Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 456, Intro and Ancient Works Q and A Developing the Rising Action

10 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 456, Intro and Ancient Works Q and A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.

Moving on to 17.  17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.

Slight digression: I'm writing from Cairo on another world tour.

Far be it from me to dissuade anyone from using ancient literature as a study material.  However, I will.  Believe it or not, but literature is getting better and better with time.  Let's look at the history of literature and you will see what I mean.  The first writing is records of sacrifices. This way the king kept the priests straight and the priests kept the king straight.  Only later after people began to get the notion that other things could be kept on a list--like their sheep or their goods or their laws did we get a slight change.  The change was from goods to ideas.  You still see some of this in the early books of the Tanakh (Old Testament).  The record, the literature, is almost 100% narrative lists.  In some cases you begin to get narrative historical information, but list are the thing.  From lists of people, to lists of animals, to lists of time, to lists of the things created, to lists of laws, to lists of sacrifices, and the list goes on.  The Tanakh, by the way is the highest level of this type of ancient document.

At the same time, you began to get records of myths, spells, and works attributed to gods or about the gods.  These were ideas originally in a story format that people just got around to writing down.  The Illiad and the Odyssey are examples of narrative poems that happened to get written down in this period of literature. Beowulf and many sagas also are this type of literature.  Many assert that some accounts in the Tanakh are likewise this type of literature.  The Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Gitas are this type of literature.  

Eventually, another type of literature began to assert itself.  This was literature that claimed to record the words of the gods or ideas from the gods.  This wasn't about the gods, but the words of the gods.  The Tanakh records many of these pieces in the prophetic books.  The records of Buddha or Confusion sayings are this type of literature.  

All these types of literature: lists, records about the gods, and the words of the gods were about the only thing the word had to offer until about 500 BC--that is when the first human histories were recorded by the Greeks.  The change was considered a great change in literature and the advent of the legal-historical method.  For the first time, human history and events were as important (or almost as important) as the gods.  This was also the beginning of the age of true human literature.         

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 455, Character Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

9 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 455, Character Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps and techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis and 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps and techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis and 'imitation' of good writings

Slight digression: I'm writing from Cairo on another world tour.

Another good exercise is the development of a character.  The simple development of a character can result in a novel.  Creativity is easily unleashed with this kind of development.  Additionally, you can study history and historical characters by developing a character.  Here is an example of character development from my newest novel, Shape (working title).

First, what do they look like?  Essie, the protagonist of Shape is small and black haired.  She is about 15 to 16 (actual age unknown).  She looks like she is about 12, but more developed.  Her hair is long and straight an her skin is untanned.  This was the result of years of confinement.  Her face is relatively plain.  Her eyes are large and her nose is small.  Her ears are slightly pointed.

Second, what is their name?  Essie is not a person.  She is an Aos Si or Sith.  The name Essie comes from Aos Si which roughly sounds like Essie.  Her name in the novel becomes Essie Lyons.  She is unofficially, then later officially adopted by Mrs. Lyons, the protagonist's helper.

Third, what is their history?  Essie is a Fae creature.  She was not born in the regular sense, or rather, her origins are part of the mystery in the novel.  She did not go to school.  Since her creation/birth, she has been kept  a small cage, first by the Welsh court of the Fae (fairies) and then by the Morfrans.  She was kept in a silver metal cage which is the only cage and lock that could hold her.  She owns a book, a cage, a key (for the cage), and a branch with an embedded stone.  The book is the book of the Aos Si, a book of spells only the Aos Si can accomplish.  The branch with the stone comes from her place of power.  The age of the Aos Si is unknown.  How long she was captured and kept is also unknown.  She was held so long that she has no idea of her past or her origins.  The Aos Si is a creature that is part human and part Fae.  She is a witch, but doesn't use spells or magic in the human sense.  She can use the magic of the Fae.  That is why the Fae Courts hate her, and why they confined her.  The Aos Si can change into a Scottish wildcat.  That is a very large wild cat that is completely black with a white marking on its chest.  The Aos Si was considered the most dangerous of the Fae.  Because Essie is really a wildcat, she can't and won't eat anything except protein.  She has other cat-like characteristics.

