Story World, Setting, Time and Space
We talk a lot about story world here at My Book Therapy.
And many of you have mastered the craft “tool” creating a story world.
We define story world as the “place and space” where your characters live.
You have to set their world so the reader can picture the scenes and setting, get a feel for the protagonist’s environment.
But story world is so much more.
Story world must permeate your novel.
Story world is the time of day when a new chapter starts.
It’s the place, the sights, the sounds, the fragrances of where your protagonist was when he launched his story journey.
I’m not talking about over describing a living room or the walls of a town hall meeting — unless it’s significant to the story — but creating a world is which your characters live.
Old school writing doesn’t give a lot of time and place.
The protagonists simple go to “the next day.”
Or, “Gina met Tom at the diner for lunch.”
When? The next day? A week later?
What Comes After “Once Upon A Time?”
Well, here it is the middle of November and you’ve been pounding away on your NaNoWriMo novel.
Sometimes, it feels like this picture. Once upon a time…
And you’re out of room.
Out of juice
Out of creativity.
NaNo is supposed to be a grind-it-out month.
No stopping to plan or rework your story or edit.
Just write.
So what do you do if you’re just stuck?
Here are a few tips:
1. Remember what the story is about? What the protagonist want? Have you shown this enough? Have you caused them to move farther and farther from their goal?
2. Write a scene out of sequence. The other day I came home and wrote a scene for the first of the book rather than the beginning of the middle where I’d written to at that point. The scene came to me and I knew it was one I needed so I wrote it.
Story Blocking
Story blocking is key to giving readers a sense of time and place in a scene. Just where are the characters in relationship to each other and what are they doing?
Ever read a book where you know the protagonist went into the kitchen to talk to her mother but you never “see” what they are doing while talking, or where they are standing in relationship to each other?
Is the mother cooking? Is the protagonist sitting at the kitchen table or leaning against the counter? Does she fiddle with a napkin holder as the conversation goes on?
Maybe the characters are just walking through the woods or sitting on a beach. Do they reach for a low swinging branch? Scoop up a handful of sand and let it slip through their fingers?
Show the reader where the characters are in relationship to one another and any movements.
Now, we don’t want them jumping all over the place like Mexican jumping beans. But they aren’t card board either, all stiff and standing in place as they talk.
If the protagonist is sitting on the sofa talking to her husband, then you only need one or two movements to make the “setting” clear.
What exactly is blocking?
Blocking is a theatre term that refers to the precise movement and positioning of actors on a stage in order to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera. — wikipedia.org.
Readers need to see and know where your characters are on you book stage.
Ready, Set, Go! NaNoWriMo
Wow, it’s time for National November Writers Month!
Congratulations to those who are participating for the first time. Or the fifth or sixth time!
I’m in. I’ve a deadline February 1 and I need to BIC it. (Butt-in-Chair)
So, what can you do to help your success?
1. Make a plan. What are you going to do with your time? How, when and where are you going to write? Do you need help? Do you need compliance from your spouse, your family, your friends? Work it out!
2. Plan your story. Read this post to get the core basics of planning a story. Not outlining, but planning! It’s very key to use your time wisely and to get some depth to your story.
3. Determination. Just determine this is a go for it month. You will get up early. You will shut off the TV at night. Say “No” to all you can.
4. Get your kids on board. Make them a part of mom/dad’s goal. Give rewards for them helping you achieve your goal. God is a rewarder. Parents should be too.
5. Do not edit. Meaning, do not go back and rewrite or start over. If you change setting, names, from an historical to a contemporary, do NOT go back. Just keep pressing on.
6. Do not be critical. If you have was in every sentence. so what. YOU CAN FIX IT. But get those words on the page.
7. Okay… all that being said, do pause before each session to consider where you’re going. Do pause to try to the best sentence you can.
8. Set a word count. How much do you need to write each day to make 50K. Figure out the days you can’t write and calculate how much you need to get down at each session.
9. Pray. Ask the Lord for wisdom. Daniel 1:17.
10. And Go!! Participate int he challenge. Log your word count. Press on when you’re tired. Do it.