Setting

setting

Setting the scene is one of the best tools a writer can have, as it allows for the reader to truly feel immersed in the story. But… how can an author set the scene? Is there a foolproof way to immerse the reader? (hint: the answer is no, lol.) Here are some things that help me build background and establish the setting. [as always, there’s no pressure to use any of these tips; writing is a unique process and there’s no “one size fits all” formula for it.]

Ordinary does not have to equal boring. Sometimes, it can be hard to escape the pressure of an interesting, entirely unique setting to provoke a reader’s interest. However, it can be hard to fulfill lofty expectations like those! Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing wrong with ordinary settings. In fact, embracing normality can really enhance a story. Office buildings, schools, grocery stores, gas stations… All of these places may seem ordinary, but that doesn’t mean they’re uneventful. In fact, each place comes with its own unique challenges and occurrences, which is really useful for writing! Mundane activities such as purchasing groceries, walking out of a movie theater, and visiting a library for books can all create additional outlets for interaction and occurrence. 

Look to the details. This one is pretty self explanatory and probably something everyone already knew, but I figure it can’t be overstressed. The details really do make a difference! Little things like the way an office worker’s desk looks can reveal a lot about their character. For example, is their workspace cluttered with scattered papers? Or perhaps it’s pristine and looks nearly untouched? Those kinds of mundane things can be utilized to further establish your character’s desires, motivations, personality, etc.! Exploring a character in small, seemingly unimportant ways is pretty enjoyable and a fun exercise to further develop your character-building abilities.  

Utilize weather and climate conditions to add effect. This is another simple way to add some character to a scene! Weather can add symbolism—if a character is feeling melancholy, it may appear gloomy outside—but it can also simply add more detail and further flesh out the scene. Even better, the scene doesn’t even have to occur outside! Weather conditions can still be noticeable from inside a building—think of the sound of precipitation, the presence/absence of sunlight, and the way light reflects off of different surfaces!

Embrace change. Sometimes, a story necessitates a return to a setting that already has been introduced. In these moments, it can be helpful to think of any potential changes that may have occurred since the last time the setting was visited. This can manifest in large-scale ways—such as a banker returning to their place of work, only to find that the building has caught fire and is now just a pile of rubble—or small-scale ways—think of a graduated student returning to their elementary school, only to find that it feels much smaller. Simple things can represent far bigger elements of a story—for example, a missing chair can represent a person’s death or foreshadow their future absence… a previously tidied area turning messy can hint at a future conflict… After all, most settings do not remain entirely unchanged. As people come and go, things are left behind, objects are moved/altered, and more!

Think about noise. Different settings will come with different levels of noise, which can also affect character interactions and conversations. If the characters are standing in a library, their voices may shift to hushed whispers. If there’s potential for eavesdropping (aka they’re in a public space), there may be different gestures and means of communication. 

©2023, @defectivehero | @defectivevillain, All Rights Reserved. 

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You are a 512 year immortal in a bar, angry because you can’t order a beer. It’s not your fault you took the immortality potion at 12 and have looked the same ever since!

Thanks! This is really helpful, I’ve been worrying about what I’m going to do for my cover. Do you have any good suggestions on how to actually get your book printed?

novlr.org

How to Source Publisher-Quality Book Cover Design as a Self-Published Author - Novlr

I spoke with art commissioners from Faber and Bloomsbury to get their top tips on how to source great art for your book cover design.

The post is full of great insights, but here are some of the top tips to give you a sneak peek:

Top tips to making sure you’ll get quality book cover design

To give you the best chance of finding quality illustrators and artists for your cover art, these are the top tips from the publishers I spoke with:

Find artists who have worked on commission before. Make sure they show evidence of problem-solving, and that their portfolio gives a clean and clear idea of their style.

When in discussion with an artist or illustrator, make sure you can describe what you’re looking for in 5-10 words. This gives your designer a clear idea of what you want for your book cover design and ensures they’ll be working to a clear brief. If you can describe your work succinctly, then they’ll be able to design a memorable cover that reflects exactly that, and nothing else.

Look for illustrators who suit your themes. You might really love an artist’s work, but if they specialise in subdued, soft lines and specialise in fantasy art, they’re probably not the right designer for your romance or horror cover.

