Even if you
don’t describe it explicitly, every story has a context. A novel is its own
world. Living, breathing, changing.
don’t describe it explicitly, every story has a context. A novel is its own
world. Living, breathing, changing.
You must build this world. The world
in the novel goes beyond descriptions of rooms and landscapes. It includes
fashion, history, outlook and mood.
in the novel goes beyond descriptions of rooms and landscapes. It includes
fashion, history, outlook and mood.
Physical surroundings can have a
psychological influence. The beach always makes me happy. I have a room in my
house that I and most people find very soothing. I usually nap in that room.
psychological influence. The beach always makes me happy. I have a room in my
house that I and most people find very soothing. I usually nap in that room.
A setting can have an impact on
characters. I’ve talked about the conflict arising from the setting, but how
does your setting make your characters feel? That is more important than what
it looks like. You can illustrate a place by how a character’s views of it
changed.
characters. I’ve talked about the conflict arising from the setting, but how
does your setting make your characters feel? That is more important than what
it looks like. You can illustrate a place by how a character’s views of it
changed.
I used to hate hospitals. I once
almost passed out from the smell. Not really sure why I had this aversion. Now,
I work in a hospital.
almost passed out from the smell. Not really sure why I had this aversion. Now,
I work in a hospital.
Give place an active role in the story
by giving character active relationships with it.
by giving character active relationships with it.
A story needs a sense of place, but
also a sense of time. As much as you can mark your character’s change in
perception of place, you can mark their change in perception of time.
also a sense of time. As much as you can mark your character’s change in
perception of place, you can mark their change in perception of time.
The setting must be observed and then
conveyed in its particulars. The devil
is in the details. Emotions are more easily evoked when the details are
specific.
conveyed in its particulars. The devil
is in the details. Emotions are more easily evoked when the details are
specific.
Perfume a novel by Patrick
Suskind is set in 18th Century France. How it really was. No one
bathed. There was raw sewage. In other words it stank.
Suskind is set in 18th Century France. How it really was. No one
bathed. There was raw sewage. In other words it stank.
In the period of which we speak, there
reigned in the cities a stench barely conceivable to us modern men and women.
The streets tank of manure, the courtyards of urine, the stairwells stank of
moldering wood and rat droppings, the kitchens of spoiled cabbage an mutton
fat; the unaired parlors stank of stale dust, the bedrooms of greasy sheets,
damp featherbeds, and the pungently sweet aroma of chamber pots.
reigned in the cities a stench barely conceivable to us modern men and women.
The streets tank of manure, the courtyards of urine, the stairwells stank of
moldering wood and rat droppings, the kitchens of spoiled cabbage an mutton
fat; the unaired parlors stank of stale dust, the bedrooms of greasy sheets,
damp featherbeds, and the pungently sweet aroma of chamber pots.
The author catalogs the odors, but
never describes what they smell like. He lets the reader fill in the rest.
never describes what they smell like. He lets the reader fill in the rest.
From Layering: Not Just for Cakes
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one
dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State
with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing and giving workshops, she
works part time for her local hospital.
dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State
with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing and giving workshops, she
works part time for her local hospital.
Her latest release is Blonde Demolition out November 15,
2011.
2011.
You just can’t hide from the past…
Mallory Sage lives in a
small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has
always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about
her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.
small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has
always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about
her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.
Former partner and lover,
Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory’s life. He believes they made a great
team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don’t have much choice.
Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and
their old nemesis, is back.
Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory’s life. He believes they made a great
team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don’t have much choice.
Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and
their old nemesis, is back.
Framed for a bombing and
drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to
trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding
another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running
out.
drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to
trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding
another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running
out.
Thank you for having me today.
For one lucky commenter I have an assortment of notecards.
Winner must be in the United
States.
Winner must be in the United
States.
cmr
Thanks for have me Jen
Great post! Good luck to all commenters!