21 November 2019, Writing
- part xx049 Writing a Novel, Characters and Pathos, Reflected Characters,
Another Example
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 websites 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 29th 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 30th novel, working
title Red Sonja. I finished my 29th 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: Deirdre and Sorcha are redirected to French
finishing school where they discover difficult mysteries, people, and events.
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: Why don’t we go back
to the basics and just writing a novel?
I can tell you what I do, and show you how I go about putting a novel
together. We can start with developing
an idea then move into the details of the writing.
To
start a novel, I picture an initial scene.
I may start from a protagonist or just launch into mental development of
an initial scene. I get the idea for an
initial scene from all kinds of sources.
To help get the creative juices flowing, let’s look at the initial
scene.
1.
Meeting between the protagonist and
the antagonist or the protagonist’s helper
2.
Action point in the plot
3.
Buildup to an exciting scene
4.
Indirect introduction of the
protagonist
Perhaps I should go back and look
again at the initial scene—maybe, I’ll cover that again as part of looking at
the rising action. The reason is that
I’m writing a rising action in a novel right now.
That gets us back to the
protagonist—complexity makes the protagonist and the telic flaw one and the
same.
The novel is a revelation of the
protagonist. The telic flaw is connected
directly to the protagonist. The plot is
the revelation of the telic flaw. This
connects the protagonist to the plot and the telic flaw. The point is that to plan a novel, I simply
need to plan the revelation of the protagonist.
To accomplish this, you need to develop a protagonist.
When I write you develop your
protagonist, you write notes about:
1.
Name
2.
Background
3.
Education
4.
Appearance
5.
Work
6.
Wealth
7.
Skills
8.
Mind
9.
Likes
10. Dislikes
11. Opinions
12. Honor
13. Life
14. Thoughts
15. Telic flaw
I design a protagonist around the
initial scene. This is the way I write a
novel. This isn’t the only way to write
a novel, but it is the way I have discovered to write well-conceived and powerful
novels. This goes back to the initial
scene.
Above, I gave you four options for
developing the initial scene. Yesterday,
I told you to take two off. Authors have
used three and four, but they don’t produce the kinds of exciting initial
scenes we want. Here’s the list again.
1.
Meeting between the protagonist and the antagonist or the
protagonist’s helper
2.
Action point in the plot
3.
Buildup to an exciting scene
4.
Indirect introduction of the
protagonist
Let’s plan to put one and two
together. Let’s also focus on the other
characteristics of the initial scene.
Notice that first, the initial scene must include the protagonist. This should be obvious, but let’s go down the
list. I’m looking at background and
pathos.
Looking at the classic pathos
developing scene from A Little Princess,
the emotions of the characters are not very strong, but the reader is
significantly affected by the circumstances and situation. How can this be? More specifically, what are the
characteristics of a scene or of a characters that builds pathos?
A character is pathos building who
through no fault of their own is:
1.
hungry
2.
sad
3.
abused
4.
an orphan
5.
penniless
6.
abandoned
7.
cold
8.
injured
9.
falsely convicted or accused
10. desiring for information
11. education
12. to read
13. a child
14. a female
15. beauty
16. loss of a child
17. general loss
18. friendless
19. alone
20. afraid
21. helpless
22. isolated
The antagonist or less positively,
the circumstances of the setting, produces suffering and misfortune in the
protagonist and this results in pity and fear in the reader. This is the formula for the development of
pathos in any fictional work.
Overdramatic is hard to do, but
perhaps it is possible. The worst
problem in most cases of melodrama is not any of these, but rather deus ex
machina.
What we want to do, and what I
attempt to do is produce pathos development that both men and women, boys and
girls can appreciate because the desires and problems of the protagonist’s may
not be their problems, but the readers can imagine the protagonist’s problems
as their own. For this reason, the
reflected worldview provides some very powerful ammunition for the author.
In my opinion, the created and the
reflected worldview allows more room for the author to develop pathos. Additionally, they allow the author more
latitude to resolving the telic flaw.
