Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 186, more Legal-Historical Method and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

13 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 186, more Legal-Historical Method and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The Legal-Historical method is the method used to convict people of crimes and to prove historical accuracy.  It is also used to document all scientific data.  The Legal-Historical method is sometimes called the documentary method, because it is the means of recording (documenting) history and historical fact.

The method relies on witness, evidence, and corroboration.  Very simply, the better the witness, the better the evidence, and the better the corroboration between witnesses and evidence, the more accurate (factual and true) the information.  I'll discuss each area individually, but imagine a trial.  In the trial, the lawyers present evidence, witnesses, and cross-examine the witnesses (evaluate the evidence) to make their cases.  In most cases, contrary to what you might see on the boob tube, the evidence against the accused is usually very damning.  This is why you rarely hear about most trials--only if there is odd or controversial evidence or witnesses.  Plus, in the US, many trials are about discounting or having evidence sequestered.  In other countries, the trial is about finding the truth and not just about innocence or guilt.  My point is that by comparing witnesses and evidence, one can usually easily come to the correct (and truthful) conclusion.  For example, Billy took a knife to a bar, and Billy said he would kill Jack at the bar.  Billy finds Jack at the bar, attacks, and plunges a knife into him.  You have witnesses who heard Billy's claims.  You have witnesses who saw the knife in Billy's hand.  You have the knife.  You have witnesses who said they saw Billy attack Jack.  Based on this evidence and witnesses, you could conclude that Billy attacked and stabbed Jack.  This might seem like a no-brainer, but this is the essence of the Legal-Historical method.  

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 185, Legal-Historical Method and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

12 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 185, Legal-Historical Method and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events; however, most events are not repeatable.  Almost everything in the natural world is bound by time and only occurs once.  For example, a person is only born once.  A person only dies once.  I can use the scientific method to study births and deaths, but not to study a birth or a death.  All I can do for singular non-repeatable events is to record and describe them.  This is how the Legal-Historical method got its name--it is first about historical events and documenting them in a fashion that they meet a legal criteria.

The Legal-Historical method is used to document everything.  It is used to prove non-repeatable events.  The proof comes in the form of evidence.  For example, the evidence of your birth might be a birth certificate.  The certificate itself might be enough of a legal document to prove your birth.  A historian would evaluate the certificate in terms of the signatories, the material (paper), the date, the evident age of the materials, the information on the certificate.  The historian could go further and research the time of your birth.  She could compare your certificate with others from the same time.  The historian could check and find the original or the record of your certificate.  Each of these are bits of Legal-Historical evidence that becomes the proof of your birth at a specific time, place, to specific people, etc.  The Legal-Historical method is the most powerful means of proof--and it is the least taught.  It is the means that the court system uses to convict people of crimes and it is used by the government to document your wrong-doing and your tax payments.  The Legal-Historical method is the most important means to prove truth--we shall look at it in some depth.

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 184, Spidey Sense, Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

11 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 184, Spidey Sense, Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events, so every scientist and researcher needs to keep their spidey sense going to spot the evidence of the misuse of science and the scientific method.  Spidey sense is what I call it for my students.  If something doesn't make sense in either, the use of the scientific method, the data, the means of data collection, the logic of the science itself, then there is likely something wrong with the paper.  I mentioned some great examples in the last few days.  There are many many more.  Lawyers and politicians use science today to try to prove their own populist or not so populist positions.  It is as if they were trying to prove the earth is flat to prevent exploration or to call some silly idea settled.  There is very little in science that is fully settled.  In my own field, there is no complete agreement on the mechanisms of lift production.  Lift is produced by Bernoulli, F=ma, and momentum turning flow.  Which is more powerful and which dominate--it depends on the situation.  Bernoulli doesn't work at all on a symmetrical wing--whoops.  The NASA website claims Bernoulli is the way lift is produced--is NASA wrong?  Yeap, NASA is wrong.  In reality, NASA wants to simplify the subject for the less educated in the field of aerodynamics.  On a symmetrical wing, F=ma is one of the main means of lift production, but even that doesn't explain all the lift, so we have momentum turning flow at the leading edge.

