Announcement: I heard from my publisher that my Aegypt novels will continued to be titled Ancient Light and that the next two books will be called Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness. These were the original titles. They will be released individually and as a 3 in 1 volume. I saw the proposed cover. I'll keep you updated.
Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
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:
You can do a lot of entertaining with dialog. With action scenes--maybe. I'm always surprised at how short action scenes tend to be. Even with extensive description, the most complicated action seems short. There is obviously need for action scenes, but I find they are more powerful when dialog can be incorporated in them.
There are obviously times when single characters take up some action. When possible, I like to have these off stage. If the single character reports back on the action they accomplished, there is room for the character to explain what they did and why they did it. If you show a single character action scene, there is little scope for "showing" and a whole lot (too much) opportunity for telling. Show and don't tell. With two characters working together, their conversation can explain to the readers what they are about. They can evaluate their own success or failure.
If you do write a single character action scene, I recommend you provide preparation for the scene before and a post operation discussion afterwards. This way, the character can explain their actions and then explain what they accomplished. The problem with this approach is that the character can't make these comments during the action scene. In my published novel, The Fox's Honor, I extensively developed the plot to bring another character to help my protagonist in one of the more important adventure scenes. I had some single character action scenes getting to this one, but I recognized that for the real action, I wanted to include character interaction and dialog.
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
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