tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post123090557710400860..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: SettingsElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-36201755768958708742009-10-08T10:39:49.141-07:002009-10-08T10:39:49.141-07:00I get very nervous when I must use settings that I...I get very nervous when I must use settings that I've never physically been to. I don't want to get things wrong.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-25770178633842384542009-10-08T09:40:13.789-07:002009-10-08T09:40:13.789-07:00Galen; Lucky you to be able to write where the se...Galen; Lucky you to be able to write where the setting doesn't matter and where it does! I wish I could do that...<br /><br />Elizabeth; I agree with you about writers' imaginations. I admire anyone who can write science fiction.<br /><br />Elizabeth; It sounds like the atmosphere is what's important in your books. Nothing wrong with that!<br /><br />Stephanie; What a nice Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14610176025577933412009-10-08T04:10:11.135-07:002009-10-08T04:10:11.135-07:00I think settings are so important. My problem has ...I think settings are so important. My problem has been characters that up and move mid-novel to another location - one which I don't know. I can't get them back for anything so I've had to shelve that novel until I can get there. The one I just finished I kept firmly in my own back yard and if it becomes the series I want it to, there are lots of nearby great locales for my cop to Jan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-62427903730201625992009-10-07T20:59:45.879-07:002009-10-07T20:59:45.879-07:00In both of my amateur sleuth mysteries, the settin...In both of my amateur sleuth mysteries, the setting helped create the plot. As a matter of fact, in the first book, I picked the setting before I create the characters or the story.<br /><br />In an unpublished manuscript waiting for revision, a mystery set in Frontier Illinois in the early 1800s, setting established many of the details of the story. However, I could move the plot to a dozen Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-56701218828006752292009-10-07T17:17:35.888-07:002009-10-07T17:17:35.888-07:00In my most recent story, the setting needs to be i...In my most recent story, the setting needs to be in a large US city, but it doesn't matter much which one. In the story I'm going to work on for NaNo, the setting is a much more powerful element to the mystery, and could not possibly be changed. I haven't done this before - I'm looking forward to the challenge :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-87149795541720732322009-10-07T16:31:03.316-07:002009-10-07T16:31:03.316-07:00Elspeth - Thanks for making me think about setting...Elspeth - Thanks for making me think about setting. You're right that some novels require a certain kind of setting, or it just doesn't work. In my case, it's the sleuth that has determined the setting. My sleuth is a college professor, so he does best in a university setting. However, what's interesting is that my new WIP has my sleuth traveling to a conference - a new setting : Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-48165074172657041312009-10-07T14:28:23.861-07:002009-10-07T14:28:23.861-07:00Funny you should ask that now. My WIP is for the H...Funny you should ask that now. My WIP is for the Harlequin Presents contest, which dictates books should be set in international settings. It's one I thought would be a struggle, since I've only ever lived in America, but I chose England, a place I've been, and set it in a deserted home that is similar to a castle. Setting is playing a HUGE part in it.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-23176334143865680602009-10-07T13:18:09.287-07:002009-10-07T13:18:09.287-07:00I don't particularly enjoy writing settings, b...I don't particularly enjoy writing settings, but agree that they have an impact on most books. My books are set in Southern towns--one where everyone knows everyone else and gossip features in the crime. The other series is set in a larger town, Memphis, which allows for more characters, but still a slower pace and lots of visiting among characters.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-71436998575641264902009-10-07T13:12:00.623-07:002009-10-07T13:12:00.623-07:00I feel a strong need to set my stories in places t...I feel a strong need to set my stories in places that I have spent time in. I am fortunate to have lived in many varied locales, and to have experienced many places. I do think the imagination of the author knows no limits. Otherwise there would be no fantasy, no science fiction.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-18889865480723034382009-10-07T12:37:18.869-07:002009-10-07T12:37:18.869-07:00Book one is set in 1978 Korea. The setting is int...Book one is set in 1978 Korea. The setting is integral to the story, so, in that case, I’m stuck. The WIP could be set in any number of places, at least two of the plotlines could. The third takes place in Vietnam, and pretty much I’m stuck with that setting.<br /><br />Best Regards, Galen<br /><br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">Imagineering Fiction Blog</a>joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-85871301123786265172009-10-07T11:33:32.796-07:002009-10-07T11:33:32.796-07:00Alan; WIth strong characters with interesting dil...Alan; WIth strong characters with interesting dilemmas, you'll have a story no matter where it takes place!<br /><br />Helen; You're so practical. Wish my brain worked like yours.<br /><br />Carol; It does take lots of research. Luckily for me, English history was my first love.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-13398052504809651172009-10-07T11:29:56.235-07:002009-10-07T11:29:56.235-07:00I've written a couple of short stories that we...I've written a couple of short stories that were set in places I've never been to, but the settings for most of what I write are in places I've at least visited. Some of my work has historical subplots, though, and I haven't mastered time travel yet. Takes a lot of research. I love the internet for things like that.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8496085973241724112009-10-07T10:55:36.536-07:002009-10-07T10:55:36.536-07:00The one I'm sort of brewing in my head will ha...The one I'm sort of brewing in my head will have to take place near the ocean. Since I live in Texas, I'm thinking of setting it in South Padre Island, but I'm not saying that place is set in stone. I want to do some more research.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-87206907357703030232009-10-07T10:52:20.640-07:002009-10-07T10:52:20.640-07:00For some reason, most of my stories take place in ...For some reason, most of my stories take place in suburbia and the settings serve primarily as backdrops. I wish I was more interested in using fantastic/compelling/interesing settings, but I guess I'm more drawn to the characters' dilemmas than their surroundings. Maybe I don't want the setting getting in the way?<br /><br />It's a weakness I should work on.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.com