I’m addressing reflected worldview
characters. These are characters based
on ideas in human thought, but not usually in actual human history. I used the example of vampires. You could add in ghosts, witches, dragons,
fairies, mythical creatures, goddesses, gods, werewolves, and all. In a real historical novel, you get to meet
actual historical figures. In a
reflected worldview novel, you get to meet mythical and fictional
creatures.
So, here is an example of Fae
characters from my novel, Sorcha: Enchantment
and the Curse.
Work and training continued. On Friday, Sorcha handed Shiggy a couple of
tenners with the words, “Here’re two Big-Bens.
You might as well entertain your friends.” She drew out the word ‘friends.’
Shiggy bought beer and cigarettes. She also purchased white Barbie clothing and
Black Barbie clothing. Mostly small
coats, furs, and warm-looking things.
When they left The Co-Operative Food, Sorcha just remarked, “I don’t
care who is smoking them--you aren’t coming in the house reeking of
cigarettes.”
After dinner, Shiggy stole to Sherwood
House’s linen closet and filched a blanket.
The moment she touched it, Angel flew against her head, “What are you
thinking, Shiggy. That’s not yours.”
“It belongs to the house. I belong to Sorcha. It’s Sorcha’s house. Therefore, this blanket and I share the exact
same place in the house. I am simply
representing the house with it.”
Angel, Shiggy noted wasn’t too smart.
Angel nodded in confusion, “That makes
some kind of convoluted sense, but you’re still taking it.”
“I’m borrowing it just as I borrow
everything in the house.” That was the
clincher.
Angel tentatively landed once, tap, twice,
tap, tap, thrice, tap, tap, tap, and finally settled on Shiggy’s shoulder.
Shiggy tucked her Gucci clutch under her
arm, grabbed her box of beer from the fridge and headed to the door. She felt Angel tremble on her shoulder and
remarked, “It’s my beer. I bought it.”
“But what are you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to drink it.”
“Not with a man…”
Shiggy laughed. She opened the door, exited, and laid her
clutch and box on the stoop. She threw
the blanket over her shoulders and almost caught Angel in it. Angel rose seething, but settled again on
Shiggy’s shoulder. Angel shivered, “It’s
cold out here.”
Shiggy picked up her clutch and beer,
“It’s going to get colder…you should stay in the house.”
“Don’t wanna.”
“Suit yourself.”
Shiggy headed for the sheltered spot she
and Ashly had been using for drinking and talking. When Shiggy arrived. She placed the beer to the side, placed her
clutch on the box, and began undressing under the blanket.
Angel began sputtering, “Just what are you
doing Shiggy?”
“Getting naked.”
Angel continued sputtering.
Shiggy took her clothing, every stitch of
it and placed it on the hedge to the upwind side of the small clearing. She wrapped the blanket around her and
called, “Dark Ash. Oh, Dark Ash. Come to me.”
Ashly in her larger shape of a full grown
but petite woman stepped out of the trees.
She was entirely naked, just as usual.
Angel screeched and launched herself at
the dark fairy.
Shiggy snapped her fingers, “Angel, in the
name of your sovereign, the Aos Si, stop this instant.”
Angel halted with a sob, “But she’s here.”
Shiggy curled her lip, “Ashly is here
because I invited her.” Shiggy pointed at
her clutch, “Angel, open my clutch and bring me my cigarettes and matches.”
Angel snarled, “Am I your servant,
now?” But she flew to the clutch, popped
it open, and pulled out the cigarettes.”
When Angel moved away from the beer, Ashly
opened the box. She hesitated a moment,
“Shiggy, you should really tell me I may take them…”
Shiggy looked up from opening the box of
Marlboros, “Do I have to every time?”
“You really should…there’s a
reason…really.”
“Very well. Ashly, you may take as many beers as you wish
from the box.”
Ashly smiled a little more gently. She pulled a couple of beers from the box and
keeping well out of Angel’s range, sat down on Shiggy’s right. Angel sat on Shiggy’s left shoulder. She pouted.
Shiggy jerked her left shoulder, “Angel,
you might as well change—if you can. You
can’t very well drink a beer while you’re that size.”
Angel stared at her, “Do you really mean
to offer me a gift like that?”
Shiggy finished opening the
cigarettes. She took one and offered the
box to Ashly, “Sure, you can take a beer from the box. It’s a gift.”