Fourth, how do they think about the world?  Essie has been confined for as long as she can remember.  She was beaten by the Fae and by the Morfrans to prevent her from turning.  She has never been educated or forgot all her education.  She knows nothing of the world until Mrs. Lyons decides to keep and reform her.  Essie is a timid person and a fearsome wild animal.  As a person, she is unassuming, quiet, and slow.  As a wildcat, she is resolute and dangerous.  She can't imagine anyone being her friend or her helper.  She has never had a friend or can't remember having a friend in all her life.  She has nothing and no one.

Try this type of development of a character.  You can see, Essie is a character worth writing about.

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 454, still more Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

8 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 454, still more Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

Slight digression: I'm writing from Cairo on another world tour.

Another good exercise is the development of a character.  The simple development of a character can result in a novel.  Creativity is easily unleashed with this kind of development.  Additionally, you can study history and historical characters by developing a character.

First, what do they look like?  You can take any of these steps in any order you wish, but I always start with what does  major character look like.  I look for the strange and unusual.  If you are starting with a historical character and you have a picture (or a sculpture) write a description. In any case, write a description of what they look like--this is the first step in scene setting.

Second, what is their name?  For historical characters, this is easy to a degree.  You can also ask, what were they called by their friends (or enemies).  I develop the name for a character by using historical names from a culture.  For example, if I need a name for a major character, I'll look at names from the culture and their meanings and try to match the name to the meaning.  For lessor characters, I'll use names from the historical period.  For family names, I use classical names from the time, place, and culture--additionally, I'll match meanings to the names when needed.

Third, what is their history?  Where were they born?  Where did they go to school?  What were their families and parents like?  What did they study?  What do they like to do?  What is their profession?  These questions are endless.

Fourth, how do they think about the world?  This is the kind of thing you never write directly in any novel or short story.  This is the part that must be conveyed by showing.  Are they evil?  Have them kind a puppy down in the gutter.  Are they good?  Have them spend their last farthing to buy bread for a hungry child.  You get the point.

Try this.  If you develop an interesting enough character, you might have a novel ready to write.  I'll give you an example from my newest novel, Shape.

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 453, more Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

7 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 453, more Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

Slight digression: I'm writing from Cairo on another world tour.

When I was a young writer, I routinely did exercises in scene setting.  I would take a scene from the real world and describe it as a setting.  Do this with people, places, and things.  Try to make the scene settings exciting as well as elegant and accurate.  I've written about scene setting over and over in this blog.  It never hurts to repeat good information. 

Scene setting additionally promotes creativity.  When I need to set a scene (all the time), I imagine the scene (place) in my mind or I look for it in real life.  My imagination is usually good enough to completely flesh out anything I need.  When I was a younger writer, I would describe scenes from real life--I later used those scene settings for my novel Antebellum. 

I'll write about character creation as a creative exercise next.    

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 452, Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

6 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 452, Exercises Q&A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analysis & 'imitation' of good writings

I don't recommend imitation of good writing.  I do recommend reading and study of good writing.  Instead of imitation, you should accomplish exercises.  The kinds of exercises I have in mind will also provide good development of your writing and will also provide a good source for creativity.

For the younger set: write paragraphs.  Write compete paragraphs with a strong introductory sentence, good intra-connections on the interior, and a strong concluding sentence.  Be imaginative in your paragraphs.  You can take the subjects or the inspiration from a guide or just make them up.  For example, describe scenes from around your area.  Describe the weather.  Describe a room in your house.  Write about your holiday.  Write about a play.  Write about a trip.  Write about going to a movie.  Write a creative paragraph.  The subjects and ideas are endless.  Learn to write a strong paragraph, and you will become a great writer.

For the older set: write scene setting and conversation.  Scene setting is simply taking one or more paragraphs on a time, place, setting, and characters and introducing them all.  For simplicity leave off the characters at first.  Second, write conversations.  Third, develop characters.  Perhaps you should stat with characters first.  If you don't, the conversations and the scene character setting will be poor.

