Development - yet Another Teaser Example

21 April 2012, Development - yet Another Teaser Example

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development.  The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I've been going over teasers, trying to show good examples with my teasers which were developed along with my publisher.  I've also tried to point out what makes a bad teaser.  Let me go ahead with today's example.  I think this is the last I'll give you.  This teaser is for A Season of Honor: 

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book Three, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox. Don't miss Book One, The End of Honor or Book Two, The Fox's Honor. By L.D. Alford, the author of the suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission. Baron Shawn du Locke must choose between honor and desire. Shorn of his lands, regency, title, father, lady, and name, the only thing left to the Baron Shawn du Locke is his honor. Nothing in the past has shaken it and nothing would cause him to compromise it--until he meets the Lady Elina Acier, the last hope of the Noble Houses of the Human Galactic Empire. To protect the planet Acier from the Emperor, she must marry a Duke's son. Shawn must safely deliver Elina to the Imperial capital before the Emperor discovers and kills Elina, and before her presence drives him insane...or he falls in love.

Excitement, excitement, excitement!  If there is anything that I can write about teasers and blurbs is to keep the excitement level high.  Look at the beginning of this teaser (and all the teasers I've shown you for my books).  The first sentence is crafted to intrigue and excite.  There is a portion that mentions my other novels.  Then, wham, right into the plot and the characters.  In every teaser I've shown you, first there is the opening sentence--it is filled with excitement.  Then there is the intro to the plot.  Finally, we get the characters.  Everything in the teaser is meant to get the reader excited about the novel and interested in checking it out.  There is nothing extraneous.  There are no explanations.  There is little detail--short, sweet, plot, and characters.

Let me give a little detail on what not to do.  I'll do this generically.  I'll use one of my novels--so don't quote this as a real teaser.  Here is a terrible trailer I just made up from one I saw today:

***This is not a real teaser for my novel.  This is an intentional bad example***The date is 10,000 AD.  The times are unknown.  This is a great science fiction novel in the style of Frank Herbert.  Baron Shawn du Locke is a man whose brother, the Emperor banished him for ten years.  Now the Baron must take a lady from the planet Acier to the Imperial Capital to wed.  Acier is a planet under Imperial ban, but it's a wealthy planet.  Acier is kind of like the planet Dune except it has radioactives instead of spice.  Because of Acier's wealth, the Emperor wants to take control of the planet.  He intends to murder the woman, Elina Acier, whom Shawn is taking to the Imperial Capital...***This is not a real teaser for my novel. This is an intentional bad example***

I could go one and on, but I think you get the picture.  I took my novel and wrote a terrible teaser.  No excitement, little on the plot, you can't care much about the characters, too much detail, messy comparisons, comparisons with other novels, statements about how good the novel is.  I didn't put in all the bad stuff I could have.  This is not the way to write a trailer
 
The ultimate point is so you will have advertising that will drive people to your novel. Then the novel has to catch their attention. I'm going to move in that direction tomorrow.

I'll get back to introducing the theme in the first scene.

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/.

Development - and even Another Teaser Example

20 April 2012, Development - and even Another Teaser Example

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I made a list yesterday of what not to do with a teaser.  I think the best I can do now, is give you examples of good teasers and see how that works out.  Here is the teaser for The End of Honor:

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book One The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox An intragalactic war threatens to tear apart his heart. and the entire Empire. The death-knell of the Human Galactic Empire has sounded-it is the crash of an axe against the virgin white marble of the Hall of Accords. It is the bitten-off cry of the Lady Lyral Neuterra, whose head lies sundered from her smooth shoulders. It is the death of the Emperor at the hand of his own son. It is the whirlwind of a thousand ships sent to enforce the new Emperor's will. And only Prince John-Mark, the Emperor's youngest son, can bring the Empire back from the edge-back to peace and honor. Don't miss... Book Two: The Fox's Honor Book Three: A Season of Honor Or L.D. Alford's suspense-thriller: Aegypt

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Just like the other teasers I've shown you, this one drives directly into the plot and the characters.  Immediately, I want you to be interested in the Lady Lyral and Prince John-Mark.  You already feel some of the excitement in the novel through the words of the teaser.  My desire is that the reader will feel compelled to check out the novel.  That's the only point of a teaser.  If your teasers miss the point, you are never going to sell a novel.

