tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post2971592664279868160..comments2024-03-24T20:54:42.846-04:00Comments on Spunk On A Stick's Tips: Writing Settings with Elizabeth Spann CraigL. Diane Wolfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-28787827783156549042010-06-20T11:31:43.626-04:002010-06-20T11:31:43.626-04:00Thank you for bringing this up as these are import...Thank you for bringing this up as these are important points for writers, especially those who write fiction or a genre of fiction.<br /><br />It's so much easier to put places in your books that are real. Google maps & images is almost necessary. I'm a big fan of it as it's better than driving to the library to look for maps.<br /><br />Creating places is very creative, but as you mentioned, takes a lot of work. It does help to draw a map, even if you're not an artist. It provides a strong sense of location & you'll know what's going on in what part of town at anytime.notesfromnadirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09904500676081267972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-58526395081199678552010-06-19T13:26:18.787-04:002010-06-19T13:26:18.787-04:00What an insightful and helpful post. I enjoyed it ...What an insightful and helpful post. I enjoyed it all and especially like the tip on using Google Images and Street View.Donna McDinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959673932828354020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-76756325089781938982010-06-19T07:04:26.327-04:002010-06-19T07:04:26.327-04:00Diane--Good pick! I was about to say..."There...Diane--Good pick! I was about to say..."There's a Mitzubishi in G'ville?!" I was from Anderson, so... :)<br /><br /><br />Carolyn--Thanks so much for coming by! Settings can be useful tools, can't they?Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-81942423826387286072010-06-17T21:22:18.857-04:002010-06-17T21:22:18.857-04:00Ahhh! Settings! Grounding! What marvelous tools. L...Ahhh! Settings! Grounding! What marvelous tools. Like the senses, too few authors use them!<br />Best,<br />Carolyn Howard-Johnson<br />Bloggin all things writing at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.comCarolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-42528178869204758792010-06-17T20:55:18.233-04:002010-06-17T20:55:18.233-04:00Thanks again Elizabeth and everyone who visited to...Thanks again Elizabeth and everyone who visited today!<br /><br />I use mostly real places in my books with a few make-believe locations thrown in for good measure. The biggest one was a Mitzubishi dealership in Greenville, SC. There isn't one, which is perfect - no one will be mad that a Tim Garnder ownes it and not the real owner!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-8366025225186352542010-06-17T20:41:25.977-04:002010-06-17T20:41:25.977-04:00Marvin--You're Super Marv then! Thanks so much...Marvin--You're Super Marv then! Thanks so much. And I think it's great you've written settings both ways.<br /><br />Dorte--That's another great way to approach it--find a friend who lives or has lived in the area and see if they can provide inside info or tips. :)<br /><br />Jemi--Fictional is a *safe* thing to do. If you can't get out and research, if internet research isn't for you, then fictional works great--especially since we've all got wonderful imaginations!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-55455957001466299832010-06-17T19:36:26.262-04:002010-06-17T19:36:26.262-04:00Great post Elizabeth - settings can be tough. I ge...Great post Elizabeth - settings can be tough. I generally use fictional because I don't travel much and using the Internet just doesn't seem enough.<br /><br />Diane - you're so right - she is Superwoman!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-36736973849843790682010-06-17T15:55:52.264-04:002010-06-17T15:55:52.264-04:00How nice to meet you here, Elizabeth!
Great advi...How nice to meet you here, Elizabeth! <br /><br />Great advice! I donĀ“t think I would feel confident enough to make up a setting from scratch, though. For my current WIP I have chosen a town I know fairly well, and recently I had a bit of luck: I found a new beta reader who grew up there. So she enjoys the setting and is a wonderful source of knowledge who gives me extra ideas I would never have thought of myself.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-30255881761879361872010-06-17T15:26:13.212-04:002010-06-17T15:26:13.212-04:00Excellent article/post, as one would expect from &...Excellent article/post, as one would expect from "Super Liz". (smile) I've written both ways - fictional settings and real ones. And I agree with your pros and cons about both ways.The Old Sillyhttp://theoldsilly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-40442722344727578192010-06-17T14:52:53.934-04:002010-06-17T14:52:53.934-04:00Clarissa-- Thanks so much for coming by! Good luc...Clarissa-- Thanks so much for coming by! Good luck with it. :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-37155964669261748212010-06-17T14:52:24.544-04:002010-06-17T14:52:24.544-04:00Laura--I think that's a great idea. That way y...Laura--I think that's a great idea. That way you've got an image of something REAL in your head that you can describe--but none of the problems that go along with writing a real setting. :)<br /><br />Lee--I think those can really help visualize a setting. I think fantasies and SF use them very successfully--sometimes I can get lost if I don't have something to refer to.<br /><br />And thanks for the tip on the blog, Lee.<br /><br />Hart--It's something to think about. I know that here in Charlotte there have been a couple of businesses that have been around for *ages* that had to close because of the horrible economy. <br /><br />I think your technique is a great one! You can really make it come to life but don't have to worry about residents of the town correcting you! :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-3711406736001434372010-06-17T14:51:32.633-04:002010-06-17T14:51:32.633-04:00Those are some excellent pros and cons. I use many...Those are some excellent pros and cons. I use many of the same techniques and resources myself.<br /><br />CDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-9739062762976447852010-06-17T12:22:29.491-04:002010-06-17T12:22:29.491-04:00Wow! Good points on the longevity of businesses! ...Wow! Good points on the longevity of businesses! I have two mentioned in the Cozy I am writing--should probably look into the longevity of both of them!<br /><br />I wrote an original setting for my first book, but it was really an amolgamation of several places I'd been... I used 'real to me' streets, just changing names, and plunked them in a DIFFERENT real to me location. Seemed to be the best of both worlds in a way, because nobody could check accuracy, but I could see it all. (I did still have to draw the map, though) And my book in Portland has not only a SETTING alive in my mind, but also figures I can see, which the made up one really didn't.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-87865179657307667902010-06-17T11:30:13.295-04:002010-06-17T11:30:13.295-04:00Please read this message from Arlee Bird:
There i...Please read this message from Arlee Bird:<br /><br />There is a blogger out there who needs your support more than most others do. He is an inmate in a prison who is attempting to have a voice. He has been writing for several years and would like someone to read what he has to say. He does not have internet access and his submissions must be posted by his sister, who in turn sends him comments for him to respond to. I hope you will at least take a look at his blog and then if you moved to do so, leave a comment for him and follow his blog and tell others about it.<br /><br /><a href="http://thesagaoftheconcretejungle.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Saga of the Concrete Jungle</a><br /><br />Thanks<br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-19024036432699203492010-06-17T11:27:25.641-04:002010-06-17T11:27:25.641-04:00Some good points made here.
