McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

How to Describe a Setting

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Ladyeshu:
Hi!

I am writing a novel, and while I am doing pretty well (attentively paying attention to Jim Butchers blog on how to do so) I still can't figure out how to describe a setting without getting all in a jumble; confused and overall frustrated.  :-\

I want this to be an enjoyable experience and I especially want it to be an easy read when describing where a character is at. Any suggestions on how I can do this?
 ???

Snowleopard:
Well, you can have a character describe or react to his/her setting that's one way of doing it.
(One thing - the more senses you involve the more memorable the scene.)
sight, sound, smell, touch - all can be used for a scene.

Look at Harry's description of his apartment when he comes home and Thomas is 'entertaining' in Dead Beat.

"The fireplace was more or less the epicenter of the slobquake. There were discarded clothes there,
a couple of empty wine bottles, a plate that looked suspiciously clean -- doubtless the cleanup work
of the other residents." 

There's more before and after this but it delineates the scene and Harry's mood.

Paynesgrey:
Bingo.  SnowLeapord preachin' it down the sawdust trail. 

It's easy to get wrapped up in minute visual details, but if you provide a description that touches the other senses, what it feels like to be in a place then you'll lead the reader's mind to create the more complex details on it's own.  Cold concrete making feet ache through thin shoes, the signature autumn smell of wet, rotting leaves, the smell of rain concrete, etc.

Starbeam:
I would suggest either posting with a link to this, or asking in the site suggestions to movie this, in the Author's section.  You'd likely get more responses from there.

Also, part of how you describe setting depends on the story you're writing, and how you're writing it.  A setting in Lord of the Rings will be described differently than a setting in Dresden Files.  The level of detail can also depend on how often the setting is seen.  It can also vary from author to author, and book to book.

Paynesgrey:
You know, I didn't even notice until now where this was posted.  Ladyeshu, try reposting this in the "authorcraft" section, you'll find yourself thick with advice, instruction, ideas and the like in short order.

http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/board,10.0.html

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