Develop the setting into a character. I've read that a million times and thought, okay, great idea. But other than using the 5 senses, how in the heck do I do it? Thanks to Nancy Rue, I'm confused no longer. Nancy Rue brought clarity. Nancy Rue jumped inside my head, flicked on the switch, and illuminated everything in bright yellow. She's one of the many contributing authors to A Novel Idea and wrote a short, completely insightful article entitled Protagonist, Antagonist...Setagonist.
Here's what she had to say:
When we sit to pen a novel, we should think about our setting and ask ourself: Does the setting act as the protagonist's ally, or as the protagonist's enemy?
Brilliant question!
I got to thinking about my setting in the current series I'm writing. Peaks, Iowa, a small, fictitious farming town set in the Midwest. For my first novel, Beneath a Velvet Sky, Peaks is most definitely an antagonist to my protagonist, Bethany Quinn. Bethany sees Peaks (at least at first) as her enemy. How much better to write about the setting from a major sense of conflict, as an antagonist of sorts, than a ho-hum, every-day small town.
In my second novel, Wishing on Willows, Peaks is most definitely an ally to my protagonist, Robin Price. Robin adores Peaks. Adores the atmosphere, the people, the small-town beauty. The setting is like a beloved sister brimming with memories and a nostalgic past she doesn't want to release. In her mind, somebody's out to destroy the town (or at least change it). I need to write about the setting from that deep emotional place. As if it truly was one of her best friends.
Questions to Ponder: So, what about you? Is your setting an enemy or an ally? Pick one. Because it most assuredly should not be neutral. Neutral settings equate to limp, lifeless settings. And who wants to write about that?
Great question, Katie! I tend to let my settings be very neutral early on, and "flesh" them out later. I my latest novel, the music is more the setting than a place, though I know on my second pass-through, I need to make my place more notable too.
ReplyDeleteLove the pic. Gorgeous and golden! Have a wonderful Monday!
Hmmm... in my memoir the setting is enemy, at least at first. And I love that question. That makes it so clear. Enemy or ally. I get that! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this Katie! Thanks for sharing it. I think my settings have mostly been allies to my characters, but I'd love to write an enemy setting. *rubbing hands in anticipation*
ReplyDeleteOooo, great question! My H/H are on a journey from a convent (enemy-Heroine was being forced to take her vows) to the Heroine's home (ally)How interesting to think of the setting as an ally or enemy! I will definitely write the next book with my eyes open to this very thing!
ReplyDeleteMost wonderful post Katie. In SEVENTY TWO HOURS, the novel I am about to query the setting is definitely the enemy. The two thirteen year old girls are lost in The Blue Ridge Mountains with their horses. Though they have loved these mountains all of their lives so it's kind of an ally/enemy type thing.
ReplyDeleteSuch a cool post. Thanks for setting the setting right in my mind. In my WIP the setting is also a kind of enemy. The town and some of the people in it. =)
Oh, this is hard!!! I think in my Sandwich book, it's an ally. It's the town where my heroine thinks her dreams can come true.
ReplyDeleteIt's a rocky road... but in the end, they do!
Great question!!! I love your posts!!!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say mine is an ally, whats funny is in my story I am also working with small town Iowa, because it relates to where I met my husband, but my character Natalie finds her life altered and when she ends up in Iowa it becomes her safety net, her love, something she can confide in.
Gives me tons to think about it! Thank you!!! I need the inspiration today for writing, sometimes I feel like drowning and today was one of them!
Now you'll know what I'm talking about: For Lindsay her setting is her enemy until she gets to the cottage and then it is too much of her ally.
ReplyDeleteAh ha.
You are a treasure in my life.
Wendy
Oooh... to my newest MC... mine is both. :0) I'm going to have fun with this!
ReplyDeleteWow, Katie, I never considered this. Thanks for making me think on a Monday morning!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteDarn it- I've been too neutral! I'll have to change that quickly. Excellent point, I really hadn't thought anything about that aspect.
ReplyDeleteMy character has been avoiding home so much because of unpleasant childhood memories. I would have to say the setting is an enemy.