For those who are more experienced: write scenes and write short stories.  The ultimate point is to write.     

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 451, Imitation Q&A Developing the Rising Action

5 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 451, Imitation Q&A Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

If imitation is too hard to do, then how do I become a good writer?  Reading and study is a great thing to do.  Unfortunately, writing as an art is too complex to imitate--that is, unless you mean copy as imitation.  For example, artists many times copy other artists artwork as a study of the art--that is to learn the skills to paint.  Writing just doesn't work that way.  Art, painting, for example, does have a set of basic rule the artist follows, but without a camera or a photocopier, any copy of an artwork will not be perfect. 

Writing as an art form is a little different than a painting.  Writing and all the elements of writing follow certain rules.  Some of those rules, like grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are set.  Some rules like grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are elements of style.  I think you can see part of the problem.  An author should seek to write perfectly and at the same time develop a style.  The style should be perfect writing.  The means of developing great writing is to write.  The basis of great writing is reading and study.  In other words, to write well, an author shouldn't seek to imitate, an author should read and study then write.  If correction and feedback are available, the author should seek all he can find.  Next, read and study then write. 

The next question might be, if imitation isn't very effective, then what exercises can I do to improve my writing.

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 450, start Questions and Answers Developing the Rising Action

4 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 450, start Questions and Answers Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed these questions.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer them.

1.  Conflict/tension between characters
2.  Character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions)
3.  Change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme
4.  Evolving vs static character
5.  Language and style
6.  Verbal, gesture, action
7.  Words employed
8.  Sentence length
9.  Complexity
10.  Type of grammar
11.  Diction
12.  Field of reference or allusion
13.  Tone
14.  Mannerism suggest by speech
15.  Style
16.  Distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why (like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness).
17.  Intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7.
18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

I want to start with 18.  Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings

I've discovered the only way to imitate good writing is not to actually imitate a style, method, or means, but rather in two ways.  The first is familiarity with writing and the second is in the development of creative ideas.  I don't believe you can truly imitate good writing.  Writing is too complex.  The only way to absorb the skills of writing is to write yourself and to use ideas on writing.  For example, in this blog I gave some basic rules and ideas for writing good conversation.  I think you could read great conversation every day for 100 years and not be able to write good conversation.  On the other hand--if you read and understand the 10 short basics of good conversation I gave you, you can begin the practice of writing good conversation.  You will arrive at quality conversation a few years earlier than if you just wrote on your own. I suspect you can gain some good skills in writing by carefully observing a great writer's work, but there are problems with that--especially with ancient writing.  The Illiad is way before the true advent of modern literature (the New Testament Gospels).  The Gospels are the first literature to mix narrative with quotations--this is the beginning of modern literature.  This mix of quote with narrative allows the writer to move from being a storyteller to a storyshower.  Novelists don't tell stories, they show stories.  This is a huge difference, and you can't get this from ancient literature.

You can get creativity.  I've been writing about creativity, and I left up the three means of creative development above.  Creativity means the extrapolation of previous ideas to create new ideas.  You can easily get this from the Illiad or any ancient text.  Take a great idea from the text and modernize it or make it new and different.  That's what I do.  I don't usually do this directly from another text, but Aksinya was an semi-allegory based on the Book of Tobit.  That's about as direct an extrapolation as you can get.      

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 449, Questions and Answers Developing the Rising Action

3 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 449, Questions and Answers Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 26th novel, working title, Shape, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've started writing Shape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

One of my blog readers posed this question.  I'll use the next few weeks to answer some of the direct questions.

