Writing Ideas - Writing Historical Fiction, part 6 The Voice of the Times

24 July 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Historical Fiction, part 6 The Voice of the Times

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

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 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.

I'm not certain there is any writing that is easy. All writing is difficult, but I think historical fiction may be the most difficult. First, it requires a lot of research and especially primary and secondary source research (real research) that is if you intend to write good historical fiction. Second, you must immerse yourself in the culture and understand it from the point of a participant. Third, you have to be able to find the voice of the times and culture. The voice of the times and culture is the point of immersion and research. Fourth, you have to be able to write well. The fourth point is beyond the scope of this series, but is is a critical point. Many of us have read literature today that is crippled by the inability of the author to write well. Many popular books are missing the spark of good writing and makes you wonder why they were published to begin with. But back to the third point...if you can't capture the voice of the times and culture, your historical fiction will not be historical fiction; it will be a modern novel set in a historical period. That simple observation has been my greatest experience with writing that claims to be historical fiction today. Most is not historical at all, but rather modern fiction set in a historical period. When you find modern issues and modern ideas along with historical infidelity in a historical novel, that writer has not taken the three required steps to write about the times. So how do you find the voice of the times? That is a function of immersion and knowledge, but the precise point is that you have to subjugate your mind to the mind of the times. Now comes the difficult point. To have the voice of the times and culture means the ability to convey that time and culture to your readers in the modern world. I personally use many genre crossing techniques to allow a modern person to see the times and culture through the eyes of the modern world. The normal technique in historical fiction is the one from my novel Centurion http://www.centurionnovel.com/. Centurion uses the typical model of simply a novel from the viewpoint of the people of the times. There are no tricks and there is no ability or basis for comparison with the modern world. The novel unfolds as a normal piece of historical fiction writing. In The Second Mission http://www.thesecondmission.com/, I use time travel as a technique to move the reader into the past. This method allows the writer to make comparisons and to convey the period through the eyes of a modern person. It also allows comparisons with a future world or ideas. This is a complex method and requires the author to be strongly consistent in immersion and research. If the comparisons aren't there, then their is no purpose in using this technique. The third method I have used (by no means the last) is using a fantastic means to pull people from the past into the present. Aegypt http://www.aegyptnovel.com/ takes place in 1926 and pulls a being from the 18th Egyptian dynasty (1539 to 1295 BC) into that place and time. The comparisons here and the power in the novel is the ability to see the world in the French Foreign Legion in Tunisia in 1926, the period of great archaeological discoveries in Egypt, plus the comparison of the world from the eyes of a person from classical Egypt. And that ultimately is the power of historical fiction. It allows the author to present the past as it was and lets the reader see the differences from their times and culture. Tomorrow, I'll expand on this. 

For more information, you can visit my author site www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

Marketing - more Acceptance

27 October 2011, Marketing - more Acceptance

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, 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.

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.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  When your novel is accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter or email.  That communication will outline the reasons the publisher likes your novel.  From their letter, it will be obvious they have read and made notes on your book.  The publisher will tell you all kinds of good things about your novel.  First, because they want you to sign a contract with them--they like your novel.  Second, because they really do like your novel, or they wouldn't have sent a letter.  As I mentioned, the letter will usually include some suggestions for improvements to the novel, and instructions for the next step.  I might have a contract already attached to it.

If you receive a contract, read it carefully.  You might want to have your lawyer look at it.  That contract will obligate you to whatever the publisher has stipulated--unless you negotiate a change.  I already mentioned generally what you can expect from a publishing contract. 

Now, if you accept the contract, sign it and mail it to the publisher.  That's the beginning of the publishing process.
Tomorrow, what next?

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Marketing - Acceptance

26 October 2011, Marketing - Acceptance
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, 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.

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.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  If you finally do connect with a publisher, how do you know it's the real thing?  I think you know what I mean.  Even if you apply to a large publishing house, and they accept your work, you should expect something more than a letter and a check.  That's right.  What you will receive is an acceptance letter or email.  You will be able to tell it is a "real" acceptance letter because the publisher will tell you why they like your work and usually, they will give you some things they suggest you amend.  I won't use the "change" word because that is too strong.  In general, the acceptance of your work is contingent on your book meeting the requirements of their press.  That might be their editorial policies or their content policies.  For example, my publisher, OakTara, will not publish obscene language.  That's their policy.  If you can't accept your publisher's editorial or content policies, you need to find another publisher. 

A content policy is just like my example above, it is something simple in the content like the language or some other specific issue.  On the other hand, an editorial policy is the overall focus of the publisher.  For example, a publisher might be young adult only.  If they like your novel, they might ask you to change the main character to a young adult.  A publisher could be Kansas only and ask you to change the location of your story to Kansas.  Usually, you won't get past step one and an acceptance letter if you aren't in the editorial policy sweet spot of the publisher, but sometimes these things happen.

Tomorrow, more on acceptance and contracts.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.