Comments on: Stir Up Your Setting–Making Setting a Character

By: Kaye Dacus

Kaye Dacus — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:02:54 +0000

Terrell, I’m a proud BATON ROUGE native! (Though I do cheer for the Saints, too!)

By: Terrell Mims

Terrell Mims — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:34:40 +0000

I love this blog purely on LSU references. I am an LSU grad c/o 2005. I love the references. You must be a New Orleanian. SAINTS!

Here’s the writer in me: Love the blog. SUPER BOWL CHAMPION SAINTS!!! (Sorry!) Great blog on setting. Many writers miss opportunities to use setting as a character. Shutter Island by Dennis Lahane is GREAT for setting.

By: Flannery’s Favorites–Day 3 « KayeDacus.com

Flannery’s Favorites–Day 3 « KayeDacus.com — Thu, 12 May 2011 05:03:07 +0000

[...] 2: Using All Five Senses Stir Up Your Setting–REAL Fictional Settings Favorite Settings on Film Stir Up Your Setting–Making Setting a Character Stir Up Your Setting–Finding a Happy Medium See also . . . Writing Descriptions: How Important Is [...]

By: Stir Up Your Setting Refresher « KayeDacus.com

Stir Up Your Setting Refresher « KayeDacus.com — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:01:45 +0000

[...] Stir Up Your Setting–Making Setting a Character “…Think about the difference between the setting of a stage play and the setting of a modern, big-budget movie. No matter how much money a production pours into building sets for the stage, it’s always going to look like a set. Why? Because the environment isn’t real. There are no elements, no weather, no sunlight, no wind. When movies are filmed on location, they have so much more realism—and actors will tell you that they can get into their roles better when away from soundstages or backlot locations. …” [...]

By: Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch — Wed, 16 May 2007 01:38:21 +0000

So very true. The details make all the difference. And if I’m reading about a real place I’ve never been to, I’m trusting the author to be authentic and to have done her/his research.

I’m currently reading STILL LIFE WITH CROWS about a serial killer in southwest Kansas. The author team, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, ask the pardon of the reader, as the terrain is described as mile after mile of cornfield. Southwest Kansas is wheat country and little else. A bit jarring, but because the authors acknowledges the author license, I’m willing to forgive them.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:32:33 +0000

Specifics – that’s my BIGGEST problem with writing. I’m not specific…and it’s not just with setting.

I’ll say: He shoved food in his mouth, rather then identifying the ‘food’.

I do the same for location and setting. At least I realize I do it, so I can watch out for it and edit it.

Specifics, I think make a big difference in writing.

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:26:30 +0000

Funny. If I’ve never been to a place, an author can pull the wool over my eyes. What do I know? But if I’m familiar with the locale, like anything set in NYC or Cincinnati, an errant detail will jar me out of the story. Too many and I get turned off.

I started a story in Plant City, FL and stopped because I felt I didn’t know the place well enough yet. I needed to do more research to get the locale right. I didn’t think about setting as a character. I just didn’t want any local readers to say my writing was inauthentic.

BTW, you’ve obviously spent a lot time in or around LSU. My DH is an LSU alum.

By: m

Tue, 15 May 2007 04:15:40 +0000

Love this. Setting is so much more than just the background. I love how you suggest ways to make it a relevant and essential part of the story.

By: Austin Field

Austin Field — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:40 +0000

I never thought about giving my character allergies. And since he is outside so much…tracking…that could create either tense or funny moments…he sneezes when he’s trying to sneak up on someone in stealth…

I like how Jack London incorporated setting in Call of the Wild and White Fang. His description of the Yukon is so real you can almost feel your toes freezing right along with the characters’.

By: Georgiana D

Georgiana D — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:12:45 +0000

Maybe THAT’S why I don’t care for plays. I can’t get into them, whatsoever. Love this series, very timely for me as I try to set my story in Alaksa. (Which, BTW, I hadn’t realized you lived there!) Even though I’ve been there four or five times, I have to remember details. Great post!