Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 967, Publishing, Protagonists, Conclusions, The Problem with Superheroes

4 December 2016, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 967, Publishing, Protagonists, Conclusions, The Problem with Superheroes  

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.

     4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage of the novel.

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, proposed title, Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si, is this: Mrs. Lyons captures a shape-shifting girl in her pantry and rehabilitates her.

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 Essie: Enchantment and the Aos Si.  Essie is my 26th 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 started writing my 28^th novel, working title Red Sonja. 

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)

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Would you like to write a novel that a publisher will consider?  Would you like to write a novel that is published?  How about one that sells? 

 

The author has multiple problems with superheroes.  The primary problem is where the telic flaw and the climax of most superheroes go.  A superhero is about saving the world.  There wouldn’t be a problem if the superhero would just save individuals, but that is much too mundane.  Superheroes begat super events which leads to the end of the world—unless the superhero has their way.  Take for example Harry Potty.  Harry is a god or superhero—take your pick.  His telic flaw is that he has a horrific villain who has killed his family and who has tried to kill him, still trying to kill him.  Ultimately, if Harry Potty doesn’t succeed, the world, as the magic users know it will be destroyed and all the good magic users will be dead.  I don’t like the world of Harry Potty, and I don’t like the character of Harry Potty.  He is too perfect and there is too much deus ex machina everywhere.  Ultimately, he is a god or a superhero.  His telic flaw drives the climax and the climax is to save the world—kill the villain.  If you like these types of bloodthirsty plots, go for it.  I think it is unrefined and vulgar, but my novels haven’t sold a million copies.

 

This is how I recommend you develop your Romantic characters.  My protagonists do tend to be goddesses, demi-goddesses, supernatural beings, and etc.  What separates them from superheroes is that their telic flaw tends to be something within themselves or directly related to their families.  They are not super-powered.  They have human failings and traits.  They are more vulnerable than most human beings.  For example, Leroa can’t handle places where there isn’t much sunlight.  She can’t live in the environs of Northern Europe without falling ill.  She has powers within human comprehension, but they are powers related to being a goddess of light.  She can control light to a degree.  She doesn’t and can’t use her powers to save the world.  She is lucky to save her family and those she loves.  This is not a superhero, this is a human hero.  As I noted, you can take Romantic characters of great power and make them human and real.               

 

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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