So, if you want to study aeronautics, don't depend on NASA.  If you want to study the atom, all those atomic models you learned so long (or short) ago, are simplifications.  You see, when you are young and or uneducated, someone determined that less knowledge of science was better than complete understanding.  So kids in Harvard don't understand why there are seasons on the earth and can't describe an electrical circuit.  Children today know how to put on a condom, but don't have any idea why--if you don't believe me, just ask an average one.  The smart ones don't need condoms.  Unfortunately, the smart ones need a better scientific education than they are getting.  Well perhaps they'll learn at Harvard--not.  Just keep your spidey sense going and learn all you can about the subject you are writing about.  There is another tool we use to know truth, and this one relates directly to writing and learning--the Legal-Historical method.

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 183, more Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

10 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 183, more Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If we are using the proper method (scientific) to prove the proper type of event (repeatable), then the next question is the reliability of the data. 

The concept of trust, science, and logic is kind of like economics.  You might have heard the Milton Friedman quote: "There's never a free lunch."  This means that is something sounds unreasonable in economics, it usually is.  For example, the statement, increasing the minimum wage helps low wage workers.  In economics, apply the concept of "no free lunch."  Increasing the minimum wage means a business has to pay its workers more, which always leads to less employment and more automation.  When the cost of robots (like auto check-out stations in supermarkets) becomes less than the cost of employing a human, the business will move from human employees to robots.  This means when a government increases the minimum wage, many low wage people will lose their jobs and those jobs will go away for ever.  This doesn't just affect minimum wage people.  When wages are artificially increased by any means, people lose their jobs.  For example, an increase in union wages always precedes layoffs.  There never is a free lunch in economics.

Science, data, and logic are like economics, I just don't have a simple and pithy means to test them like the idea of a free lunch.  I do have logical reasoning that I can use.  For example, ghosts--as Ambrose notes, I can imagine the idea of a human spirit remaining on the earth, I cannot fathom the idea of the filaments of their clothing also having a "spirit."  In other words, ghosts can't ever have clothing on.  If a ghost had clothing, you would have to conclude that the clothing had some kind of spirit.  Therefore, ghosts must always be naked.  Do you get the logic here?  That same logic applies in every scientific concept.  I tried to illustrate it in drugs.  Until a drug (of any kind) has been through a double blind placebo experiment, there is no way to know if the effect of the drug (material) is due to a placebo effect (20% in most experiments) or due to the material.  If a drug has not gone through the FDA process (or a similar process in another nation), I wouldn't touch it.  As a scientist there is no basis in science unless the drug has been through the appropriate testing.

Let's be even more direct--not only is FDA type testing assuring you scientifically that the drug has at least a 51% confidence (minus placebo) of effectivity, it also assures you of drug safety.  As recently seen with the many liver failures caused by a "natural" substance young people were taking for muscle enhancement, some natural things can kill you.  Try hemlock, or too much vitamin D.  A drug overdose is bad--what about the overdose of a substance that is unproven and undefined in the human system.  As a scientist, you need to have your spidey senses working all the time.  A good scientist does not trust anything without reasonable proof.

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 182, Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

9 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 182, Logic, Data, and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If we are using the proper method (scientific) to prove the proper type of event (repeatable), then the next question is the reliability of the data. 

I'll get more into logic in the future, but for right now, let's look at logic and data a little more.  I mentioned five different things you can evaluate about a scientific paper that immediately tells you that you should look deeper into the paper.  Deeper in the sense of mistrusting the paper unless there is something else to recommend it.  Usually, if the paper doesn't meet the five initial tests (even one), it is not worth the paper it is written on.  The fifth check is logic.  Until I write about logic in a more refined sense, I'll define it as common sense. 

