tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post5945702427721963146..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: How Your Setting Can Affect Your Characters Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47876662513487792982016-06-18T13:35:03.353-04:002016-06-18T13:35:03.353-04:00thanks so much for this! I'm a highschool stud...thanks so much for this! I'm a highschool student writing exam papers about how setting affects characters and the bit about how setting makes goals harder to accomplish got me a whole extra paragraph!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7041650571680688752015-09-30T08:50:36.800-04:002015-09-30T08:50:36.800-04:00Nice!Nice!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20328267237925132822015-09-21T20:48:59.333-04:002015-09-21T20:48:59.333-04:00Love this post & I tried it. My character is i...Love this post & I tried it. My character is introducing his new girlfriend to his family when the ex showed up. Since he's not married, she feels she still has a chance. She wants to reconcile with him in the privacy of his room then stay for lunch like before. He insisted on them talking in the dining room. The result is her discomfort at not being able to influence him with drama like before (the kisses, the promises, the tears, etc.). Meanwhile, the new love is being consoled (asked to trust him) by his grandmother until the ex is gone. After they have time to calm down, the 2 lovebirds talk it out & their faith is strengthened.<br />GaleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39326241465644920642015-03-14T01:35:08.480-04:002015-03-14T01:35:08.480-04:00Very useful for newcomers to literature field!!! T...Very useful for newcomers to literature field!!! Thanks..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22458751218548721222014-12-17T07:18:47.031-05:002014-12-17T07:18:47.031-05:00Thanks!
I'd suggest looking at the questions ...Thanks!<br /><br />I'd suggest looking at the questions I posed in the article and seeing how they apply to the Great Gatsby and Gilgamesh. Maybe look for similarities between the two stories in how they use setting and characters, even though they are very different types of stories.<br /><br />Good luck with your essay!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70208962808295917152014-12-15T19:58:09.006-05:002014-12-15T19:58:09.006-05:00This blog is really awesome....
I have to write a...This blog is really awesome....<br /><br />I have to write an essay about how the setting both infuences the characters and larger aspects of the story. I am thinking about the great gatsby and the epic of gilgamesh becuase thats the book we read....<br />Can u advise me on some things that might help me? <br /><br />Thanks, i greatly appreciate itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49986222958919946882014-01-21T13:33:36.638-05:002014-01-21T13:33:36.638-05:00Hope you find the answer in one of those articles....Hope you find the answer in one of those articles. And if you like the subtly, go for it. Worst case it doesn't work, but you might surprise yourself and pull it off.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53274449466194877992014-01-20T11:06:56.979-05:002014-01-20T11:06:56.979-05:00Hmmm...I'll go reread your posts on dramatic i...Hmmm...I'll go reread your posts on dramatic irony and foreshadowing. I trust my group to help quite a bit, too, so that's a good boost!<br /><br />I like the idea of more subtle--I loved "The Thief", which hinged on subtlety--but I'm not sure if I could pull that off. You've given me some food for thought; thanks, Janice!Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8366645401183640882014-01-20T09:44:09.967-05:002014-01-20T09:44:09.967-05:00If that's what you want from the setting, sure...If that's what you want from the setting, sure, go for it. There are no "rules" for this, just different ways to use your setting to your advantage. If he thinks all is well, you could make things seems that all in indeed well, and then have things go haywire. <br /><br /><br />I'd suspect that dramatic irony or some solid foreshadowing would help you here. If there are clues for readers to know things are not as in control as the MC thinks, then they'll be waiting for things to go wrong and that can keep the tension high.<br /><br />Or if you wanted it as a surprise, you could make the hints more subtle so they only become clear after the event has happened and readers suddenly see that old information in a new light.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6686816085300633772014-01-20T09:41:16.174-05:002014-01-20T09:41:16.174-05:00Thanks! Thanks! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87403984208188008152014-01-20T09:41:00.422-05:002014-01-20T09:41:00.422-05:00I love that about fantasy as well. The world is of...I love that about fantasy as well. The world is often what comes first for me. Memories are huge. I did that with Shifter a lot, actually. Thanks for bringing it up! