden Adler.”

“Then he was the gentleman who carried you back to the house?”

“The same.”

“Did he see you…you know, did he see you…?”

“He saw me make the great enchantment.”

Natalya hung her head, “I didn’t get to see it—I wish I had.”

“Hush, don’t say such things. It always embarrasses me. It is not something I am proud of.”

“I am proud of you, Countess…Aksinya.”

Aksinya glanced down, “No one else would be.”

“What about this young man?”

Aksinya made a face, “He praised me for it.”

Natalya tried to hide her smile, “Then, like me, he would be proud of you too.”

“He did, but I don’t want that. He wants to court me. He said he was infatuated with me.”

“For a man to appreciate you for who and what you are seems a very great thing to me. Will you allow him to court you?”

“He won’t give me back my book until I do.”

Natalya laughed, “Then you will only allow him to court you because he has your book?”

Aksinya glanced down, “He promised me another book too.”

Natalya was incredulous, “The only reason you will court him is for a couple of books?”

Aksinya turned her a foul look.

Natalya and Aksinya retire to Aksinya's rooms.  They have coal fires and the house is warm which indicates Aksinya's wealth and how much is being spent on the house across the street (hint).  Aksinya needs to talk to Natalya.  They send Sister Margarethe away.  Aksinya treats Natalya as an equal--a fact that is not lost on Natalya.  Aksinya is concerned that Natalya, as her confidant, was not the first to know about Ernst.  Natalya wants to know about the young man.  Aksinya tells her little except that he has her book.
 
The conversation quickly turns to sorcery.  The stepping off point allows Natalya to tell Aksinya that Ernst is like Natalya in his admiration of Aksinya's sorcery.  Indeed, Aksinya tells Natalya that Ernst is infatuated with her. 
 
Aksinya doesn't get the whole point of this infatuation.  This young woman who is so sexually charged can't imagine a normal relationship between a man and a woman.  She understands the relationship as the exchange of a book for a favor.  Natalya realizes much more in Ernst's words.  Then Natalya's admonition in a question:  “The only reason you will court him is for a couple of books?”  Aksinya didn't like that, but she isn't prepared for a man in her life.  She is innocent of this part of humanity.  We will find that this is an area of weakness for Aksinya--an area of great temptation and danger.  Tomorrow, more of this conversation.

A New Novel, Part 68 Chapel and Spiritual Illness

I put a clue in the title today--I usually don't do that.  I know you'll get the point anyway.  Aksinya and Natalya are ready for school.  They start their first day.  Do you remember, the first event every day at Sacré Coeur is chapel.  I wonder how that will work out?

They went down together for breakfast and more tea. Aksinya was very fond of tea, especially the tea Natalya made for her. They sat together and no one dared to sit with them. After breakfast, everyone marched to chapel in the church. They went through the dormitory to the second floor and entered the nave from the back of the choir. The moment Aksinya stepped through the door, she felt a pain in the pit of her stomach. Natalya took Aksinya’s arm when she faltered and helped her to her seat near the back at the main floor.

In their seats, Natalya put her hand on Aksinya’s forehead, “Mistress, you are pale. Are you well?”

Aksinya bent over a little, “I just feel a little ill. I’ll be all right.”

Natalya bit her lip. She steadied Aksinya when they stood, and when they knelt. The entire time, Aksinya clasped her arms across her chest and couldn’t raise her head. Natalya held the prayer book for her. Aksinya seemed to get worse as the service progressed. She mumbled in Latin, a counterpoint to the priest, but luckily in a throaty whisper that only Natalya could hear. When the bells announced communion, Aksinya gave a groan. Natalya put her arm around her. No one else seemed to notice, or they carefully ignored the two. Natalya and Aksinya didn’t take communion. Aksinya was happy they couldn’t. The very thought made her nauseous. At the blessing, Aksinya slipped out of her seat and hurried to the side door up and out through the choir. Natalya followed behind her.

On the other side of the door, Aksinya doubled over and leaned against the wall.

Natalya held her, “Mistress, you look terrible. What’s wrong?”

Aksinya’s eyes were wild, “I’m wrong. That’s the problem. I’m not sure I can stand this, but I must. I must.” She stood straight and grasped Natalya’s hands, “Lady Natalya, you must ensure I am at chapel every day. This is necessary…for my soul. Please.”

Natalya frowned, “I will, mistress. I promise. Please, I don’t wish you to be ill.”

Aksinya touched Natalya’s face, “Don’t cry, lady. Just help me, I beg you.”

Natalya slipped her arm around Aksinya’s shoulders. Before the crowd of girls came through the corridors, they returned to their rooms, and before the bells announced the beginning of class, Aksinya drank another rejuvenating cup of tea. They walked together to their first class. Natalya carried the official Sacré Coeur briefcases for them both.

The "they" are Aksinya and Natalya.  I don't give you much description about the breakfast room or their breakfast.  In this case, I think a little is enough.  You should have the picture of the school and a little more is generally unnecessary.  If you assume they had breakfast in the dining room or if you assume they had breakfast in a smaller place--either one is good.  The fun information is that no one "dared" sit next to them.