An enemy, definitely! My setting is a small Amish-centric town, and the heroine has to move back there from the big city and HATES it. I love the idea of setting being an enemy or an ally. I'll think of that every time I plot another book. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this post! For two reasons! I never have thought about it like that before. My setting is definitely an enemy!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, this is a great tool to teach my students when learning about reading and writing! Thanks!
In my novel that I am grafting onto my skin through edits, I would have to say the setting is both loved and hated by my MC and is most definitely a huge 'character' in the story. I'm not sure this works for every novel, but it works for mine and I want to consider it for my next book.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great when that lightbulb gets turned on in our AH HA moments! Great question to be answered.
ReplyDeleteHope you'll join me for how "Cupid Shot Me" day at my bog www.dianeestrella.com :O)
Enemy! :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't A Novel Idea great?
Oooh, that's a great question. I need to figure this out for my new WIP because I've been noticing that limpness in my setting. I want to check out A Novel Idea now!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to think about our settings. I'm in the process of reworking the beginning of my novel. This post was perfect timing as I'm rewriting the description of my setting and what it means to my main characters.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love a rich setting - I've always felt like it's one of the most important aspects of a good narrative. A novel with a well-developed setting has more flavor.
ReplyDeleteI think the setting is an antagonist in my current WIP. You're right, that IS such a cool way to think about that!
My setting is mostly the enemy. Ancient Egypt is full of social mores that don't really benefit women.
ReplyDeleteIt makes for a somewhat tragic story!
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea. It's such a good reminder to make sure our settings are purposeful and that we're intentional about every detail that we include! Thank you!
I love this question! My settings are definitely enemies to my MC. As is the society. I try to make them both into enemies, so my MC is fighting their culture and their physical surroundings. Sometimes it works, sometimes I go too far. That's why I have beta readers, right? Right. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, never thought of it this way. Very helpful post. I LOVE the setting and always develop it as a character but never thought of it being an enemy or an ally.
ReplyDeleteP.S., is the title to be Enemy Or Ally? I thought maybe you had a character named Ally who has an enemy!!! LOL
In REFUGE, as the title suggests, the MC escapes from an enemy setting to an ally one, although in itself the shift doesn't help solve his problems. I hadn't really thought about the enemy/ally aspect before, but it's a great question, Katie!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Katie! I had the privilege of participating in a clinic called, "Nangie 101," with Nancy Rue and Angela Hunt. They're wonderful teachers.
ReplyDeleteIn my first book, "The Moses Conspiracy," my initial setting is definitely an enemy to my protagonist. Her home setting is friendlier.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Wow, I never thought about this. But I think my settings are usually an ally.
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
Lovely post. In my current WIP one of the most important relationships is the one between the MC and the setting, and the ways that relationship changes. It's not easy, but your post and all these comments are like a pat on the back to keep going!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I had not ever thought of setting in this way, but it makes alot of sense. Thanks for the "food for thought".
ReplyDeleteGreat post that makes me think. I purposely have tried to make the farm, the land, in my book the ally to the protagonist and enemy to the antagonist. I really want the reader to see the land for what it means to a man.
ReplyDeleteI gave you a blog award! Check it out here
ReplyDeleteThis is a great question and one I've pondered, though not so specifically. In my current WIP, I've really tried to bring the setting to life, to make it one of the characters. In that way, it starts out as an antagonist to my MC, but ultimately becomes an ally. In a way, like a character, it has its own arc. If that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteFound you through unedited. Nice to cyber-meet you. :)
Great question to ponder and improve the wip!
ReplyDeleteI love this thought! Am reading Forest of Hands and Teeth, and most definitely the setting is the enemy.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of setting as ally or enemy. My novel has both, the MC's home setting is an ally (that would seem to turn on her) and my antagonist's setting is definitely her enemy. Setting is a big, big part of my story, this is a nice way to sharpen my thoughts. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. I'll go for enemy,I've always been on the safe side,I wanna try something a little different.
ReplyDelete