"Wondering if you could direct me to past blogs you've written on: conflict/tension between characters, character presentation (appearance, speech, behavior, gestures, actions), change, complexity of relationship, and relation to issues/theme, evolving vs static character. Also, interested in your blogs on language and style. For language, interested in your ideas on verbal, gesture, action, words employed, sentence length, complexity, type of grammar, diction, field of reference or allusion, tone, mannerism suggest by speech. For style, intrested in the distinct manner of writing or speaking you employ, and why...like Pinter's style includes gaps, silences, non-sequitors, and fragments while Chekhov's includes 'apparent' inconclusiveness. Trying to intro the concepts to my boys, using Homer's Illiad, chp 4-7. Looking for a logical framework for their lit. analysis, or, even tricks, traps & techniques you've employed, as deconstruction/analyis & 'imitation' of good writings, is one of the best means of learning how."

As to reference--I've touched on most of these subjects intensively in my blogs.  Where are they?  I'm not sure.  I'd have to go back through them to discover exactly where I discussed each of these topics.  Perhaps the best thing is to break the questions from the above and address each subject a new and in relation to my latest writing.  At the same time, I'll keep a focus on creativity.  I find creativity to be one of the most important parts of writing, but one of the most difficult to explain properly.  In my blogs, I am literally trying to make the subjects simple as possible to understand and use.  In other words, I expect you to be able to take the ideas I present and use them immediately in your writing.  That's my goal.       

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 448, Choices Scene Development Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

2 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 448, Choices Scene Development Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've just started on the next major run-through of my novel, Escape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

In my newest novel, Shape, Mrs. Lyons chooses to keep the girl with her and rehabilitate her.  This is as much a problem of Mrs. Lyons as the girl.  Mrs. Lyons desires a child.  She never bore any children of her own, but she has been placed in charge of other's children--most specifically, her friend, Leora Bolang.  Leora is one of the major characters in my Ancient Light novels.  Mrs. Lyons took care of Leora's children during much of WWII.  She also looked after her youngest daughter in the UK after the war. 

Mrs. Lyons is similar to the proverbial mother hen character.  She really isn't.  She isn't as tough as Leora--the kind of mother from hell, but she is a disciplinarian, and has become less and less neglectful over time.  She's likely reached the point where she can act like a great mother. 

The point of the novel is the growth of the girl Essie as a person (she isn't a person at all), and the growth of Mrs. Lyons as a person (she is).  This is a mix of a discovery and a coming of age novel for a young person (being) and an elder woman.           

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic 

Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 447, Major Scene Development Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

1 July 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 447, Major Scene Development Creativity and Entertainment in Scenes Developing the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

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

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

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

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I've just started on the next major run-through of my novel, Escape.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Scene development:
1.  Scene input (easy)
2.  Scene output (a little harder)
3.  Scene setting (basic stuff)
4.  Creativity (creative elements of the scene)
5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)
6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

I can immediately discern three ways to invoke creativity:

1.  History extrapolation
2.  Technological extrapolation
3.  Intellectual extrapolation

Creativity is like an extrapolation of what has been.  It is a reflection of something new created with ties to the history, science, and logic (the intellect).  Creativity requires consuming, thinking, and producing. 

An initial scene can end in many different ways.  Usually, the author sets up a situation that allows a choice of actions.  For example, in Escape, the choice was somewhat obvious for the novel to continue--Reb, the girl, would decide to help Scott for the chance to escape.  Most of the time, the choice for the continuation of the novel is obvious.  Shape is a little different.  I mentioned that the major character Mrs. Lyons understands the supernatural to a degree.  She also wishes to help the naked girl she found in her pantry.  When Mrs. Lyons ends up with an unconscious naked girl in her house, she really has three options.  In the novel, Mrs. Lyons actually lays them out to the girl.

First, she could call the constable to come get the girl.  That will likely not help the girl and might result in other problems.  We find later that the girl is indeed of a supernatural cast and can open almost any lock.  You can't incarcerate such a person.  That's the end of the novel--there is no scope for continuing the plot.  Second, Mrs. Lyons could release the girl.  There might be some scope in this, the girl might hang around, but that would be slightly contrary to Mrs. Lyons' character.  Third, for many reasons, she can keep the girl with her and attempt to rehabilitate and train her.  She chooses the third course.           

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  

fiction, theme, plot, story, storyline, character development, scene, setting, conversation, novel, book, writing, information, study, marketing, tension, release, creative, idea, logic