21 March 2017, Writing Ideas
- New Novel, part x74, Creative Elements in Scenes, Plot Devices, Quibble
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
I
finished writing my 27th novel, working title, Claire, potential
title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse. This might need some tweaking. The theme statement is: 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 Sorcha:
Enchantment and the Curse.
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|
Cover
Proposal
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The most important scene in any
novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising
action. I started writing my 28th novel, working title Red Sonja. I’m also working on my 29th novel,
working title School.
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: transition from input to output focused on the telic
flaw resolution)
5. Tension (development of
creative elements to build excitement)
6. Release (climax of creative
elements)
How to begin a novel. Number one thought, we need an entertaining
idea. I usually encapsulate such an idea
with a theme statement. Since I’m writing
a new novel, we need a new theme statement.
Here is an initial cut.
For novel 28: Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the
X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns
about freedom, and is redeemed.
For novel 29: Sorcha, the abandoned child of an Unseelie
and a human, secretly attends Wycombe Abbey girls’ school where she meets the
problem child Deirdre and is redeemed.
These are the steps I use to write a
novel:
1.
Design the initial scene
2.
Develop a theme statement (initial
setting, protagonist, protagonist’s helper or antagonist, action statement)
a.
Research as required
b.
Develop the initial setting
c.
Develop the characters
d.
Identify the telic flaw (internal
and external)
3.
Write the initial scene (identify
the output: implied setting, implied characters, implied action movement)
4.
Write the next scene(s) to the
climax (rising action)
5.
Write the climax scene
6.
Write the falling action scene(s)
7.
Write the dénouement scene
Here is the beginning of the scene
development method from the outline:
1.
Scene input (comes from the previous
scene output or is an initial scene)
2.
Write the scene setting (place,
time, stuff, and characters)
3.
Imagine the output, creative
elements, plot, telic flaw resolution (climax) and develop the tension and
release.
4.
Write the scene using the output and
creative elements to build the tension.
5.
Write the release
6.
Write the kicker
Below is a list of plot
devices. I’m less interested in a plot
device than I am in a creative element that drives a plot device. In fact, some of these plot devices are not
good for anyone’s writing. If we
remember, the purpose of fiction writing is entertainment, we will perhaps
begin to see how we can use these plot devices to entertain. If we focus on creative elements that drive
plot devices, we can begin to see how to make our writing truly
entertaining. I’ll leave up the list and
we’ll contemplate creative elements to produce these plot devices.
Deus ex machina (a machination, or act of
god; lit. “god out of the machine”)
Flashback (or analeptic reference)
Quibble – Current discussion.
Story within a story (Hypodiegesis)
Third attempt
Secrets
Judicial Setting
Quibble: Here is a definition of a quibble
from the link-- In terms of
fiction, a quibble is a plot
device, used to fulfill the exact verbal conditions of an agreement in
order to avoid the intended meaning. Typically quibbles are used in legal
bargains and, in fantasy,
magically enforced ones.
I’m
trying to think if I used this in any of my novels. I do like to produce judicial courts outside
the norm, but I’m not sure I used the quibble before. The example of the quibble also from the link
is William Shakespeare used a quibble in The Merchant of Venice. Portia saves Antonio in a court of law by pointing
out that the agreement called for a pound
of flesh, but no blood, and therefore Shylock can
collect only if he sheds no blood, which is not physically possible.
I
don’t know if the list of plot devices will give us the famous “judicial” plot
device. The quibble is as good a time as any to write about it. You might not use a quibble, that’s a great
plot device. You might just use a
judicial setting and creative element. I
consider this a plot device in itself.
For example Perry Mason’s every show used this plot device. Not every novel or piece of literature will use
this, so it is an independent plot device.
Let me give some examples from my writing.
The
first is from Aksinya: Enchantment and
the Deamon. Aksinya is tried twice—once
in an ecclesiastical trail and once in a civil trial. This is two chapter worth of writing. I’ll give you the peaks. Let’s see if there is any quibble in the
bits:
Aksinya’s voice rang clearly, “I did use
sorcery to save them. Those men were
tempted by the demon. My demon is
Asmodeus, the demon of lust and luxuria.
It was his doing. He tempted
those men and caused them to act as they did.
As you can see, Herr Taaffe, the Lady Natalya, and Sister Margarethe
are innocent. I can’t vouch for the
innocence of Herr Mueller.”
Herr Mueller ran to the door and was let
out.
The Archinquisitor tapped his paper, “The
innocence of these three is still in question.
I wish to question them. First,
Herr Taaffe, did you know the Princess Aksinya was a sorceress?”
“Princess…?” He glanced at Aksinya, “I knew
the Countess was a sorceress. Yes.”
Aksinya groaned, “You need not confess to
such a thing. I will not lie, but I
don’t wish them to lie on my account.”
The Archinquisitor grinned, “Herr Taaffe are
you lying?”
“No, I knew she was a sorceress. That is why I sought her out.”
Aksinya collapsed in her chair, “I am guilty
and not they.”
“We shall see. How about you, Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. Did you know the Princess Aksinya was a
sorceress?”
“Yes, I became her apprentice for that
reason.”
Aksinya cried, “I tricked them. I forced them.”
“And you, Sister Margarethe?”
“I
knew. She never harmed anyone. This I swear.”
“But
you knew and never informed your Reverend Mother or your priest, the Abbot.”
“I
never told them.”
“Why?”
“Because
I love the Countess. I would do anything
for her—to protect her.”
Aksinya
let out a great cry.
Archinquisitor
Gallo smacked his lips, “Herr von Taaffe, you affianced, the Princess Aksinya,
yet you knew she was a sorceress.”
