24 April 2016, Writing Ideas
- New Novel, part 744, Developing Conversation, My Distinct Manner of
Writing Q and A
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.
4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage
of the novel.
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 26th novel, working title, Shape, proposed
title, Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si,
is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry
and rehabilitates her.
I
just started writing my 27th novel, working title, Claire, potential
title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse. This might need some tweaking. The theme statement is something like this:
Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela
branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.
Here is the cover proposal for Essie:
Enchantment and the Aos Si. Essie is my 26th 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’m editing many of my novels using comments from my primary
reader. I finished editing Children of Light and Darkness and am
now writing on my 27th novel, working title Claire.
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)
One of my blog readers posed these
questions. I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.
14. Mannerism suggested by
speech
16. Distinct manner of writing
or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences,
non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent'
inconclusiveness).
Moving on to 16. 16. Distinct
manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes
gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes
'apparent' inconclusiveness).
How does an author create conversation
that sounds “real?” The answer isn’t through
real conversation. The author develops
conversation that communicates reality to his readers. In the first place, words are simply
symbols. An author takes his own
imagination and turns it into symbols.
Those symbols go onto a page, and we call that writing. The author’s purpose is to entertain through
symbols (words). The author must turn
his imagination from pictures and imagined sounds, tastes, feelings, smells,
and sights into words that in an entertaining way convey those thoughts. No one can write the same as another because
no one sees the world in exactly the same way as another. The first part is the communication of
thoughts.
This explains gaps, silences,
non-sequiturs, fragments and 'apparent' inconclusiveness. Let’s add to this. In my writing, this explains my frequent use
of gestures and tags. My conversation is
filled with irony, paradox, understatements, silences, stares, glares, looks,
animal responses (grunts, snarls, hisses, etc.). I like verbal confrontation on multiple
levels. I like my characters to be snarled
in conversations they don’t fully understand.
Here is a short example:
Sveta suddenly stared at Shiggy’s
shoulder, “Not quite yet. Shiggy, Sorcha
come with me and bring…well you know.”
Sveta kissed Daniel’s cheek, “Entertain these gentlemen for just a
moment, we girls need to take a powder.
I’ll be back before our next guests arrive.”
Daniel stood for a moment speechless. He turned to Captain Cross and Major Easom.
Sveta grasped Shiggy’s hand and pulled
her to the side and into a sitting room.
Sorcha swaggered after them.
Sveta didn’t let go of Shiggy, “Sorcha,
close the door.” She turned to Shiggy
and pointed at Shiggy’s left shoulder, “Really, what do you mean by bringing
her with you?”
Shiggy swallowed, “Mrs. Long may I
introduce Angel Trumpet of the Seelie Court.”
Angel curtsied very nicely, “Good
evening, Lady of…” Sveta made an
elaborate symbol in the air. It
shimmered and pulsed for a moment, then disappeared.
Whatever Angel was going to say
suddenly stopped. Sveta raised her chin
and gripped Shiggy’s arm, “Angel Trumpet, I did not invite you into this house,
and I did not expect you,” she glared at Shiggy, “to bring one of the fae in
here.”
Shiggy tried to pull away, “Ma’am, my
arm.”
Sveta glared at Shiggy and Angel,
“Sorcha, what is the meaning of this?”
Sorcha slid over, but not too close,
“Well, Aunty, Mrs. Calloway thought Shiggy should have a little extra help in
the judgement and wrong-doing area. She
assigned Ms. Angel Trumpet here to be Shiggy’s conscious.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Serious as a heart attack.”
“Why would she do something like this?”
“You can ask her. She’s attending this evening. I suspect she’ll ask Shiggy and Angel how
things are working out.”
Sveta continued to glare, “Why in the
world would Mrs. Calloway assign this stupid fairy to Shiggy?”
Angel snuffled.
“Not a word or a sniffle out of you,
Angel Trumpet. I don’t need you
poisoning my guests or burning my carpet.”
Angel squeaked.
“And what is this fae creature
wearing?”
Shiggy was still trying to twist out of
Sveta’s grasp, “It’s just Barbie clothing.
I thought she could use a little finery for the season.”
Sveta closed her eyes, “Sorcha does
this Shiggy understand about fae gifts?”
Shiggy yelled, “You don’t need to ask
her, ma’am. I understand. I understand.”
Sveta’s eyes popped open. She groaned, “Very well, Angel Trumpet, what
did you give in return for this very fine gift?”
Angel sniffed, “I gave a bit of fae
fire…as…as well as companionship. What
are such gifts among friends?”
Sveta stuck her finger against Angel’s
neck. She still held Shiggy with a grasp
of steel. “A friend. You call this
Shiggy a friend?”
Angel trembled and sniffled, “She is a
friend of the fae.”
“Sorcha. Sorcha, did you know this?”
Sorcha still stood near the door, “I
knew she was accepted by an Unseelie.
About the Seelie, I didn’t know.”
Shiggy sniffled, “What is so wrong with
being a friend of the fae?”
Sorcha and Sveta answered together,
“Obligations, dear.”
Sveta suddenly released Shiggy. That sent her reeling back against
Sorcha. Sorcha caught her.
Sveta still glared. She crossed her arms, “The first is
this. Angel Trumpet, no one in this
house invited you inside. You are not a
companion, guest, associate, friend, or servant here. Do you understand this?”
Angel pressed her hands together, “Mrs.
Calloway made this abundantly clear in the charging. I am only an associate for Shiggy. I can only go where she goes and nowhere
else. I cannot and will not return to
this house.”
“Swear it.”
Angel balked, “I swore already to Mrs.
Calloway.”
“Swear it to me, or so help me…”
“I do swear all you asked by the One
and All that I will not consider my entrance a standing invitation into your
house.” Angel’s hair puffed out. She snarled, “I hate that.”
Sveta lowered her chin, “Second, I will
have no fae events at my party. Ms.
Tash, Shiggy, you are responsible for that dolled up fairy. Do not let her out of your sight and do not
allow her to accomplish any action, use fae power, invite any other fae here,
disturb or bother my other guests. Is
that clear? There will be guests here
who can see her. If anyone asks, tell
them Mrs. Calloway allowed it and I know about it. Do not tell anyone about gifts, being
friends, being assigned, or anything else concerning this issue. In every sense, use what little common sense
you seem to have Shiggy Tash, and do not cause an eruption of unrestraint
tonight.”
Shiggy nodded emphatically.
“I really should make you and this
fairy swear, but she knows what will happen to her already, and you can’t swear
in this fashion. Third, this has royally
disturbed my holiday. I don’t know how
you can repair the current situation, but I want to see both of you in my
office next Monday. Thank the Dagda that
I don’t have to put up with Heidi or Scáth this year.” Sveta stomped to the door. Sorcha jumped out of her way and pulled
Shiggy to the side. Sveta stood for a
good ten seconds taking deep breaths.
She smiled, opened the door, and glided out again.
This
represents my writing and conversation.
You can see verbal confrontation.
You can see gesture and tags. You
can see side conversations and soliloquies.
There is understatement. You see
emotions through conversation and gesture.
These are all characteristics of my manner and style of writing.
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
fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline,
character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing,
information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic
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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