Comments on: Evoking a Sense of Place

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:56:16 +0000

LaDonna, that comes across so strongly. You bring small town life to the page.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:54:56 +0000

Mary Jo, isn’t that always such a shame. I’ve read a couple of books that could have been so much better had the dialogue not been so irritating.

I also love getting into the feel with music. For my current series, I tracked down some Renaissance court music. I listen to it now and then.

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:34:21 +0000

Hey Michelle, great blog girl! Since my settings are all small-towns of my imagination, I can immerse myself into my storehouse of memories and the fact I live in a small-town to this day. I know the feel of this world, and it speaks to me.

I can’t really see me placing my work anywhere else.

By: mary Jo

mary Jo — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:23:37 +0000

Michelle,

I’m reading a book now, beautifully written and a story that could captivate;however, I’m plodding because of the dialogue which is overdone to create unusual speech patterns. Way overdone. Consequently, this is very slow going and I’m feeling as if I’m not getting invested in the characters because the the difficulties of understanding their speech. A case of way too much, way too often. At least for my taste.

When I set a story in a setting, at least with my books so far, I’m very familiar with the settings and if I’m not in it, so to speak, I’ve surrounded myself with photos, and of course, music which I think reflects the overall mood of my wip.

Great topic today.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:17:41 +0000

Edie, while I’m sure you’ll be spot on, I really, really hope you get to visit that city yourself – oh, around the end of July?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:16:58 +0000

LOL, Liz, yes. The Scottish brogue is often done to death. I had a friend from Glasgow to stay over Christmas, though, and we keep catching ourselves using a Scottish burr from time to time since she’s been.

By: Edie Ramer

Edie Ramer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:10:08 +0000

I agree about the dialogue issue, too. How cool that you made a lunch for yourself that you made your hero. That’s really immersing yourself.

I wrote my current book, not knowing a lot about the city I was setting it in, though I emailed a friend who lives in the area and I looked up articles and YouTube videos. I started the book, thinking I could put the place information in later. So when I finished the first draft, I checked out two great books from the library on the place. One was so interesting I read the whole thing for enjoyment. I also asked another friend who has been the city often about it. When I did the first revision, I changed only one thing.

The friend who lives in the city volunteered to be a beta reader when I’m finished. I’ll see what she thinks then.

By: Liz Kreger

Liz Kreger — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:47:41 +0000

I have to agree with you on the dialogue issue, Michelle. I really don’t want to have to translate a book when I’m reading. This sorta bugs me when reading a book set in Scotland and the author goes overboard with the brogue. I have to stop and think about what was said. Draws me right out of the story.

Right now, I’m finding it easy to immerse myself in my UF. I’ve been reading a lot of them lately and it has sorta permeated my present work. Write something dark? Go back the next day and make it darker.

God, I love this profession.