Five Senses. What does your setting look like? That is an obvious one. But go further. What does it smell like, sound like, feel like? What does the air taste like?
Room Conflict. In theater, room conflict is a term that basically means whatever way the actual room the characters are in is escalating the conflict. So, for example, if the air conditioning is broken and its sweltering hot, or the neighbors are blasting Eminem and you can't quite hear what the other person is saying, or it smells like rotted milk or there's a pipe leaking. A couple trying to decide who's going to take the kids this weekend is interesting. It's much more interesting if the house is being painted and they have to talk around an eavesdropping painting crew.
Inescapable. When you give your characters a conflict and put them in a place they can't leave, it forces exciting things to happen. Stuck them in an elevator or a car or a family dinner. Especially family dinners. Those can be rife with dramatic tension.
Amp it up. I'm definitely guilty of having too many scenes set in a kitchen. But when possible I try to move them to grocery stores or baseball stadiums or somewhere where its easier for the setting to play a more exciting role.
Here is a list of potential places for you to set up your scenes:
Police station
Bus stop
On a boat
Family dinner
Company meeting
Rest home
The Vatican
ToysRUs
Elevator
School for the blind
Road trip
Back stage
What do you think? Think these might help? What other ideas would you add for making your setting fantabulous?
Sarah Allen
I love setting (perhaps too much) And I am in love with this idea of room conflict. Thank you so much for putting a name to that for me.
ReplyDeleteI want to set a scene at the Vatican! Love these tips--I'm always looking for ways to improve my setting description.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea of putting them somewhere they can't escape. Instant tension!
ReplyDeleteI love how you point out we need to bring out the 5 senses. When I'm reading a book, I get totally immersed in a scene if the author does that. I FEEL like I'm there, and I just love it.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Great things to think about. I especially like the idea of the Room Conflict. Hmmmmm....I'll be chewing on that thought for awhile....
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! (I found you on inkPageant)
I love blog posts about settings: you can have so much fun with worlds. This post is a great roundup of the points to remember.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteMy characters spend far too much time in empty white rooms. I'm working on it :-)
ReplyDeleteThese are definitely helpful! I think any time you change the scenery it adds a bit of depth to your story.
ReplyDeleteBut you have to be careful at the same time not to get too overly descriptive with your settings. I've read a number of things where I find myself saying, "Ok, I get it, you've painted the picture, now what's happening!?!?"
ReplyDelete