Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 418, Power Internal Characters Applying Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

2 June 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 418, Power Internal Characters Applying Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

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 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've just started on the next major run-through of my novel, Escape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

In the past, a very common theme was a redemption or a accomplishment theme where the main character overcame their environment or their circumstance to become great.  The British novels (or British influenced or styled novels) generally kept to a theme of the noble noble.  In such a theme, the strength of the nobility always came out no matter the circumstances or environment.  For example, Oliver Twist, Tarzan (an American novel with a British style theme), all the Bronte Novels (to a degree).  The American style of this novel is still popular.  It is based on the theme of the ethical and moral advance.  In other words, the main character achieves greatness through hard work.  This is a theme of many British and American novels especially moving into the 20th century.  You can think of many examples--I'm sure. 

This isn't so bad a theme.  I suggest both types can  be used well in the 21st Century and especially the hard work theme is still culturally and societally accepted and believed.  More modern themes are both irrational and questionable from a human standpoint.  For example, the fated theme is a very old theme based in early religious ideas.  The uncontrolled theme (mental, physical, moral) is very akin to the fated theme.  These themes were rejected as humanity moved into Christianity and society into Gnosticism.  For some reason they are becoming more common themes again today.  For example, the idea that a person can't control their emotions or mind and that causes their success or failure.  Or the idea that human worth and desire don't matter and only luck or fate will lead t success (or failure). 

In the novel and with the character I am developing, I want to express the more common view of free-will and success.  My character will learn: first, self-control, second, religious faith (that is considering a moralistic and ethical religion), third, proper culture, fourth, fear of punishment. 

The point of creativity is to look at or express these ideas in a new way. 

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:

http://www.ancientlight.com/
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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