If the paper doesn't make sense, it is likely made up and not trustworthy.  For example, if the paper claims something completely out of reason--ever running machines, natural substances with curative powers, crystals that cure, pyramids that heal or preserve, turning elements into other elements without fusion...I mean there is a lot of stuff that doesn't even begin to move the logic meter.  People advertise all kinds of natural substances that are supposed to do all kinds of good--the problem is that every time these substances are tested using a double blind placebo test, they fail.  None of the natural substances you read about in the papers do any of the things they claim to do.  There is no science to back any of it.  If you find such a paper, you need to read it very carefully and check it. 

I'll mention another check--the double blind placebo test.  This is a clinical test that is accomplished on every drug certified by any Western government for human and animal use.  The double blind placebo test is not usually used in China.  This type of test uses three groups to test a drug: the group that gets the drug, the group that gets a placebo, and the group that gets neither.  At the end of the test period, the effect of the drug is evaluated in terms of the hypothesis and a statistical confidence is applied to the results.  If this type of test is not done on a drug or any other substance that claims to help human health--it isn't worth using or trusting. 

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 181, yet more Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

8 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 181, yet more Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If we are using the proper method (scientific) to prove the proper type of event (repeatable), then the next question is the reliability of the data. 

When you look at a scientific paper, the first thing you need to look for is the sample size.  If it is large, that's good.  Second, you look for the confidence interval.  If the confidence interval is low, the data is suspect and the conclusions are suspect.  You might ask, what about papers where the data is not available.  Any scientist who hides their data is trying to make a conclusion without any support.  A paper without attached data is worthless.  Fourth (third is the data), look at the event that is being proven--it is highly unusual for a paper to be published for an event that can't be proven by the scientific method, but it's happened before.  Fifth, apply logic.

I know logic is the third method to know truth, but logic can be used in every field to test the truth.  For example, the salmon diaxonene paper that was put out by lawyers noted that salmon in salmon farms had about 10 parts per billion of diaxonene while salmon in the wild had 2 parts per billion of diazonene.  In this case, we use logic.  In every study of chemicals and toxicity (or any effect), you look for concentration (dosage) and effect.  The dosage of diozanene that is required to show an effect on a human child is about 10 parts per million and that's pushing it.  Ten parts per billion is meaningless in terms of dosage and effect on a human (or any other animal).  In other words, the writers of the paper were counting on the lack of scientific knowledge of journalists and reporters in reporting that salmon in the wild and in farms have different levels of the chemical diaxonene.  It worked, most journalists and reporters are clueless about the most basic science--they were fooled and continue to be fooled.  I'll write more about logic in the future. 

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 180, more Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

7 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 180, more Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If we are using the proper method (scientific) to prove the proper type of event (repeatable), then the next question is the reliability of the data. 

Having data is always good, that means the researcher did an actual experiment.  Many papers in the modern era are written by lawyers and not scientists.  These papers tend to have no data at all or their sample size is very small.  Just to help you: a sample size less than ten--that means less than ten tests or experiments conducted--is meaningless.  You can't really determine a confidence interval correctly with less than ten.  Ten or more, and you can begin to determine if your experiment asked the right question.  One hundred or more samples, and you are beginning to enter a potential proof.  A thousand or more and you have some standing in fact.  This is all based in statistical confidence.

If you have a scientific paper with no or very little data, it is meaningless.  Many environmental papers I've read and papers on autism are written by lawyers with no data.  The famous thermisol autism papers were written without data and by lawyers.  The famous salmon dizonene papers were written by lawyers and without data.  If the issue is in the courts there is a very high probability the science for it was concocted by lawyers to support their case and not from scientific research--that's just my observation over the years as a scientist.  

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 179, Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

6 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 179, Data and Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If we are using the proper method (scientific) to prove the proper type of event (repeatable), then the next question is the reliability of the data. 

First, you need to be able to see the data.  In any scientific paper I have published or given, the data was available and either in the paper or to the reviewer or audience.  No one hides their data, unless there is a problem with it.  Just as we have heard about NOAA manipulating the weather data from the past, such manipulation (without explanation) in a paper is blatant fraud.  Legitimate scientists do not manipulate data (without explanation).  Legitimate scientists do not throw out data that is troublesome--they explain it. 

