Comments on: Susan on Setting http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:41:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Carrie Neuman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3450 Carrie Neuman Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:02:59 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3450 And here I've been worrying about the less used of the five senses. Thanks you, Susan. The bar has just been raised. :) And here I’ve been worrying about the less used of the five senses. Thanks you, Susan. The bar has just been raised. :)

]]> By: Andie Mock http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3451 Andie Mock Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:47:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3451 Great inspirational stuff. I read this first thing in the morning before I sit down to write. Today a teenager's bedroom gets a complete literary makeover. Great inspirational stuff. I read this first thing in the morning before I sit down to write. Today a teenager’s bedroom gets a complete literary makeover.

]]> By: D. E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3452 D. E. Hale Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:26:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3452 Oh my goodness! I don't even know how to respond to that. I was absolutely amazed at the depth and thought that went into those scenes. I've thought about my "setting being like a character" before, but not to that degree. I do have one particular swamp that actually tries to stop my MC from reaching his destination, but that's a bit different. I've never thought about using the scenery to "foreshadow" what's about to happen. Hmmmm...this is so interesting. Talk about layers to a story. Wow! Oh my goodness! I don’t even know how to respond to that. I was absolutely amazed at the depth and thought that went into those scenes. I’ve thought about my “setting being like a character” before, but not to that degree.

I do have one particular swamp that actually tries to stop my MC from reaching his destination, but that’s a bit different. I’ve never thought about using the scenery to “foreshadow” what’s about to happen. Hmmmm…this is so interesting. Talk about layers to a story. Wow!

]]> By: Mary Burch http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3453 Mary Burch Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:25:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3453 I write scifi, and my setting is definitely a character in my work. It is the antagonist. My work in progress is abot a man whose been genetically engineered. Such things are now ilegal on Earth, so he's escaping to the planet Haven, where genetic testing isn't required to get a job. But Haven has many secrets the current colonists haven't discovered yet, including an upcoming plague that threatens everyone. Though I have danger and adventure, the story is about the hero's growth and change, as well as about the damgers that the planet is hiding. My descriptions aren't as poetic as the examples, but they have gripped the attention of my beta readers, so I am content-- for now. As my craft improves, so will my portrayal of my settings. I write scifi, and my setting is definitely a character in my work. It is the antagonist. My work in progress is abot a man whose been genetically engineered. Such things are now ilegal on Earth, so he’s escaping to the planet Haven, where genetic testing isn’t required to get a job.

But Haven has many secrets the current colonists haven’t discovered yet, including an upcoming plague that threatens everyone. Though I have danger and adventure, the story is about the hero’s growth and change, as well as about the damgers that the planet is hiding.

My descriptions aren’t as poetic as the examples, but they have gripped the attention of my beta readers, so I am content– for now. As my craft improves, so will my portrayal of my settings.

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3454 Camille Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:48:28 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3454 Ack! I'm going to shove the keyboard aside for a while and dig into some exceptional books. Thanks Susan! Ack! I’m going to shove the keyboard aside for a while and dig into some exceptional books. Thanks Susan!

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3455 Karla Akins Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:13:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3455 Me thinks Susan used a description of my office to describe Abigail. . . This is juicy, delicious stuff. I was sorry when this entry ended. Encore! Me thinks Susan used a description of my office to describe Abigail. . .

This is juicy, delicious stuff. I was sorry when this entry ended. Encore!

]]> By: Cathy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3456 Cathy Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:12:02 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/19/susan-on-setting/#comment-3456 Susan and Randy, Thanks for answering my questions. It is a big relief to know that I can use a ficticious place as long as my settings fit the general location of where they are supposed to be. Up to now, I have been learning the craft of writing fiction by writing fan fiction based on an old Western TV program. Since the series was pretty lax about continuity when it came to setting, I could make up whatever I needed to fit my purpose. Now that I know what I can do when writing a novel, I'm looking forward to working on my own story ideas. Susan and Randy,

Thanks for answering my questions. It is a big relief to know that I can use a ficticious place as long as my settings fit the general location of where they are supposed to be. Up to now, I have been learning the craft of writing fiction by writing fan fiction based on an old Western TV program. Since the series was pretty lax about continuity when it came to setting, I could make up whatever I needed to fit my purpose. Now that I know what I can do when writing a novel, I’m looking forward to working on my own story ideas.

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