Notice, at the end we get some adds for my other books.  This gives the reader some connections to these other works.  If they don't like science fiction, they might be interested in suspense.
The ultimate point is so you will have advertising that will drive people to your novel. Then the novel has to catch their attention. I'm going to move in that direction tomorrow.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - and Another Teaser Example

19 April 2012, Development - and Another Teaser Example

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I'd like to show you an example of a bad teaser, unfortunately someone might recognize the teaser, and I really don't want to directly and publicly embarrass a fellow writer.  I'll show you good examples and try to indicate where many seem to miss the point.  First, the positive example for the day.  This is for my novel, Centurion.  This teaser was developed with my publisher.  It fulfills the criteria I've given you before.  It is short, exciting, introduces the main characters, introduces the plot, and generally generates interest from potential readers.  Here is the teaser:

Hauntingly compelling, Centurion gives life to Abenadar, the man who was entrusted with the controversial and potentially explosive crucifixion of Christ. A longing heart. An unlikely friendship. Love...and the bitterest of betrayals. The son of a Galilean concubine-a Jewess-and a Roman ambassador, Abenadar suffered disapproving stares in the village of Natzeret, but so did the boy Yeshua, son of Yosef and Miryam. Perhaps it wasn't unusual the two became fast friends. As Abenadar rises through the ranks of the Roman Legion to assume the rank of Centurion, he finds love with Ruth, a woman he rescues from the streets of Jerusalem. She believes the prophet Jesus is the One-the Messiah-everyone has been waiting for. Abenadar is dubious. He's seen too many messiahs.and they all died on Roman crosses. But what if Jesus is telling the truth? As advisor to Procurator Pontius Pilate and a Roman, Abenadar has a duty to uphold...but it may cause him to lose everything.

Notice that this teaser for Centurion jumps directly into the plot.  It introduces the main character, Abenadar and then a secondary, but important character, Ruth.  The reason for this is to appeal to men and women.  Ruth is a very important character in the plot and it is important to bring her into the teaser, but the main reason for bringing her up is to tie into the romance in the novel.  You can see how this teaser appeals on many levels.  A historian, an adventure lover, a romantic, a military person--all will be interested in this novel based on the teaser.  I said before, the point of a teaser is to generate interest for your novel in a potential reader.

What should you not do?  Don't tell us how great the novel is.  Don't tell us why you wrote the novel.  Don't make it long.  Don't dwell on anything outside the plot or main characters.  You can and should bring up any topics, but only if they add excitement and interest.  Don't tell us how great a novelist your are.  In fact, don't tell us anything about you.  You may mention other books or writing.  Focus on excitement, the plot, and the characters.  And remember, you need to interest the potential reader in the characters and the plot.

The ultimate point is so you will have advertising that will drive people to your novel. Then the novel has to catch their attention. I'm going to move in that direction tomorrow.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - Another Teaser Example

18 April 2012, Development - Another Teaser Example

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I'm still looking at teasers for the moment.  Here is another example.  It is the official teaser for my published novel Aegypt.

A fascinating tale of technology, cultures, and ancient magic An unspeakable evil and an unbelievable power is about to be released into the world.... Lieutenant Paul Bolang, stationed at Fort Saint in Tunisia in the 1920s, discovers a hieroglyph. Suspecting that the fort might have been built beside an ancient Egyptian foundation, he summons an archaeological party. When a tomb is discovered and opened, death strikes immediately...and reveals a grisly secret. Lt. Bolang soon uncovers two other tombs: the tombs of the Goddess of Light and the Goddess of Darkness. As the first tomb is opened, a being escapes into the desert...and is pursued by Bolang. What will the next tomb hold? Will opening it unleash a great evil and suffering on mankind, as many believe? Or is all that simply a myth?

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The last two teasers I've shown you are ones that I and my publisher wrote for the novels.  These are the official teasers that you will find in advertising for the novels.  This is the reason I wanted you to see them.  First, so you could see what a professionally produced teaser looks like, and second, so you could know that I, the author, helped write them. 