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74093078990567336852014-01-20T09:40:05.336-05:002014-01-20T09:40:05.336-05:00Oh good! Love when an article helps someone. Good ...Oh good! Love when an article helps someone. Good luck with the new setting!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66222465317486928552014-01-18T11:58:01.730-05:002014-01-18T11:58:01.730-05:00Here's an idea: what if things about to go hay...Here's an idea: what if things about to go haywire due to the MC's hubris? In that case, would it be better to put him in a setting that calms him and gives him the illusion of control?<br /><br />It's first-person, so I'm struggling with not pulling this setback out of left-field, but not making it too obvious, either. If it's obvious, he's an idiot for not realizing he's about to get captured.Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52885852456040259882014-01-17T14:34:47.539-05:002014-01-17T14:34:47.539-05:00Thought you made some great points and I agree tha...Thought you made some great points and I agree that a setting brings out subtleties in a story and can deepen the scene. Great post.Geri Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12502718669492831691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-29923309987780650292014-01-16T14:44:53.660-05:002014-01-16T14:44:53.660-05:00Hi Janice
Excellent point, thanks.
One of the thi...Hi Janice<br />Excellent point, thanks. <br />One of the things I love about writing fantasy is the freedom to create entire worlds that add layers to key scenes.<br />I think you can use scenes in conjunction with memories, also. Taking the protagonist somewhere that carries emotional baggage, due to what might have happened there previously, can help to heighten the emotional stakes within a scene. <br />cheers<br />MikeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06402167218714904333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48738490779283538122014-01-16T10:01:28.097-05:002014-01-16T10:01:28.097-05:00You just solved a problem in my WiP! Thank you! ...You just solved a problem in my WiP! Thank you! Changing the setting will help a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71433382291449071942014-01-16T06:35:27.232-05:002014-01-16T06:35:27.232-05:00My pleasure, and I'm so glad the blog is helpf...My pleasure, and I'm so glad the blog is helpful. The different perspective really helps know what to do with your setting and how it can be more than just descriptive details. everything has meaning so it ties the whole scene together better. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23593332882979621572014-01-16T06:32:05.193-05:002014-01-16T06:32:05.193-05:00Aw, thanks! I appreciate all the links you post fo...Aw, thanks! I appreciate all the links you post for me and the blog :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6959157055254424872014-01-16T06:31:38.490-05:002014-01-16T06:31:38.490-05:00Thanks! Glad it found you just when you needed it....Thanks! Glad it found you just when you needed it. Hope the scene goes well!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-2359087967206347342014-01-16T06:31:10.026-05:002014-01-16T06:31:10.026-05:00Most welcome. It does make writing description and...Most welcome. It does make writing description and setting more fun. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46164176320782363842014-01-15T22:11:49.841-05:002014-01-15T22:11:49.841-05:00Thank you so much for sharing this. I didn't r...Thank you so much for sharing this. I didn't really think about setting this way but you are exactly right. You have so many wonderful tips on this blog, you are really helping me a lot :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66882834316753444902014-01-15T20:45:12.919-05:002014-01-15T20:45:12.919-05:00Posted this blog on two of my teaching writing wik...Posted this blog on two of my teaching writing wikis. Thanks!Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67219267930074506912014-01-15T20:02:31.002-05:002014-01-15T20:02:31.002-05:00This is an awesome post and comes at the perfect t...This is an awesome post and comes at the perfect time for me! I'm about to write a pivotal scene and now I have a way to make it way more intense. Thank you! I'm a huge fan of your blog.<br />-DanaDanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12532990891563957815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46921448484667690002014-01-15T13:45:50.109-05:002014-01-15T13:45:50.109-05:00I don't do this nearly often enough. It's ...I don't do this nearly often enough. It's a very solid tip. Thanks for the reminder.JD Paradisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07945134213244873038noreply@blogger.com