Scenes - Scene Setting, the Court

8 April 2013, Scenes - Scene Setting, the Court

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/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

1. The beginning
2. The rising action
3. The Climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement

Every scene has these parts:

1. The setting (where, what, who, when, how)
2. The connection (input)
3. The tension development
4. The release
5. The output

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation.

A really fun means of conveying information to your readers is to have one character present information about another character to them.  In this example, Father Dobrushin relates to Aksinya about the press concerning her ecclesiastical trial and about her.  This is a great means of exciting the interest of your readers.  Readers what to know about your characters.  They want to know everything they can about the main character.  The relation of information through the mouth of another  character builds knowledge and information in the mind of the reader.  Especially powerful are the impressions of others.

The prosecutors came to their table.  They nodded toward Aksinya and to Father Dobrushin.  Father Dobrushin stepped over and shook their hands.  Aksinya heard only quiet greetings between them.  The priest sat down again and continued to glance through his papers.  The benches of the courtroom began to fill behind them.  Aksinya fidgeted for a while then asked Father Dobrushin, “Why are there so many people in the benches?  Is there an important trial later?”

Father Dobrushin’s lips turned down, “You haven’t seen the papers for a while.”

“They don’t give me anything to read in the jail.  I only have the Greek Bible you brought me.”

“You have been on the front page of every paper in the city and perhaps Austria since well before the ecclesiastical trial two weeks ago.”

“I have?”

“If you look closely, the men on the back row are all photographers and reporters.  They are not allowed to take pictures in the courtroom.  When you leave here, they will all try to snap your picture.”

“Really?  What did they say about me?”

“Nothing flattering.”

“But what did they say?”

“They called you a witch and a sorceress.”

“That’s pretty innocuous and besides, it’s true.”

“There were other things less flattering, but mostly they called the Cardinal and the inquisitors to task for trying a mentally ill girl in an ecclesiastical court.”

Aksinya’s brow wrinkled, “The mentally ill girl was me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“Why this time?”

“Because you believe me.”  She glanced at him from the sides of her eyes and sighed, “I’ll try not to bother you again.”

“When?  Now?  It’s too late.”

At that moment, two judges came through the door at the right and two judges through the door at the left behind the large desk.  The bailiff of the court struck his staff against the floor, “Hear ye, hear ye, this Schöffengericht is convened in the name of Emperor Charles the first of Austria and the Republic of German Austria.  I present The Honorable Gustav Richter, The Honorable Artur Kuester, Lay Judge Albert Vogler, and Lay Judge Oscar Amsel.  May the justice of the Lord God Almighty reign in all the affairs of men.”

Notice that the knowledge about the press's impression of Aksinya is only partially given.  Father Dobrushin didn't read the story to her or give her the full information, he simply provides his impression.  This is an effective means to tantalize your readers and your characters.  Like real life, usually the incidents are forgotten and less important, but there is a tie to the rest of the novel--the reporters are waiting to take her picture...

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.

For more information, you can visit my author site at 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.

Publication - Your Press Releases

19 January 2012, Publication - Your Press Releases

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

You don't have to wait for your publisher to make a press release for you.  This is very important for indi writers and for other advertising.  There are a host of websites where you can put out free press releases.  I used to have them all in my computer, but I had a reinstall and lost them.  In any case, a little searching around the Internet will find these places to put out your press releases. 

How good of advertising does a press release give you?  Not that much.  As I've mentioned over and over, most news and interest is topical and not on novels.  Unless you are a best seller, and even then you have to be a million book seller, you won't get much, if any, attention for your novels.  Local press will usually give you some play; however, if you have a large newspaper in your city, they'll usually ignore you.  For some reason I can't fathom, the press is usually not willing to support other writers.  They'll give copy to one of their own who self produces and vanity publishes, but they will totally ignore a successful writer in their midst.  In fact, most large press newspapers will take the NY Times book page and reproduce it and never give a single letter to local authors (unless they are in the NYT book page).  They ignored a great author here until she won the Caldecott. 

I'll write about what to put in a press release tomorrow.

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 - to Publishers more Subsidy Press Problems

13 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers more Subsidy Press Problems

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:  So, what could be the problem if you publish your own books.  I gave you the four preconditions yesterday.  I haven't told you the reasons why you could hurt yourself as an author. 

The most important reason is you could ruin your career as a writer.  I wrote yesterday that the most important precondition before you self publish a book is that you have written at least one million words of creative fiction.  If you don't have this degree of experience, you run a very great risk of self publishing a novel that only reveals your flaws and none of your skills.

When people tell me they have written a book and they are looking for a publisher, I tell them to keep writing.  The reason is that almost no one (I'd like to say no one ever, but I'm sure there might be a single person in the world who can write like Shakespeare from youth) can sit down and write an well written entertaining novel the first, second, third, fourth... time.  It takes one million words.  In the past, most people couldn't afford to self publish. Those who could might publish their novel at a high cost, find out they weren't a very good writer after all (or not) and return to oblivion.  Today, self publication is cheap enough that almost anyone can do it.  The problem is that too many do publish unready and immature works.

