My Trip To Pennsylvania This Last Week Got Me Thinking About Setting

I hope you all are staying safe, and that if you’re traveling, your travels go smoothly.

This last week, my husband, kiddo and I took a trip to Pennsylvania. Every year, we try to take a trip to somewhere we’ve never been before. And… while I HAVE driven through parts of Pennsylvania before and even stopped to see the city that’s still burning, I haven’t seen much of anything else the state has to offer.

You guys, this is one of the weirdest states I’ve ever been in, and we didn’t even see it all! We did see central to the far east, and let me tell you, Pennsylvania has a setting for everyone. We could see inner city scenery, rolling green hills, and Amish buggies and farms all in one short drive.  There was also no shortage of fun things for us to do!

On this trip, the only real writing related task I’ve had for myself was to get as much proof reading as possible done for myself next book. My goal was to finish it before I got back home. I’m so close (and writing this on the airplane, so perhaps I’ll be able to meet my goal). 

That being said, because I’m kiiiind of obsessed with writing, it’s never far from my mind, and this trip has gotten me thinking a lot about setting. Particularly, how a well crafted setting can do a ton for any given scene and even set the mood for your story as a whole. And, like Pennsylvania, the setting in most stories will likely change drastically.

I wanted to share just a couple of tips that I find helpful when considering the setting of a story or scene.

1. Make it significant. The setting your characters are in should have some relevance to the moment of the story they’re finding themselves in. You can do a lot to build your settings around what your characters are experiencing, and that will allow your readers just another chance to get entrenched in the story you’re telling in a really emotional way. This is also great because, as characters ourselves, we often notice things differently depending on what we’re going through. Our perspectives change, as does the focus we give to certain details. If my character is having a great day, they’ll likely notice the budding leaves on the trees, or the fresh scent of the spring breeze as they walk down the garden path. If they’re not doing so well, they’ll likely notice may ponder why the cold hasn’t subsided yet, or why there are still so many dark clouds in the sky, or perhaps how the ivy looks as if it’s choked the life out of the plants it climbs. 
   
   
2. Make the details count. I talk about imagery quite a bit, because I think it’s one of the best tools we have as writers to really paint the picture for our readers, but imagery can really bring a setting to life and give it depth. In addition to making your setting connect with what your character is going through, connect it also to the five senses. What can be seen? Heard? Smelled? Felt? Tasted? I wouldn’t go overboard with this descriptive imagery with every setting, but asking yourself these questions is a great way to really ground your readers in your setting.

That's it for this week's post! If you're interested in getting one of my books and you'd like it signed, I have some events this week and next!
1. The Smutty Book Bash (Even though my books aren't spicy, I was allowed to attend and share Bound, Severed, and Twice in a Lifetime because they are romantic stories in nature). This event takes place on Saturday, March 21st from 11 AM to 4 PM (by RSVP only, though it is free to attend) at 3333 S Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City, UT, 84119.

2. If your student attends Venture Academy, I will be attending their Literacy Night on Thursday next week, and I will be bringing all of my books that are appropriate for ages K-8th grade.

3. I also have an event scheduled on Saturday, March 28th at the Park City Barnes & Noble, where I will be bringing all of my books! 

4. You can purchase any of my books at a discount and request a signature through my website. 

​Have a wonderful rest of your week!