I wrote before that when you finish a novel, as part of the marketing material, you need to write synopses and teasers.  These form the basis for the future blurbs you will make for your published novel.  An indie writer should do the same.  Produce marketing material--like I recommended, then move over to blurbs and long teasers.  The ultimate point is so you will have advertising that will drive people to your novel.  Then the novel has to catch their attention.  I'm going to move in that direction tomorrow.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - Teaser Example

17 April 2012, Development - Teaser Example

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

Let's look at teasers for a minute.  I really can't help you much if you can't write without telling.  You can't write a successful novel by telling, and if you don't know the difference...you're toast.  I can try to help you with examples.  Let's look at one.  This is the official teaser (blurb) for The Fox's Honor.

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book Two, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox Don't miss Book One, The End of Honor, or Book Three, A Season of Honor By L.D. Alford, the author of the suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission It was a time of treachery and vengeance…of nobility and redemption…all because of love. Prince Devon Rathenberg, the Emperor’s Fox and chief of intelligence, has fallen in love with the Lady Tamar Falkeep—the third daughter of the least Duke in the Human Galactic Empire. But custom dictates they can never marry. Then the unthinkable happens. In the insurrection that threatens to tear apart the Human Galactic Empire, Devon designs a plan to reveal the Empire’s internal enemies. It’s a plan of desperation that, by design, will result in the ultimate sacrifice: his own death. But before he dies, Devon is determined to win the heart of Lady Tamar and declare his love.

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Notice the way this teaser is written. I've discussed this before with you.  It is filled with excitement.  There are no "I" (indicative pronoun) statements.  The author doesn't appear.  It is all telling (that's what you do in a teaser).  It tries to get you excited about the characters and the plot.

The first sentence tries to draw you in and gives a setting for the rest of the teaser.  After it provides a context for the novel and for the writing, it drives directly into the teaser.  The body of the teaser begins:  "It was a time of..."  Immediately, the teaser draws you in with the characters.  It gives you names and tries to tug on your emotions and heart strings--love.  At that point we move into the plot.  So first, exciting introduction.  Second, draw in with the characters.  Third, introduce elements of the plot.  The point of the teaser is to get the reader excited about the book.  It must be short, sweet, mention the main characters, introduce the plot, and did I say short.  If your teaser is too long, you will run off your potential readers.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - more Terrible Teasers and Worse

16 April 2012, Development - more Terrible Teasers and Worse

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I read a great teaser and checked out the book on Amazon.  The problem was that the teaser was great, but the book was all telling and no showing.  A teaser is a different animal from a novel.  In a teaser, you must tell.  You really can't show.  In a novel, you must show and not tell.  This is a very important point to keep in mind. 

I mentioned before, that I like to check out the "Look Inside" feature to read the first chapter or so of a novel.  I always start with the teaser (or a recommendation).  If the teaser interests me, I check the first part of the novel.  If that is well written and interesting, I'll buy and read the novel.

This latest novel that I checked out sounded really great in the teaser.  It had a fun premise, and what sounded like interesting characters.  The first four chapters were all showing.  No real description.  No real scene setting.  No conversation.  No character interaction.  It wasn't a prologue or an introduction--it was just crappy telling.

Listen, don't write novels that tell.  You will know if your novel is telling if you don't have any action, interaction, conversation, etc.  How can I say this stronger?  Don't tell.  I would like to repeat some of the writing on this blog, but that would just be cruel.  The reason this novel will never be picked up by any publisher is that it is all telling (or at least the first four chapters).  Remember the following and you won't fail as a writer:

1.  Set the scene.
2.  Set the characters.
3.  Let the characters go.
4.  Conversation and description.

There is more to this and you can still screw it up if you tell, but I'm not sure how you can tell if you write like this.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - Terrible Teasers and Worse

15 April 2012, Development - Terrible Teasers and Worse

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I'm writing about teasers and sales blurbs for books. I'm not certain how long this will take, but the world needs to hear it.

If the teaser or book blurb doesn't excite them to check out the book, you're hosed.  So what makes a great teaser and what makes a bad teaser?  A great teaser excites us about the book, the theme, the plot, the characters, and makes us want to, at least, check out the book.  Did you get that?  Excitement is the key.  Note, there is nothing in the list (book, theme, plot, characters) about you.  I'm not certain the kind of people who are writing all these books today, but one thing they don't possess is humility.