Second, since the scientific method is all about repeatability, the means of testing repeatability is statistics.  The pool of events and the pool defining the statistical elements must be large enough to prove the hypothesis.  In science we use the concept of confidence to prove the validity of the statistics.  Usually, a confidence of 95% is used for general reliability, 99% is used for safety, 51% is used in human drug trials.  The reason the confidence is so low in human drug trials is that the sample size is usually low and the reliability (confidence) for human reaction in a double blind test so low.  This doesn't mean there is a problem with the data, but possibly with the conclusion.    

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 178, Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

5 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 178, Scientific Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  The question then is what kinds of sources are trustworthy and how can we tell.  The first and basic measure of a scientific source is if it is being used to truly test something that can be tested through the scientific method.  Since the scientific method can only be used to test repeatable events, if the event isn't repeatable, the scientific method can't be used to prove it.  A great example of this is the beginning of the universe.  If the beginning of the universe happened more than once or could be reproduced in the lab, then you could use the scientific method to prove it--otherwise you are up a creek.  Now, don't get all frazzled, you can use the scientific method to prove all kinds of scientific facts around the beginning of the universe, but this is why science has so many problems with the concept of the beginning of the universe--it can't be proven or disproven using the scientific method. 

Other similar historical-type scientific ideas and events are equally problematic for the scientist and for the scientific method.  For example, evolution and historical progression.  These concepts can be snuck up on with scientific concepts and experiments, but they are not repeatable and therefore not testable through the scientific method.  To that end, if any scientist tells you that the scientific method was used to prove any of these ideas, they are lying.  I tell you this as a scientist myself.  This is just one of the basic ideas everyone needs to know and should have been taught when they were in elementary school.  Next is the reliability of data.

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 177, more Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

4 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 177, more Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

How to communicate and understand sources.  This is a very important concept in today's world.  The ability to critically look at sources for correct information leads to knowledge of the truth.  This bears on an understanding of your own writing because it relates to the trustworthiness of the information provided by and provided to your characters--this then is passed to the readers in your storyline.  What I'm trying to relate directly is the author's ability to manipulate and convey truth in the novel.  One of the primary means is the primary witness.  That is the point of other's conversation.

There are three ways to know truth: the scientific method, the historical-witness method, and logic.  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  In the scientific method, you develop a hypothesis and then you test it via an experiment.  The results of the experiment must be similar to prove at least the hypothesis.  The scientific method is the basis for empiricism, and is the focus of most of our understanding of the natural world today.  However, did you note?  The scientific method can only be used to prove repeatable events.  If the event is not repeatable, or if it is not based in the physical world, you can't use the scientific method.  The scientific method is useless for nonrepeatable events or for concepts outside of the natural world.  You might say, I understand nonrepeatable, but what can be outside the natural world?  Mathematics is totally governed by logic and is not in the natural world--though repeatable, mathematics is not a repeatable event, but a logic based truth.  You can't measure the accuracy of a mathematical equation--it has a solution or it doesn't.  There is much more to this, but that should suffice for now.  I'll get into more detail, but let's just begin with the scientific method:  repeatable events and the natural world.

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 176, Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

3 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 176, Sources Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

Sources of data are important.  In the "real" world sources are critical--that's why many of the classes I teach deal directly with sources and the source of material.  What makes a source "good?"  Expertise isn't always a good indicator--look at Dr. Oz.  He spouts all kinds of unproven information for the purposes of selling a product.  There is an indicator for "real" life and for writing--whenever someone has a stake in the concept, their opinions can't usually be trusted.  Therefore, if a scientist is receiving money to prove some idea, it is likely that idea will never happen--on the other hand, if a scientist is paid for success, there is a high likelihood of success. 

Real results always trump intellectual ideas.  That is, something that is tangible and provable immediately (like building an aircraft) is easy to understand and trust while something that is intangible and easy to confuse the uneducated and politicians about (like global warming) is not easy to prove or trust.