You can really hurt your prospects as an author if you don't continue to get your writing into the hands of publishers and continue writing.  In the past, the natural difficulty of publishing (as well as the stigma of self publishing) prevented immature and unready works from being published.  Today, an author can embarrass himself over and over by publishing those works.  The worse problem is that many times those unready works might be redeemable with experience and time. 

My own experience is that after one of my later works was published, after I edited my earlier works, my publisher wanted to publish them too.  If I had self published those novels, they likely would not have been published by a regular publisher.  There is your proof, if you need it.  I have three early novels that wouldn't have been published by a regular publisher if I had self published them.  Further, if I had relied on self publishing, I might never have had a novel published by a regular publisher because I wouldn't have continued to seek a publisher.

More tomorrow about electronically published books.

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 - to Publishers Partner Press

10 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Partner Press

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:  The other two types of publishers are partner press and subsidy press.  The difference is the risk.  In a partner press, the publisher takes some of the risk, and you take some of the risk.  They usually require you to purchase x number of books (usually 50 to 100).  They pay a royalty similar to POD press.  They use POD to publisher their books (who doesn't anymore).  So, with a partner press, your novel goes through a normal publishing selection and process.  The publisher usually edits your novel (they have some risk).  You have to put some money up to purchase books.  All in all, a partner press is a great deal for a new author.  Usually, the partner press will market your book and get it on to the bookseller websites.  They will take care of you to a degree (they have some risk after all).   

The negatives of a partner press is that you also have to assume some of the risk (you have to put money out to buy books).  You also have to go through a selection process (I think this is a great thing).
I'll write about the last type of publisher tomorrow.

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/. 

A New Novel, Part 258 Because You Believe Me

19 June 2011, A New Novel, Part 258 Because You Believe Me  

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Aksinya's secular trial is about to begin.  Aksinya and Father Dobrushin are in the courtroom in the Rathaus in Wien.  They are discussing more than the case.  Father Dobrushin is trying to prepare.  Aksinya wants to know why Father Dobrushin is helping her...

The prosecutors came to their table.  They nodded toward Aksinya and to Father Dobrushin.  Father Dobrushin stepped over and shook their hands.  Aksinya heard only quiet greetings between them.  The priest sat down again and continued to glance through his papers.  The benches of the courtroom began to fill behind them.  Aksinya fidgeted for a while then asked Father Dobrushin, “Why are there so many people in the benches?  Is there an important trial later?”

Father Dobrushin’s lips turned down, “You haven’t seen the papers for a while.”

“They don’t give me anything to read in the jail.  I only have the Greek Bible you brought me.”

“You have been on the front page of every paper in the city and perhaps Austria since well before the ecclesiastical trial two weeks ago.”

“I have?”

“If you look closely, the men on the back row are all photographers and reporters.  They are not allowed to take pictures in the courtroom.  When you leave here, they will all try to snap your picture.”

“Really?  What did they say about me?”

“Nothing flattering.”

“But what did they say?”

“They called you a witch and a sorceress.”

“That’s pretty innocuous and besides, it’s true.”

“There were other things less flattering, but mostly they called the Cardinal and the inquisitors to task for trying a mentally ill girl in an ecclesiastical court.”

Aksinya’s brow wrinkled, “The mentally ill girl was me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“Why this time?”

“Because you believe me.”  She glanced at him from the sides of her eyes and sighed, “I’ll try not to bother you again.”

“When?  Now?  It’s too late.”

So, Aksinya and Father Dobrushin continue their conversation, the focus is a little different now.  We see the entrance of the prosecutors.  They are pleasant, but not familiar.  There is not much reason for me to describe them right now.  Father Dobrushin greets them.  We know this is good policy for the defender in a trial. 

Aksinya can't keep still.  She is interested in everything.  The world seems comforting and bright to her.  We can feel the freedom she knows.  Aksinya wonders about the number of people who are in the courtroom.  This is a technique to point them out to you without using description.  Now, we learn more about the situation around Aksinya.  From Frau Becker, we learned about the reporters and the news.  Here, we hear more information from Father Dobrushin.

This piece of conversation is intended to show you about the potential problems Aksinya will face with the press and how important her story has been in Austria and Wien.  We learned that the Cardinal and the inquisitors are being called to task for their actions.  Do you remember, I told you the demon would try to ruin them all.  By trying Aksinya, the Cardinal and the inquisitors have caused themselves problems for the Catholic Church and for themselves as individuals.

The press already calls Aksinya a mentally ill girl.  She picks up on this immediately.  It bothers her because of the issue of her sanity.  The fact that Father Dobrushin believes her makes Aksinya happy.  He is literally her only hope.  Tomorrow, the trial really begins.