#16
Looking back to last week and enhancing what we worked on–As you write, think about setting and making it real for the reader.
Setting–or sense of place–grounds your reader, makes her feel like she is in that place you’ve written about. You should have lots of clues and reminders of where your characters are. Think putting in something every page or two keeps the reader grounded–a smell, a sound etc. And don’t forget to use all five senses–don’t let the character just see and hear things, but smell them, touch them, taste them. Place can become a character in a skilled writer’s hands.
Look through your novel. YOU know where you are, but will your reader be able to pick out the location? Will she hear the train roar past? Feel the ground shaking? See the cute conductor waving? Smell the heat? Taste the exhaust?
Does each page have a bit of sense of place? Even one hint of where the characters are? Go through, reading just for place.
How did you do?
Remember that place will include some things that may be different depending on the character. If the young love in the story has always lived in Utah, he might not really notice the surrounding mountains like someone coming to Utah from Florida will. That same fella may only see green when he goes to Disney World after having been raised in a western desert. Age also shows what’s important to a character. A child will see and hear and taste etc different things than a 12-yr-old, a teen, an adult. Why? Perspective. What’s important to them.
Always ask yourself, where are we in time and place.
Your reader, and editor, will thank you.
#17
What pet would your main character have?
Why?
What kind of role would this pet play in the plot?
Why?
Throwing up words 