In your writing, the use of sources in the writing and to support the writing is very important.  I think it is very important for writers to understand the basis of source material, but that is not a popular or well understood topic at all.  If you understand the strength and power of sources, you can present strong evident truth (in the context of your writing) to your readers.  That is, you can give them sources in your writing that they can trust and that they can distrust.  If you understand the concept of source material, you can provide a degree of the "real" to your readers.  That is, you can give them an experience of history, culture, and technology that is based in truth.  I'll explain the concept of sources in the next few posts.

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 175, yet more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

2 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 175, yet more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: My editor sent a round of emails last night concerning the back cover materials.  That included the book teaser and the author bio.  They looked good.  They also sent the covers for the individual novels.  I'll put up the covers when I can.  The proposed 3 in1 cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

Did you just catch the little trick in character revelation in a novel?  If the protagonist says it, there is much less chance your readers will believe it.  This is not a primary response--it is a subconscious response.  Mature people weigh the words of the people they meet--only kids believe everything someone tells them.  Adults learn through experience to not entirely believe everything they hear--especially from a person they just met who is talking about themselves. 

On the other hand, if the information comes from someone else, from the internet, or from some other source, there is a greater tendency to believe it.  In the real world, the information from any other source can be as untrustworthy as what you get from the individual, but to a degree it may be more trustworthy.  It takes more work to produce false information from another, the internet, or another source.  Just realize, check your source.  I mean this in the real world and in the world of your novel.  Your sources build or tear down your revelation.  The sources develop your plot. 

For example, if I have a college professor who knows my protagonist provide positive information about the protagonist's intellectual ability--that would generally be accepted by your readers as truth.  On the other hand, if the college professor is known for seducing young women in his class for better grades, your readers might disregard his information.  That doesn't mean the revelation or the professor are in any way negative to the novel.  The testimony of the professor means very much in the context of the plot of the novel.  The number one question the reader should be asking is why is the professor passing this information at this time to this person--what could he gain from it?

The other side of sources are notoriously bad sources--that is whether they are really bad or not.  For example, Wikipedia is usually a reasonable place to start looking for information, but it is a source that no professor or anyone of any intellect will accept.  Wiki is a dubious source.  It will likely never be considered a very good source because it is too easy to hack it.

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 174, still more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

1 October 2014, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 174, still more Ideas and Other's Conversation, Methods of Revelation How to Develop Storyline, Rising Action

Announcement: I received the proofs and a three-day deadline to give comments.  One of my regular prepub readers and I went through the three book.  I was able to correct some second edition issues in Aegypt.  The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  I'll keep you updated.  I should have three new books out soon.

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 newest novel, Valeska, is this: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.

Here is my proposed cover for Valeska:

I decided on a white cover style.  You can see more at www.GoddessofDarkness.com.

The purpose of a novel is to reveal the protagonist and usually the protagonist's helper, the author needs to place them in circumstance that allows them to reveal themselves.  The means can be conversation, exploration, discovery, other's conversation, confession, accidental discovery.

Let's look at truth and other's conversation.  So we have set up an opportunity for two characters to discuss something about our protagonist.  This discussion must reveal something new to the readers and should reveal something the protagonist doesn't want others to know.  The juicier the better.  Or--everything could be completely untrue.  I have a situation in a novel I am writing now.  I want the protagonist to be blackmailed--part of the reason for the blackmail will be true (pornographic pictures) and part will be false (that the protagonist wanted the pictures to be made and used).  The beauty of an other's conversation in revealing is that the readers don't know what is true and what isn't true--this should be true of any conversation and any revelation in a novel.  What is truth is just the same in real life.

Look, have you ever been lied to?  People lie all the time--they lie about everything.  Some of their lies are little and white, some are huge and black.  The point is that people lie, and they lie for all kinds of reasons.  People lie in bars all the time to enhance other's opinions and to enhance the level of their own knowledge.  I personally hate telling people what I do because I'm sure they think I'm lying to them.  Sometimes I don't say a thing.  I usually let someone else tell them.  Ah, there, do you get it.  If someone else says it about you, you might get a better opinion, or at least a rosy one.  Plus the audience might even believe it more.

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