First off. Thanks to everyone who entered my contest. The winner is Christine Fonseca. I’ve got a copy of The Chosen One ready to mail to her.
Last week I spent an evening paddling an inflatable kayak down Goldstream Creek.
The optimal time to float Goldstream is just after the surface ice breaks up and the creek is high, basically two to three feet of water flowing over ice that has yet to melt. It’s a fun little crash through a tunnel of brush.
Just three miles down the road from Goldstream is O’Connor Creek.
What you see in the photo, taken the same day as the other photos, is called overflow ice. When O’Connor starts to freeze up in the fall there is enough pressure in this small stream that the water is forced upward through the ice. The water flows on top of the ice that’s already formed and then refreezes. This goes on all winter long if the air temperature is cold enough, which is not a problem here. Ice forms several feet thick and spreads out thirty or forty feet across, all from a trickle of a stream.
O’Conner breaks up differently than Goldstream. I’ve seen ice in O’Conner Creek at the end of June. Here it is in May.
Seeing these two creeks, so different yet they share the same valley, got me thinking about setting and how authentic, specific details can bring a work to life.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of beta-reading one of Terry Lynn Johnson’s WIPs. She uses specific setting details to continually drive the story forward. One of the many ways we get to know her MC is through her physical, psychological and emotional responses to her setting.
My mantra when I revise for setting is: “Sparse but specific.”
I just sent my newest WIP to my agent and am starting a new novel. What are you working on this week? And, do you have any favorite writing mantras?
WOO HOO! Thanks Paul. And yep – I agree…the key in writing backstory, setting and that sort of stuff…”Sparse but specific”.
You can email me at christine(at)christinenfonseca(dot)com and I can give you my info.
Thanks again for being part of Spreading the Awesome.
You’re welcome, Christine. Enjoy The Chosen One!!
I guess to expand on yours:
sparse with the unneeded details but expand on the specific details that move the story forward.
Have fun with your new wip!
I agree, Laura. Those details need to move the story forward, and hopefully develop character too.
Setting is a great character development tool. Congrats on getting your MS off to your agent. That has to feel good.
Thanks, Susan. It does feel good. I’ve been working on this rewrite for about five months.
Those are amazing pictures Paul. I always admire your connectedness to nature; it inspires me.
Congrats on your WiP! Can’t wait to see it in print. What am I working on? Another run-through on Desolation which went back to the revision board not too long ago. Also working on a revision on Jump Boys which is going exceptionally well.
Life is happy in writer-land right now
Thanks, ali. I’m glad you are getting lots of writing done. It’s amazing how much better we can make our stories by wading through the seas of revision. Glad you enjoyed the photos!
Love the mantra, and LOVE the pics! It’s really cool to see the river in different stages. Thanks for sharing those!
Have fun with your new wip!
Thanks, Jill. I hope you have a great writing week!
That sounds like a good mantra. I often get bogged down when a writer uses too much description. I think, “just get the the good stuff!” But I thought your description was perfect so I think your mantra must work well.
Thanks, Natalie. That was a very kind thing to say. What you read was after many rewrites.
My current writing mantra is “One page a day” and it’s working. I read about it on a fellow blogger’s site and thought it brilliant.
p.s. those photographs are spectacular
K.M., “One page a day.” I like that!
You make a good point about sparse and specific. I dislike writing that’s bogged down with extraneous details. I just want enough detail to draw a complete picture in my head.
Medeia, that is perfect–”just enough detail to draw a complete picture in my head.”
I don’t know if I have a mantra, but I do try to keep the setting details limited unless they seem to add something to the story. In fact, usually my crime is to leave out setting details altogether and have to go back and add them on the rewrite.
Love the pictures! Kayaking sounds like a very pleasant way to spend an evening.
Alissa, glad you enjoyed the photos. I really loved the wolf photos on your blog.
Great Pictures! And thanks for the shout out!
I can’t wait to hear about your latest WIP getting a big fat contract, speaking of setting details. You definitely used your mantra well in that ms. Such a great story!