Angel sprang from Shiggy’s shoulder. She didn’t land on the ground—her body grew
until it touched the floor of the forest.
Her wings and gossamer disappeared, and she was left as naked as
Ashly. Shiggy really hadn’t noticed
before. The difference between the two
fae appeared striking. Every bit of
Angel’s hair was a blond as white as platinum.
Her face was heart-shaped and beautiful.
Her body was perfectly proportioned, just smaller than the current norm
of humanity. In this regard, she and
Ashly seemed similar: perfectly proportioned, almost the same size. Ashly’s face was slightly sharp, still
inhumanly beautiful with a small cleft in her gently pointed chin that balanced
her pointed ears. Angel looked to be
made of all curves, while Ashly was formed of slight and gentle angles. Every trace of Ashly’s hair was black as
soot, as black as shadows of the blackest night. Shiggy sighed to see them.
Angel picked up a beer and brought it
over. She sat primly next to
Shiggy. She shivered slightly.
Ashly seemed to be shivering too.
Shiggy opened up her blanket, “Why don’t
you both get inside. I know you’re
cold.”
Ashly immediately came under the
blanket. She sat right next to
Shiggy. Her small body felt warm. Angel more slowly came under the
blanket. She sat a little further off,
but noticing Ashly’s proximity to Shiggy, she moved just as close. The warmth of the two felt splendid to
Shiggy. She popped her can.
Angel quipped, “You know drinking with the
fae is not a very good thing.”
Shiggy ignored her.
Ashly popped her can, and Angel quickly
copied her.
Shiggy and Ashly tapped their cans
together, “Slanté. Cheers.”
Angel looked a little put out. Shiggy held her can to the girl, and they tapped
them together, “Cheers. Slanté.”
They all took a long drink. Ashly and Shiggy placed a cigarette in their
mouths. Ashly lit hers and then
Shiggy’s. Shiggy asked, “Angel, would
you like a cigarette?”
Angel looked all around, “Do you think it
would be all right?”
Shiggy grinned, “It’s a gift to
Angel.” She passed the pack from Ashly
to Angel. Angel too expertly tapped out
a cigarette and lit it with her fingertip.
Ashly grinned from across Shiggy, “Thought
you could do that. I provided my private
clearing. Shiggy provided beer and
cigarettes. You know what you can gift
us, Angel.”
Angel took a long deep draw from her
cigarette first. She slowly let out the
smoke with, “I don’t know what you mean, Black Ash Tree.”
Ashly laughed, “Ah, we are using proper
titles now. You have accepted a gift
without one of equal value. That is not
proper at all.”
Angel squinted her eyes, “What do you
propose?”
“Angel Trumpet, Shiggy should have already
figured out that you are not the brightest tool in the shed. It’s the poison that’s long ago got to your
brain.”
Shiggy thought for a moment, Angel was
going to throw down her cigarette and beer.
She didn’t. Her eyes filled, and
she gave a brusk reply, “I don’t have anything to gift.”
“But you do Angel Trumpet. We are all cold sitting in a clearing in the
woods. What can you offer us? If you don’t, you will be beholden to me and
to Mistress Shiggy. Her true name is
Tash, by the way. She’s named for me.”
Angel took a quick puff on her cigarette
and a small tear dripped off her nose onto it.
She quickly relit the cigarette with her finger.
Ashly snorted, “There, you did it again,
crybaby.”
Angel pulled the cigarette from between
her lips and took another long drink of her beer. Tears began to cascade down the sides of her
face, “I’m not a crybaby.”
“You are the biggest crybaby. You’re crying now.”
“No, I’m not, but tears continued to fall
down her nose and cheeks.”
Ashly let out a great sigh, “I have no
idea why Mrs. Calloway gave such a stupid Seelie flower to you Shiggy as your
conscious. Angel has always been this
way. She looks beautiful, but she
poisons everything.
Shiggy felt sorry for Angel. She started to put her arm around her under
the blanket.
Ashly yelled, “Don’t. Don’t get near her while she’s crying. Her tears are poison.”
Shiggy quickly pulled back her hand. She moved a little away from Angel.
Angel’s tears became a little more
copious.