I give you a little more on the way to the chapel.  The entry is through the dormitory, so that is interesting in itself.  Then Aksinya's problem.  This will be a recurring problem until the initial resolution--she gets nauseated when she enters a church.  Sweet Natalya is just too innocent about Aksinya to get it.  This is a recurring theme too.

Natalya thinks Aksinya is ill.  Well she is ill, but her illness is entirely spiritual.  I didn't play this story the way I did Aegypt, but I might eventually.  In Aegypt, the reader was never sure if the main character was completely right about his observations of the events.  In this, I let you see everything, so you assume Aksinya's illness really is spiritual--it could easily be psychological.  Just a minor point.  We get the dialog about the illness, and note, I don't tell you she is nauseous until at the end.  The description is sufficient to give you all the information you need.  I hope you feel her pain.

I also hope you can imagine Aksinya and Natalya in the service.  You should wonder what Aksinya is mumbling--surely not a spell, but is she praying?  I don't tell you.  In any case, the climax comes at communion.  Remember why they can't take communion?  They are Orthodox and not Catholic. 

Aksinya made it to the end.  She almost lost it, but didn't.  Then Aksinya tells Natalya the straight out truth, but we get little comprehension from Natalya.  She still thinks it is a problem of illness.  Then a little trick.  Did you know Natalya was crying.  You might have guessed--she's just that way.  I show you through Aksinya's eyes.  That's a fun way to make a connection.  The important point is the Natalya is thinking entirely about Aksinya, and Aksinya is thinking about Natalya.  That's why Aksinya noticed.

In the end, Natalya cleans up the mess (no literal mess this time)--that is, she helps Aksinya back where she can have tea, and she prepares her for school--again.  At the end of this section, we see Natalya carrying both their books and they are headed for their first class.

A New Novel, Part 48 Beginning of the Dormitory Tour

In this short vignette and transition, we wrap up the tour of the school proper with tea.  You will find that everyone has tea--that is the proper thing to do.  I want you to see this cultural phenomena clearly.  In this society and this time, tea is de rigeur.  We have nothing quite like it--perhaps those who still hold to offering coffee or tea to their friends keep it in their heart, but tea is becoming a lost function in modern culture.  It is such an important function, I'm surprised we let it go. 

We see that the RM Kluge has tea.  Note how everyone is arranged and note who serves.  Because it is time for tea, I don't have to tell you it is the early to late afternoon.  Since, we know they came during the late morning, we can infer that this is relatively early in the afternoon, but likely near or after two.  You might note that they didn't have dinner (lunch).  In this time, the usual practice was to have a light breakfast, a light dinner (lunch), a light tea, and then a large supper.  We will see that this is the practice at Sacré Coeur.  We eat much more during a day than the usual aristocrat during this time.  Though their suppers are long, the portions are small.  We shall see some in more detail as we go along.

They ended the tour at the Reverend Mother’s office. The Reverend Mother sat Aksinya directly in front of her desk. Natalya stood behind Aksinya. The others arranged themselves on the chairs against the wall. The office wasn’t very large. The Reverend Mother called for tea and served them herself. While they had their tea, the Reverend Mother asked, “Countess, do you have any questions about our gymnasium or our curriculum?”


Aksinya shook her head.

“Then when we are finished with our tea, I will take you to the dormitory and let you see the room we have prepared especially for you.”

Aksinya glanced over her teacup, “Thank you.”

When they were finished, the Reverend Mother led them to the dormitory. The long hallway down the center of the school building ran into a large set of open doors. To the left of the door was a small office with a split door. On the other side, Frau Drescher sat at her desk and handled paperwork and correspondence.

The Reverend Mother rapped on the top of the door. She changed back to German, “Frau Drescher, we are ready to begin our tour of the dormitory.”

Frau Drescher frowned then tried unsuccessfully to turn the frown into a smile. She paused a moment too long, then stood abruptly. She came to the door, opened it, and stepped out. She spoke intentionally in exaggeratedly enunciated German, “If you please, Countess, follow me.”

Aksinya twisted her lips in a grimace and replied in quiet but finely articulated German, “I will be pleased to Frau Drescher.”

So now we return to the very Austrian Frau Drescher.  Frau Drescher has a typical office for such a lady.  She takes care of a dormitory.  She keeps watch on who goes in and who goes out--thus the split door.  This is the typical use of such a door in Europe at the time.  Dormitories and apartment buildings for women tended to have such offices with their typical ogre guardians.  Frau Drescher does much more than the usual, however, she handles paperwork and correspondence.  This should key you into the fact that Frau Drescher is a bit more than she seems. 
 
Frau Drescher has this problem with smiling.  She is either out of the habit or unable to smile.  We see the joke of the languages again at the Frau's expense.  Aksinya speaks more to her than to RM Kluge.  And so the joke and the transition to the Dormitory tour.  Tomorrow a description of the dormitory.