Do not ask for custom samples without being willing to pay a fee. Never ask an artist to work for free. You can get a sense of their style from a portfolio, but if you want to see tailored work samples, you must be willing to pay them – you will attract better-quality designers.

Always work with a contract. This is essential for both parties to ensure you both know what is expected from the other. It alleviates the likelihood any nasty surprises and keeps both parties protected from things like intellectual property theft or copyright infringement. Besides, if an illustrator isn’t willing to work with a contract, that’s usually a red flag that they’re someone you don’t want to work with. It’s worth it for that reason alone.

Shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. Then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals. 🎶🎧💜💙🤗

Alright, sure. My favorite playlist is simply titled “Current Mood” and I’m constantly adding and removing songs depending on the mood I’m in while listening, currently it has over a hundred songs, and the 5 I got are all very different. I’ll also be explaining why I like each song;

1: I just really like Cyberpunk

2: You can never go wrong with a little Initial D.

3: German metal is just a perfect combination, in my opinion, it’s almost like the genre was made for the language. This song is definitely one of my favorites, and in my top 20 of all time.

4: Doom Eternal is my favorite game, and I love every bit of art that crosses it with Animal Crossing!

5: Two Steps From Hell was one of the first artists I really got obsessed with, so their music is always a treat.

Thank you for such kind words. I saw the “ask” you sent me, and that was the highlight of my day. All I want with my stories is to have other people enjoy them as much as I do. I’m glad you’re interested in my world, I hope it lives up to your expectations when I finally finish it.

Follower special! All followers, this is for you!

Wow, I have been here for a month and already 15 followers, you pioneers of kindness. Thank you for reading, and now I have something for each of you. I don't have much, money, technical know how, or talent. But I can write, so here I decided to give each of you a personal prompt based on what I know from your blogs. Here goes nothing!

@cheezbot, "Is...why...how?" (Cheese vending machine) "Welcome to your dreams user...I got munster, Brie, Jack, etc."

@mike-like-t-scream, "Who is that lurking behind you?" "Don't worry about him, he just my pet...who is very protective,"

@snootlestheangel, "Are you from heaven?" "Used to be, got a bit borin' up there," "What happened to your wings then?" "Now that is a bit of a long story,"

@mysticalgalaxysalad, "Because of you the universe is now a salad," "How did I?" "Oh shut up, you know what you did,"

@somnifey, "I put a spell on you?" (Random hot guy looks up) "Yes you!"

@devotedshadowytherapist, "I am completely normal," "Prove it!" "Uhhh, I am a 23 year-old man," "And?"

@queerlilchinchin, "I feel sick!" "You mean anxious?" "Both," "You are a trained warrior chinchilla, you can get through this!,"

@j-1173, "Who are you," "That is a very interesting question, allow me to me answer in very complicated terms,"

@maddielang16, "What are your talents?" "You mean what aren't they," "Uh..." "Here let me show you!"

@motheyesofnight, "What a beautiful sight," "Gives me ideas," "What kinda of idea," "Do you really want to know?"

@Christine24256, "Nothing," "Excuse me?" "I said nothing," "Oh okay,"

@ravenmichaelisstuff, "What did you do this time?!," "It was only a small explosion this time," (Character A sighs,) "(Character B) Hey it saved your life! *Whispers* My your disappointment is hot," "What as that?" "Nothing!"

@cynicamo, "Meow," "Is that all you will say?" "Meow?" "Your a damn human being!"

@writingalterras, "Dang that was some solid advice," "Thanks, I try," "Care to explain that universe of yours again?" "Oh sure! ...*two hours later*...and that is about it!" (Listener with stars in their eyes) "Woah!"

@broitsf-ckingfreezing, "Master," "That's a new one," "I just assumed, since you know...uh," "Since I just sliced that guy in half?"

Author's note. I tried to make it as personal as I could for each, I was offensive in any way, I am sure I meant good will. You are all so special to me, thank you so much for reading my material, it means so much that you follow me...even by accident if you did. THANK YOU...that's all I can say but I say it as heart felt as I can...more coming in the future.

“Soldier, how the hell did you manage to take 9,999 captives?” “No idea, sir. They all just surrendered after I killed the first guy.”