Writing Ideas – New Novel, part x16, the Output in the Method of Scene Writing, Rising Action

17 April 2017, Writing Ideas – New Novel, part x16, the Output in the Method of Scene Writing, Rising Action

Announcement:  Ancient Light is delayed due to the economy.  You can read more about it at http://www.ancientlight.com.  Ancient Light includes the second edition of Aegypt plus Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness.  I’ll keep you updated.

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

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

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

The four 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

I finished writing my 27^th novel, working title, Claire, potential title Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse. This might need some tweaking. The theme statement is: Claire (Sorcha) Davis accepts Shiggy, a dangerous screw-up, into her Stela branch of the organization and rehabilitates her.

Here is the cover proposal for Sorcha: Enchantment and the Curse.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action. I started writing my 28^th novel, working title Red Sonja.  I’m also working on my 29^th novel, working title School.

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: transition from input to output focused on the telic flaw resolution)

5.  Tension (development of creative elements to build excitement)

6.  Release (climax of creative elements)

How to begin a novel.  Number one thought, we need an entertaining idea.  I usually encapsulate such an idea with a theme statement.  Since I’m writing a new novel, we need a new theme statement.  Here is an initial cut.

For novel 28:  Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns about freedom, and is redeemed.

For novel 29:  Sorcha, the abandoned child of an Unseelie and a human, secretly attends Wycombe Abbey girls’ school where she meets the problem child Deirdre and is redeemed.

These are the steps I use to write a novel:

1.      Design the initial scene

2.      Develop a theme statement (initial setting, protagonist, protagonist’s helper or antagonist, action statement)

 

a.       Research as required

 

b.      Develop the initial setting

 

c.       Develop the characters

 

d.      Identify the telic flaw (internal and external)

 

3.      Write the initial scene (identify the output: implied setting, implied characters, implied action movement)

 

4.      Write the next scene(s) to the climax (rising action)

 

5.      Write the climax scene

 

6.      Write the falling action scene(s)

 

7.      Write the dénouement scene

 

Here is the beginning of the method from the outline:

 

1.      Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)

 

2.      Write the scene setting (place, time, stuff, and characters)

 

3.      Imagine the output, creative elements, plot, telic flaw resolution (climax) and develop the tension and release.

 

4.      Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.

 

5.      Write the release

 

6.      Write the kicker

 

 To complete the idea of using a method to actually write a scene, look at the third step.  The output you develop to write the scene becomes the input for the next scene.  This isn’t entirely true for the first and second scenes in School.  The first scene in School is the discovery of the hidden girl and the fight.  The output is the fight and the kicker where Deirdre is punished.  Her punishment is the obvious output of the scene.  There is however, another output.  The other output is the fight itself.  After the fight, Deirdre tells Sorcha to run away.  The output of this is that Sorcha ran away.  The incomplete part is there has been no resolution between Sorcha and Deirdre.  Further, Sorcha has an enormous problem she must solve.  The problem is that Deirdre has discovered that Sorcha appears to not be an official student at the school.  Sorcha must either get rid of Deirdre or shut her up.  If she can’t shut up Deirdre, she will be discovered.  This idea is part of the telic flaw in the novel and a creative element that traces through the entire novel. 

 

This problem must be resolved—the question is when.  I designed both Sorcha and Deirdre to be overwhelming personalities and people.  Deirdre more than Sorcha.  They likely started as the same, but Sorcha has learned caution and care because of her past.  The obvious next scene input is Deirdre’s punishment.  The not so obvious next scene input is Sorcha’s problem.  I chose to put a scene before Deirdre’s punishment.  In this scene, Sorcha confronts Deirdre.  Where Sorcha expects only to see where her future lies and how she can manipulate or affect Deirdre, she is completely surprised by Deirdre’s reaction.  Where Sorcha expects confrontation and another fight—an intellectual one—Deirdre instead is completely welcoming and helpful.  Not just helpful, but pleasant and accepting.  Deirdre is an odd bird anyway, and Sorcha is carried along before she can do anything to stop it.  They become a pair locked in mutual support and sharing mutual secrets.  Thus the novel begins.  

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

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