Writing and Editing Services
  Rosebud Communications
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
    • Clients
  • Rose's Red Pen Blog
  • A Rose in Oz Blog
  • Photos Down Under
  • Contact

Setting the Scene

3/13/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have a confession to make. I skim most descriptions of settings in both fiction and nonfiction. I know -- I'm a terrible reader. I want to zoom straight to the action or dialogue.

As an editor, however, I can't just skip the scene-setting; I have to read each and every word. So I've pondered what makes descriptions of place compelling and effective. What makes them too good to pass up? Writers of both fiction and nonfiction tend to make three common errors in setting the scene:
  • Rambling, lengthy descriptions
  • Commonplace descriptions
  • No sense of place
The first problem can be solved by asking yourself a few questions: Why are you describing this place? Is it important in what happens next? Does the setting illuminate something about the protagonist's or subject's character? Does the setting contribute to an understanding of theme? Your description of place should do one of those. Knowing your purpose will help determine how many words to spend on it and what details to include.

I call the second problem the "Fodor Dependency," which refers to a description that sounds as if it came from a guidebook. It's a postcard that matches everyone's visual expectations and contains no surprises. Again, asking yourself questions can help avoid this problem. What's special about the place? What makes it unique? For example, the high desert air in Arizona carries a scent after the monsoon rains that I've never encountered anywhere else. And that brings me to my next point: don't rely on your eyes alone. Use all your senses. How does the place sound? What does it smell like or taste like? What does the air feel like on your skin? You may not include all this information, but the exercise allows you to discover striking sensory details to create a compelling description.

The third problem, no sense of place, is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The description is either so skimpy or mundane that the story feels like it could take place anywhere. While this problem is perhaps most noticeable in fiction, it applies to nonfiction as well. Even reports and newsletter articles can almost always benefit from a strong sense of place. Defining the purpose of the description and finding what's unique about a setting can solve this problem too.

Using these three strategies -- exploring why you're writing the description, defining what's unique, and locating the sensory details -- will all help you to create a compelling sense of place.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Books
    Dialogue
    Editing
    Grammar
    Mechanics
    Punctuation
    Usage
    Verbs
    Writing

    Author

    Rose Ciccarelli offers writing and editing services through Rosebud Communications.

    Archives

    July 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Camp Pinewood YMCA, ChrisL_AK, sylvrilyn, Banjo Brown, OC Always, CapCase, John-Morgan, quinn.anya, poppet with a camera, quinn.anya, Moyan_Brenn, pierre bédat, iansvendsplass, Philippe Put, Hackley Public Library, mrhayata, amslerPIX, romana klee, n_sapiens, perpetualplum, Images_of_Money, trophygeek, fontplaydotcom, Thomas Leth-Olsen, reynermedia, U.S. Army Europe Images