Writing - part x670, Developing Skills, England and Scotland Conclusions

7 November 2018, Writing - part x670, Developing Skills, England and Scotland Conclusions

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business and publishing environment.  I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher.  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.

These are the steps I use to write a novel including the five discrete parts of 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

I finished writing my 29^th novel, working title, Detective, potential title Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.  The theme statement is: Lady Azure Rose Wishart, the Chancellor of the Fae, supernatural detective, and all around dangerous girl, finds love, solves cases, breaks heads, and plays golf.  

Here is the cover proposal for Blue Rose: Enchantment and the Detective. 

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action. I am continuing to write on my 30^th novel, working title Red Sonja.  I finished my 29^th novel, working title Detective.  I’m planning to start on number 31, working title Shifter. 

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 30:  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 31:  TBD 

Here is the scene development 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

          

Today:  Scotland is all about golf, castles, and whisky.  The food is good, but don’t go for the food.  The drinks are good, but don’t go for the drinks except whisky and cider.  Part of the problem, and this applies to England as well, is cost.  Cost is easily $7 to $10 per pint and $15 to $20 for a mixed drink.  Meals are almost always about $15 to $20 on average more if you have a starter and not including drinks or extras.  This means you will be putting out about $50 to $75 per two meals with drinks.

The quality of the food is good, but the flavors can almost always be considered bland.  The best deals we found for food and drinks were Trump Turnberry and the prices were similar.  I will note this, they have real problems breaking up bills between customers.  I’m not sure why this is such a problem or why this would be a problem.  I will also mention the speed of service, but I don’t find this a problem.  The Europeans like to take their time at meals, and the cost means they should.  The service isn’t as quick as we expect in the USA or even other cultures.  As I wrote, I don’t find this a problem, but many Americans will find the slow service and bill issues to be a frustration.  Better to know and be prepared.

I found the people to be pleasant and helpful.  I should mention that the cost of everything is high.  I did discover that antiques are a great buy if you have time to shop.  I recommend the small markets you find in both large and small towns. 

The buildings, houses, rooms, and hotel rooms are small and generally old.  This is quaint, but don’t expect king sized beds or large space anywhere.  Even Trump Turnberry which is a wonderful hotel was slightly small compared to other hotels of a similar quality. 

While Scotland is very nice, London is really Londonstani.  I felt like I had gone to Istanbul Turkey.  The people are pleasant, but you have to keep an eye out, and I’m not sure how to rate a British nation whose citizens are not quite British at all.  Also, the quaintness of the British culture is diluted by offensive counter cultural adds in similar spaces.  The city is stinky and dirty. 

I’d like to point out that in spite of what is said about American people, many of the people I saw looked much less healthy.  Perhaps it is their teeth, which isn’t covered by their socialized healthcare, their diet, which can’t be very healthy, or their lack of exercise, I think Americans, in general, appear healthier and fitter.  Statistics notwithstanding, I also saw just as many obese people in the UK as in the USA.  Still the people were pleasant and helpful.  In most cases, people would greet you with a cheery greeting.  I felt that the looks of many were classically Scottish or British, but they didn’t appear that much different from the average people you find the USA.

In the past, I found the best things to buy in the UK were used books, china, and porcelain nick-knacks.  This time, I think books are still in the running, but antiques can be found a good prices in the markets.  Whisky is also a good deal especially from the distilleries.  Clothing and other items are high cost.  If you remember anything imported or made by hand will be costly.  Antiques are the best thing to look for and prices seem to be very good. 

You gotta see London, and Scotland is a fun place.  Remember, Scotland is chilly even in the summer, but not as bad as Iceland--Iceland is close.  I enjoyed my visit, and I saw many places I’ve visited before and places I’ve written about in my novels.  Next time, I must go to the British Museum and the British Gallery—they’re free and wonderful.             

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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