I think I spent a couple of months explaining that people don't care about you (as an author) they care about the topic and the book.  The only reason they care about the book is that they like the plot, theme, and/or characters.  I mean, we'd like them to like all three, but hey, not everyone likes the same books or types of books either.  My point is this--whatever you do, don't start any teaser, blurb, interview, etc. with I.  Don't start with "my book" or "my characters"--no first person personal pronouns allowed, please. 

The teasers are supposed to be about the novel--not about you.  Are you getting the point here?  Many of the teasers I've seen lately begin with "I wrote this book" or "My book about..." or whatever but not about the plot, theme, or characters of the book at all.  Remember, excitement.  I'll mention the latest negative I saw in a book tomorrow. 

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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/.

Development - Terrible Teasers

14 April 2012, Development - Terrible Teasers

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, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I want to talk about teasers and sale's blurbs for books.  I'm not certain how long this will take, but the world needs to hear it. 

I've been increasingly disturbed by teasers and book blurbs that will never sell a book.  How do I know?  I read them all the time on Amazon.  If they excite my interest, I go check out the book.  Let's talk about teasers and blurbs for a little.  First, the point of a teaser or a blurb is to interest a reader in your book.  Second, if the reader is interested, they will then go to your book site or to a bookseller and review your book--perhaps read the first chapter or whatever is in the "Look Inside" feature.  Third, if they like what they see, they will hopefully purchase a copy.  Fourth, they will read your book and like it therefore propelling your book to the bestseller lists.

Notice, if you don't get past step 1, you won't sell a book.  I have to tell you, the latest indie teasers I've read have been not just terrible, they have been monumentally terrible.  How bad are they?  I already told you, I will check out any book whose teaser interests me.  I promise.  Most of the time, I find the first chapter doesn't propel the work, but hey, that's en entirely (well not entirely entirely) different problem.

I've been seeing some horrible teasers and blurbs in the indie scene. I'll discuss that tomorrow and get back to introducing the theme in the first scene later.

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 Materials - Short Form, About You

8 September 2011, Marketing Materials - Short Form, About You

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, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I use, the way I build scenes, in addition to other general information on writing.  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.

I'm working on the "short form" right now.  The short form gives you quick and terse words to describe yourself and your work.

Short form information: 

1.  No more than 3 sentences about the content of your manuscript.

Aksinya contracted the demon, Asmodeus to save her family from the Bolsheviks, unfortunately her family was already dead—now, who can save Aksinya.   

The demon, Asmodeus' purpose is to tempt Aksinya to accomplish evil.

Before Aksinya can gain her freedom from the demon, Asmodeus, she might lose her friends, family, and acquaintances, and it will all be her fault.     

2.  One sentence about successful works similar to yours.

The conceptual theme of Aksinya is similar to Faust, a story about a man who makes a contract with the devil. The difference is the main character in Aksinya did not intend evil through her actions and constantly attempts to find some means to break her contract with the demon.

3.  No more than 2 sentences about yourself. (use 3^rd person)

L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing uniquely explores the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive.   

Dr. Alford is a scientist and widely traveled author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality.

Authors need teasers too.  These are short pithy sentences about you.  If you read my long form bio, you will see the similarity and the reuse of some of that language.  The trick is that you want to produce continuity in the way you describe yourself and the way the world sees you.  In this regard, you are building yourself as a marketable commodity. 

 

You are your brand.  The way you describe yourself and the way the world sees you will broadly be the same--unless you already are a celebrity.  Just note that you are selling yourself as a writer, so you need to bring out your strongest and best qualities. 

 

Look carefully at the way I describe myself.  The first sentence uses my pen name and is all about my writing.  It isn't really about me--it is all about the way I write.

 

The second sentence uses my professional name and title and gives more information about me, but in the end--it is still about my writing.  In every case, I don't want my readers to be more interested in me than my writing.  The writing is paramount.  Since I write both historical and science fiction, you can see the reason for the two different focuses of the sentences.  If you write in one genre, you might have two sentences with the same focus, but that vary by the information they give and the way they describe your writing.

4.  No more than 2 sentences that include “other,” i.e. any reasons, relationships, or other factors that might make your work more attractive.

Tomorrow, we'll continue filling out the short form for Aksinya with commentary, of course.