Aksinya
yelled, “He never affianced me.”
The
Archinquisitor wheeled toward her, “Why did you not?”
Natalya
spoke quietly, “Because I seduced, Herr von Taaffe to protect her.”
Aksinya
roared, “Shut up, Natalya. You…you. Please don’t do this. I already told you I am a sorceress. What do you gain by smearing my friends?”
The
Archinquisitor smiled, “I think the guilt of all these individuals can be
attributed to the Princess Aksinya.
Therefore, I am ready to pronounce my verdict on all of them. This verdict shall stand unless revoked by Rome
Aksinya
smiled and nodded.
“As
to these others.”
Aksinya
growled, “I accept your punishment. It
is just. Do not judge these others. I renounce any association with them.”
The
Archinquisitor chuckled, “They must answer for their own sins. It is not up to you to judge, little
girl. Herr von Taaffe, you are allowed
communion after proper repentance and penance to be determined by the Cardinal
of Wien. You are accused and guilty of
seduction and acquaintance with sorcery.
Repent of this, and you shall be freely given the succor of your Holy Church
Aksinya’s
lips turned slightly up. That quickly
became a frown.
The
Archinquisitor continued, “Reverend Mother Kluge, you allowed this sorceress to
enter Sacré
Coeur and bewitch your sisters and your students. You shall be reduced to a sister of your
order and not hold the position of Reverend Mother again. The Abbot, Father Abend, is equally guilty of
this sin and shall also be reduced to a priest without authority until properly
elevated. I pronounce the school, Sacré Coeur, to be
closed until a full accounting of the evil that was committed within it is
determined and purged. It shall open
again only under these conditions are met.”
The Reverend
Mother gave a cry. The sisters around
her held to her.
“The convent shall
be under a full review and shall accept penance until the time the Cardinal of
Wien shall lift that penance. No new
novices shall be accepted nor sisters elevated until that time.”
Aksinya panted,
“You already had planned all this before you heard anything, didn’t you?”
“You, little girl
have nothing to say to me. You are
meaningless now. You will soon face your
accusers in another court, a court of secular law, and you should pray they are
as lenient as I.”
Aksinya
stood, “I accept the just punishment for my sins. I admit to them and confess them all to
you.” She dropped to her knees, “I beg
your pardon for any and all suffering I have caused. I have no excuse for my actions. I only wish I could take your suffering on
myself. Forgive all these. Please, in the name of God, forgive them and
only punish me.”
The
Archinquisitor made a dismissive motion with his hand and signaled for the
guards, “Your penance and pleas come much too late, little girl.”
No
quibble there—it’s just a trial with a punishment from the inquisitors. Likewise, at Aksinya’s second trial, she is
not loosed because of a quibble:
The
doors behind the large desk opened and the judges stepped to their seats. The Bailiff stuck his staff against the
ground, “Hear ye, hear ye, this Schöffengericht shall pronounce judgment in the
name of Emperor Charles the first of Austria
and the Republic
of German Austria
Judge
Richter didn’t sit. He shuffled his
papers for a moment, “Princess Aksinya Georgovna Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov also
known as the Countess Golitsyna, the unanimous verdict of this Schöffengericht
is that you are not guilty of any of the charges brought against you in this
court.”
Aksinya
stared at the Judges. She turned her
head toward Father Dobrushin. Natalya
beamed. Aksinya asked, “What does it
mean? What is he saying? Am I not guilty?”
Father
Dobrushin whispered, “You are not guilty.”
“But
I am guilty of something and especially certain sins.”
“That’s
not what this court was to determine.”
Aksinya
obviously didn’t understand.
Natalya
took Aksinya’s hand, “That is wonderful, Princess. You shall go free.”
Aksinya
swallowed against a lump, “I shall never be free, but I am happy not to go to
prison.”
The
judge continued to speak.
Aksinya
almost clapped her hands together, “Now he will tell me the truth about my
guilt.”
Father
Dobrushin shushed her.
Judge
Richter stated, “Although, this Schöffengericht finds the Princess Aksinya not
guilty, the State of Austria has received international letters concerning the
Princess. Both of them request her
return to Russia
Father
Dobrushin stood, “Yes, Your Honor. I
have reviewed both letters as well as the laws of the State of Austria as it
applies to this circumstance. It is not
in the Princess’ best interest to entertain either request from either Russian
claim to authority. She desires to
continue as an émigré in Austria
Judge Richter wrote on the paper in front of him, “There will be no
need for that, council. I am granted the
authority to reject either or both requests as a recommendation of this court. It was only in the case of a guilty verdict
that the Princess would be extradited to Russia
No
quibbles, just jurisprudence. I have
also used judicial situations in other Enchantment novels. I used it in Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer, in Warrior of Darkness, and to certain degrees in my Ghost Ship Chronicles. The judicial plot device is an excellent plot
device for engaging in the pronouncement of guilt or the clearing of a character. Usually, I use it to exonerate my characters
from a terrible charge. I think readers
are very excited by this type of plot device.
Just like Perry Mason, it can build entertainment and tension and
release. You can overuse it—like Perry
Mason, but it is a stalwart of many detective and crime shows.
If
you use this plot device, you must be very careful of details. You don’t have to be perfect, but you must be
close enough to fool your readers into believing you are an expert. For example, to write the judicial parts of
Aksinya, I studied first the ecclesiastical trials of the Catholic Church and
especially of the inquisition. I studied
the Austrian legal system for the civil part of her trial. I believe my details are accurate enough to fool
even Austrian readers. It is as accurate
as a non- practitioner can make it.
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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