As far as using ficti...Some good points made here.<br /><br />As far as using fictional locations, I think of an example like Stephen Kings <i>Under The Dome</i> where in the front of the book he has a map drawn of the entire locale. I found myself referring to the map as I read and I imagined that King must have likewise had a detailed map in front of him as he wrote to keep everything in order.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-31406774381053914892010-06-17T10:58:16.678-04:002010-06-17T10:58:16.678-04:00Diane, thanks for hosting Elizabeth! This is a sup...Diane, thanks for hosting Elizabeth! This is a super useful post. Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth! I create fictional towns in my stories, but they're very similar to my hometown. :)Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-57338489161129814732010-06-17T10:33:59.518-04:002010-06-17T10:33:59.518-04:00Sugar--It's hard to decide which way to go, bu...Sugar--It's hard to decide which way to go, but it's nice to have different options. <br /><br />Helen--I heard this terrible news story in the last couple of months. A town in...I think it was France?...is suing an author for what it felt was an unflattering picture of the town. Ack!<br /><br />DL--Thanks so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate it.<br /><br />Christine--I love the Wallander series...and we're getting some of the episodes of the British TV version here on PBS. But that's a lot of pressure to put on yourself--making the setting so vivid and your books so good that people take tours to see the locales! Thinking that way would freeze me up, I think. :) I'd just concentrate on writing a good story (which, since I've read your cover copy, I think you've done) and maybe sketching in the setting with interesting tidbits. :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-18798422721559450512010-06-17T10:06:17.732-04:002010-06-17T10:06:17.732-04:00A very informative post, thankyou!
I'm also s...A very informative post, thankyou!<br /><br />I'm also struggling with to use a real place or a fictional one. Swedish writer Henning Mankell writes about inspector Kurt Wallander, who lives in the city of Ystad. That's a real place and readers from all over the world travel to Ystad to see the place where the crimes happened :).<br />I just don't know... Frustrating...Christine Hammarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14291339756674225110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-60835688071565094292010-06-17T09:46:14.236-04:002010-06-17T09:46:14.236-04:00Me again. Just wanted to say that you ROCK! HARD...Me again. Just wanted to say that you ROCK! <b>HARD!!!</b> :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-66651879313554210752010-06-17T09:05:22.341-04:002010-06-17T09:05:22.341-04:00Great suggestions. I like using real settings, but...Great suggestions. I like using real settings, but there can be hazards. The research is fun, though!Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-49376296235616391682010-06-17T08:38:20.563-04:002010-06-17T08:38:20.563-04:00Thanks for the great info..I am srtuggling with th...Thanks for the great info..I am srtuggling with the exact thing right now.. I need real places, but I still need to make my own places..it's been difficult to say the least. <br />Great ideas!Sugarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01847639596079213091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-36344977843682939772010-06-17T08:22:40.263-04:002010-06-17T08:22:40.263-04:00Welcome to my world of poetry-- We all approach th...Welcome to my world of poetry-- We all approach things a little differently!<br /><br />Will--I'm so glad it helped. :)<br /><br />Mason--I'm a terrible artist, but I make little squares and circles and lines for the street. It does help me get it all placed in my head.<br />Mr. Stupid--Thanks! :)<br /><br />Diane--It's a great application, isn't it? Thanks so much for hosting me! And...you're the Superwoman! <br /><br />DL--Thanks so much! I appreciate your coming by and commenting.<br /><br /> Alex--Yeah, Google Images isn't going to work so well for you!<br /><br />Palindrome--Thanks so much for coming by! <br /><br />Angela--I think it's a tough thing to balance. For me, setting is *usually* not as interesting...as a reader. I like to get a sense of place, but I don't ordinarily want every detail laid out for me...except, maybe, in the instance of the room in which a murder was committed, or if I'm reading a man-against-nature type book where it would be important.Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-68038534356471841232010-06-17T08:13:55.585-04:002010-06-17T08:13:55.585-04:00Thanks for the post! It's thought-provoking f...Thanks for the post! It's thought-provoking for me because I'm still working out the details of setting. I prefer to make up my own setting so I have more control over it, but I sometimes have a hard time balancing how much to show of the setting. Some readers prefer to have some room for their imagination, while others want a clear picture of where everything takes place. It's hard to find that balance sometimes.Angela McCallisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610798614001745001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-57179289313915147982010-06-17T08:08:39.783-04:002010-06-17T08:08:39.783-04:00Thanks for the great info! It's good to know t...Thanks for the great info! It's good to know the pros and cons of both, I have always wondered.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-84555849389987189902010-06-17T08:06:24.810-04:002010-06-17T08:06:24.810-04:00If I ever write something based here on earth, I&#...If I ever write something based here on earth, I'll remember these tips!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com