Ashly gestured with her hand, “Angel
Trumpet, you could gift us a fire—if you wished.”
Angel’s tears stopped right away. She rubbed her face in the blanket. Wherever they touched they left tiny burn
marks, and wisps of smoke rose from the fabric.
She blew her snotty nose on the blanket.
Ashly made a face, “Her snot is probably
just as poisonous.” She and Shiggy moved
a little further away. Ashy took a long
drink from her beer and a long draw form her cigarette, “Why Angel Trumpet is
Seelie has always been a mystery to us all.”
Angel snuffled up her snot, “It’s because
I’m good.”
“Good and stupid.”
Angel wailed, “I am stupid. I know I’m stupid. The Dagda was once merciful to me. He let me be Seelie.”
Ashly took another long drink and sighed,
“Angel have you not thought it wasn’t a mercy at all, but a punishment. The Dagda placed you among the Seelie who are
generally fair and nice and beautiful and smart, while you are all of those
except smart.”
“He did show me mercy.”
“He showed us all mercy by giving us this
one chance of worth and you’re blowing it.”
“I was just blowing my nose.”
Ashly laughed, “Finish your first beer and
gift us, Angel.”
All three slugged down the remaining beer
in their cans.
Angel shrugged off the blanket. She ran into the woods and returned more
quickly than Shiggy thought possible with an armful of wood. She made a small pile of it in a slight
depression. She left again and returned
with more wood and tinder. With a touch
of her finger, a small fire rose from the pile and the tinder, then wood
caught. In moments the wood blazed.
Ashly crowed, “Well done, Angel.” She put out her hands to the fire and warmed
them. Angel squatted at the side of the
fire for a moment. Ashly cooed, “Angel
why don’t you bring us more beer. Clean
your hands first.”
Angel looked up at her, “The wood wasn’t
that dirty.”
Ashly’s voice sounded especially gentle,
“But your tears and snot are dangerous.”
Angel nodded. She held out her hands and fairy fire
engulfed them for a moment. She smiled
and ran to the box. She turned toward
Shiggy, “I must have permission.”
Ashly elbowed Shiggy, and Shiggy stated,
“Angel you may bring us each a beer.”
While Angel pulled out the beer, Ashly
whispered to Shiggy, “I’m not sure whether to pity her or punish her for being
like she is. Now, we have a cupbearer.”
Shiggy whispered back, “A cupbearer?”
Ashly put her mouth near Shiggy’s ear,
“Ask her to open the beers.”
Angel returned to them with a happy grin
on her face.
Shiggy took the box of cigarettes, “Why
don’t you open the beers for us, Angel?”
Angel nodded quickly. She popped the top of one and handed it to
Shiggy. Shiggy handed it to Ashly. She popped the next and handed it to Shiggy. Then she opened the last.
Ashly giggled.
Angel didn’t seem to notice. She stood in front of them with a happy look
on her face. Shiggy opened the blanket
for her to sit. This time all three
tapped their beers together, “Shanté.
Cheers. Slanté.” They all took a long swig and Shiggy handed
out cigarettes. Angel lit them all with
her finger.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, then
Shiggy asked. What is this about gifts
and giving gifts?”
Ashly responded a little slowly, “I’ll
tell you because you are a friend, and because you have gifted us without any
expectation of return.” Shiggy and Angel
stared at her. Ashly took a deep draw,
“The fae are cursed. Our existence and
our being is a punishment to us and a gift from the Dagda. Like all things spiritual, we exist to point
to the Dagda and to His Son.”
Shiggy sucked on her cigarette. She was careful not to breathe the smoke into
her lungs, “Mrs. Calloway said something like that. I’m not sure I believe in it.”
Ashly and Angel stared at her.
Ashly sputtered, “You don’t believe? Do you know?”
“I barely understand what you are talking
about.”
Ashly muttered, “Just our luck to make
friends with…”
“With what?”
“Just listen. The greatest gift of the Dagda was His
Son. We were allowed to continue to
exist to show this about gifts to humankind.
We can’t choose because we know.”
“You know what?”
“Aw, for crying out loud Shiggy. We know the Dagda. We are not immortal, only a few of us remain
who were originally cast out of the heavens.
