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:
Your assignment :-) as a writer is to read and write. The reading provides you with examples and ideas. The writing provides you with experience to develop your skill set. I read a novel a week. I used to read a novel a day. I don't have time anymore to read that much, because I spend the time in writing. I have a full time job right now. When I write continuously, I can write an entire novel and prepare the publisher's and marketing information in a week. When I first started writing, it took me a year to write a novel. I can finish a novel in about four to six months depending on my schedule. At the same time, I keep up three blogs on writing, and my websites. Although, I haven't been able to work on the websites as much as I wish. I also do occasional writing. What I'm trying to illustrate to you is that if you want to succeed in writing, you have to work hard at writing.
I'm not so sure I'm succeeding. I have six books in publication and two on contract. I am constantly encouraged by my publisher and hope to have more novels on contract and published. I'm both lucky and elated that my publisher likes my writing and wants to take the risk to publish my novels. I'm not making much money, but I continue to write and hone my skills. I want to leave a legacy of writing that people enjoy reading. I consider my writing to be fun but serious, literary, carefully researched, entertaining, and exciting. I want my readers to live an entirely different experience and life through my novels.
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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