Terry, glad you liked the photos. And, I did really enjoy reading your manuscript. I hope you get it polished up and sent off soon!
Sooo exciting that you sent your newest WIP to your agent! Congrats–that’s gotta feel so good (and a little nerve-wracking)! Also, yay that you’re starting your new novel.
Setting is so important and probably not one of my strengths. When it’s done well in a book: oo-la-la.
One of my favorite writing mantras is a Winston Churchill quote: “Never, never, never quit.”
Thanks, Dawn. It does feel good. And, thanks for the Churchhill quote!!
I love that mantra, Paul! I’ll have to keep it in mind when I’m at the revision stage for my WIP!
Thanks, Jody. It really worked for me during my last revision, and the setting was a major character.
My writing mantra: Keep your fingers on the keyboard
Seriously, though, a great post. Setting can be such a challenge and you offer a great way to think about this, particularly as you move into the revision phase with a ms.
Stasia, I think that’s a great writing mantra! And you bring up a good point regarding dealing with setting during revision. Then you can look at each detail and see if drives the story forward and/or develops character. Thanks! And congrats again on your book deal!
I liked, “Sparce but specific.” I’m posting it on my wall so I can keep that in mind.
Make that sparSe! Good grief. I think I need a break.
I like ‘sparse but specific’. It’s a good one. A while back my hubby took my WIP and wrote on the top “you are good. you can be great. I think you will.” that has become my mantra. It encourages me to always be open to learning, growing, improving and it gives me hope!
Tess, great mantra. Thanks for sharing!
I like the ‘sparse but specific’, too. I love editing and rewriting. Since I started out writing picture books, I sometimes have trouble having enough words in my mg manuscripts and have to add content when I am editing to up the word count. I like the quote ‘A professional is an amateur who didn’t quit.’ I could have quit writing many times, but for some reason I keep plugging along.
Hi, Janet. Thanks for sharing that quote. It really puts things in perspective when you’re up to your ears in revision or stuck on a first draft. To just keep going.
The pictures are just gorgeous. I think my biggest editing mantra is “read it out loud.”It’s funny how different the words are when you say them.
Thanks, Portia. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I also read my writing outloud. It does make a difference when you hear those words.
Congrats to Christine!
Great pictures!
Love the motto. I’m terrible with settings. Like, I can see them in my head, but they don’t come out in words very well. I know it’s a weakness of mine — and my poor crit group does too — but I’m not sure how to improve my setting skills.
I like your motto, but what if you’re too sparse?
Great question, Elana. I tend to intentionally overwrite when I revise for setting because I know I have to write thru a lot of “stuff” to get to the heart of what my MC sees and how he is seeing it. Maybe I’ll do a future post on this. Thanks, Elana!
I love your mantra. After meeting with an editor, I think I have a new mantra: Save a little room for the magic.
I tend to be too realistic in my hopes and dreams–will write more about it later.
That’s great that you sent in your latest book! Is it contacted yet or does your agent have some place in mind?
Terri, nice mantra! I look forward to hearing more about your meeting.
As far as my new book is concerned. Jennifer, my agent, knows what the book is about but hasn’t read it yet. So, after she reads it we’ll go from there.
Congratulations to Christine!
I like your mantra. My first draft is usually at the opposite end, with settings and descriptions that only exist in my head. I forget to get them onto the page so have to add details during revisions. Fortunately I enjoy doing revisions, although as a result I sometimes keep at them until I’ve killed the magic.
Kudos on getting your ms finished and turned in.
Thanks, Carol. I also enjoy revision, and you bring up a good point about revising something until you’ve “killed the magic.” Hopefully that won’t happen with your current WIP.
Congrats on sending your agent your WIP! That’s such an exciting moment.
We’re working on LIAR SOCIETY 2 right now and we’re about half way through. Can’t wait till we’re ready to send it to our agent!
Lisa and Laura, Thanks. It is exciting. I wish you lots of luck with LIAR SOCIETY 2!