Announcement: We are in the countdown phase for the publication of my new novels. The date on the internet is 1 September. We will see how close we come, or if the publishers meet the deadline. My Aegypt novels will be titled Ancient Light, and 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. The proposed cover and info can be found at www.ancientlight.com. 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:
I'm trying to reflect on reading for the purpose of getting good examples of how to write. The primary point is to read great literature so you can write great literature. I'm also relating appropriate scene development to great literature to show how you should approach writing. You should read great literature to gain examples. You should evaluate what you read to see how those authors approached writing, and you should use their good examples to improve your writing.
I noted for you, that great authors build a framework of description for their readers to hang their imagination on. You can't and you shouldn't try to make all encompassing descriptions, rather, you want descriptions that evoke the reader's imagination. This is why I suggest, support, and encourage using figures of speech in every way shape and form in your descriptions. From comparisons to metaphors to every figure of speech possible, I encourage you to write in those types of forms. For example:
The fragrant yellow flowers lined the side of the path like blond soldiers nodding sleepily at their guard stations.
Some might argue that the above sentence is illogical--it is in some degree, but you get it. Anyone who reads it will get the feel of the moment and will see the description in their minds. This is simply a great description in English. It can be tightened up and improved. My point isn't to give a full and complete product, but rather a quick example of a thought provoking description. So remember, description is required. It is a key in scene setting. Reading is how you begin to build your writing skills, but writing is what it is all about.
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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