SETTINGS–IS IT ONLY LOCATIONS

Do you like cozies set in small English villages? Maybe you prefer mysteries set in big cities or exotic locales. Perhaps you ant to read about murder that occurs by the beach or in the countryside. Setting is not only th part of the world where the story is set--it is also each specific place where scenes occur, such as a bookstore, restaurant, office, or a zoo. Getting the setting right can be tricky. Stories consist of action, dialogue, and description. These all most be mixed to keep the pace going. Since setting is primarily description, too much detail can slow down the story. But since setting determines the background, you need to get it out there early. That means packing as much punch as possible into one or two sentences. My mysteries take place o Long Island with the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Great South Bay to the south, the Long Island Sound to the north, and New York City to the west. Each of my books, however, s at a different "fictional" location within Long Island. MONKEY BUSINESS is set at a zoo, SOMETHING FISHY is in an aquarium, and PLAYING POSSUM takes place at a wildlife refuge--all different sub-settings. With each book, my amateur sleuth's investigation may take her to other settings too, such as a suspect's home, a community theater production, or a local pub. When you visit someone's home in real life, it provides details into that person's personal life, and it should do the same when you read about it. Is the person neat? Does he lie to cook? Does she have lots of books? Are there pets? On of the best ways to create memorable settings is through sense impressions. In my mystery, PLAYING POSSUM, I combine two sense reactions in the following sentence. "I inhaled the scent of pine amid the morning's cool spring breeze." Using both smell and touch (feeling the breeze), enhances the image of walking through the woods. Think of the following descriptions: THE ODOR OF DEAD FISH MADE HER GAG. THE AROMA OF BACON FRYING AND FRESHLY BREWED COFFEE WAFTED THROUGH THE AIR> THE SMELL OF URINE PERMEATED THE PET STORE Each of the above sentences helps you envision the setting. Smell is one of our most powerful senses. A setting is much more than "It was a sunny day on the beach." A setting should create a picture of exactly where you are.

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