Only Oberon and Titania plus the other leaders of the fae courts remain
who were originally cast to earth. They
were witnesses to the Dagda and all His plans for the creation. The gods and goddesses were created to point
humans to the Dagda until the Event.”
“I don’t believe in gods and goddesses…”
“Shiggy, you have met gods and goddesses.”
“Really.
They didn’t tell me. I don’t
know…”
Ashly glared at her, “Look, Shiggy, the
fact we exist should tell you there is a Dagda.
I can assure you, He is. This is
a fundamental truth in the creation.
Even you should be able to figure that out. We, fae, give gifts that always require some
exchange. This is the lesson of the
Dagda and of the creation. If you accept
a gift, you must return something of yourself.”
“I don’t remember that from my
Confirmation.”
“What is wrong with your training?”
“I was taught that God, the Dagda offers
the gift of His Son freely.”
“He does.
That is an absolute truth, but if you accept His gift, the Dagda
requires something from you.”
“He does?”
“Yes, He does. Put on your thinking cap. It is exactly the same thing the fae require
for their gifts. It is written in human
thought and story and sagas from the beginning.”
Shiggy took a drink then scratched her
head, “I can’t imagine what it might be.”
“The fae require allegiance or an
equivalent gift. This is the trick of the
fae. When we gift, the gifts must be
balanced or the recipient finds themselves cursed or the gifts fouled or
dross. One who eats fae food is cursed
to remain with the fae or provide an equivalent gift. They must pay with their first born or their
life or their allegiance. The Dagda is
much kinder than we, but we are forbearers of this truth. In return for the gift of His Son, the Dagda
requires allegiance. That is what we
teach. This is the lesson of the fae.”
“Allegiance? I thought it was just a gift.”
Ashly kicked the ground, “I’m really the
wrong creature to teach you about such things.
Angel is not smart enough to instruct you properly.” Ashly pointed her cigarette at Angel, “Don’t
start sniveling again. You know it’s
true.”
Angel sniffed loudly, “I know that it’s
true. I should never have accepted Mrs.
Calloway’s offer.”
“Pride is one of the Seelie’s greatest
faults. You really should have been
Unseelie, Angel Trumpet.”
Angel clicked her teeth together.
Ashly puffed on her cigarette, then tossed
the filter into the fire, “Anger is also a failing of the fae.”
Angel puffed on her cigarette.
Shiggy sat back, “This is all very new to
me. I didn’t realize I needed to do
something.”
Ashly put out her hand for another
cigarette. Shiggy tossed her filter into
the fire and handed the box around again.
Angel lit them.
Ashly took a long drink and a draw, “That
is the nature of this greatest gift of the Dagda. You can’t repay the debt you owe. You can’t gift the Dagda as He has gifted
you. Only your life, your full
allegiance can suffice. This is the
lesson of the fae and the nature of the Dagda.
Lady Sorcha provided you such a gift.”
Shiggy almost dropped her beer, “I think I
see.”
They all finished their beers. Shiggy tossed the can over her left shoulder,
“Angel, get us each another beer and open it please.”
Ashly giggled. When Angel went to the box, she whispered,
“You don’t have to say please.”
Angel returned and passed them each an
open beer.
Ashly took a sip, “I hope your hands were
clean, Angel.”
Angel twitched her nose and showed one
hand then the other, “I didn’t wipe my nose or anything.”
Ashly took another drink.
Shiggy asked, “Is Sorcha a goddess.”
Ashly and Angel laughed. Their laughter sounded strangely the same,
like tinkling bells. Ashly replied, “She
is the grandchild of a goddess.”
“Then Mrs. Calloway?”
“I shouldn’t tell you this, but it is not
forbidden. Mrs. Calloway is also known
to the courts as Ceridwen. I told you
her name before, and that’s all I’ll say.”
“Will you tell me who Ceridwen is?”
Ashly took a draw on her cigarette, “I’ll
tell you this—it’s no secret. Ceridwen
is the great goddess of the Gaelic people.
She is the ruler of all the courts of men and fae. Only the Aos Si is her equivalent in all
these lands.”
“Why would there be a goddess anymore
anywhere?”
Ashly turned to her, “I told you. The fae were allowed to continue to exist to
show humankind about the gifts of the Dagda.
The gods and goddesses stood in the place of the Dagda until the Event.”
“And what Event was that?”
“It is the Event we will all celebrate
very soon. Although the actual date was
near the Passover, men and the fae, the gods and goddesses have kept it on the
25th of December as a commemoration…”
“You mean Christmas?”
“I do, indeed mean the Christ’s Mass.”
“I always thought it was all made-up.”
“It was not made-up at all. I lived then.
I saw the coming of the Son. I
knew the beginning of this new era.
Angel was there too.”
“You saw it all?”
“We did not see it because we are beings
bound in this place, but we knew when it happened, and we celebrated then. We did not need to accept it. We knew it.
We are beings made to point to the Dagda and to his gift. That is our only purpose.” Ashly’s voice sounded choked, “The Dagda
originally demanded our allegiance, and we chose to remain silent,
neutral. This is our punishment. We pray through our sovereign to one day be
able to serve Him again directly. Until
that time…”
Angel began snuffling again. They shared the rest of the beer and the
cigarettes. Angel’s small fire blazed
warmly and brightly the whole time. Near
the end of the beers, the empty cardboard beer box burned merrily away. When the last beer was done, Shiggy staggered
to her feet. She tossed the butt of her
cigarette into the blaze. Angel became a
small winged creature again. The fire
gave a last flare and went out.
Ashly stood, “I’m cold and a little
sad. My Puck will comfort me tonight.”
Angel pursed her lips, “That’s surely a
sin.”
“He is mine, and I am his. You should seek such comfort.”
“Certainly not with a Puck.”
Ashly rolled her eyes and with a backward
wave headed into the woods.
Shiggy walked slowly toward the
house. She gathered her clothing on the
way. Angel picked up Shiggy’s clutch.
At the house, Shiggy pulled off her
blanket and let the cold breeze blow around her naked body. She found the door open. She went up to her room and showered. She slept very soundly. If any dreams or strange thoughts rose up
during her slumber, she didn’t remember them in the morning.
This is not only the revelation of a
key storyline in the novel, but a wonderful release to the tension developed in
that storyline. I think the point is
obvious from the writing, but I’ll outline it for you. What is the purpose for the Fae?
The question of the purpose for the
Fae is answered by a Fae creature, by Ashly.
Angel isn’t very bright, but her purpose is a little different in the
context of the storyline and the scene.
The point in the novel isn’t necessarily the purpose of the Fae. The novel is all about entertainment, but the
Fae are reflected worldview creatures. The point of this storyline is to express the
purpose of the Fae as an entertaining revelation. The point for Shiggy, the protagonist is to
connect the purpose for the Fae to the purpose for the world.
Now, you as a reader can take this
as an additional reflected worldview, or you can take it as Shiggy is meant to
as a real within the reflected. This is
a connection of the real world, our world, with the reflected worldview
expressed in the novel. It doesn’t
matter if the reader imagines this parallel is real or reflected, the point is
to bring the real world, our world into the reflected worldview of the
novel. That this does is to make the
novel real to the reader. Not only that,
it’s entertaining.
Really, who could not want to sit
with the Fae and ask them about themselves?
Shiggy is a kind of silly character.
She is a person who lived without strong guidance or discipline. In this novel, she is getting guidance,
training, and discipline. She is turning
into one of the best intelligence agents in the British toolbox. At the same time, she is learning about the
world around her. It happens to be a
reflected world, but it is a world most readers can understand and enjoy. As I noted, if there were Fae, wouldn’t you
want to sit, smoke, and drink with them in a secure environment and learn all
about them. It’s like sitting and
speaking to an important or famous person who is entertaining and interesting. Only, unlike the important or famous person,
only in a novel can you reach this degree of intimacy. Only in a novel like this can you learn about
the purpose and ideas of the Fae. You can
additionally see the differences between the Unseelie and the Seelie Fae. All this is part of the revelation of the
novel. Ultimately, this develops pathos.
Pathos is the point of all of
this. Well the pathos develops
entertainment which is the entire purpose for a novel.
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
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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