A Setting That Sells
I love to read vibrant settings in stories, don’t you? They are those settings that make you feel like you’re right there, in the story, at the very spot where the story takes place. Recently I read Amber Stockton’s latest book, The Grand Design, and I appreciate her skill at showing the reader the setting in such a beautiful way.
Amber weaves the setting into her action and dialogue like a skilled artist. Using the five senses, you can see the flowers and almost smell their delicate aroma. You can feel the white painted wood on the massive porch of The Grand Hotel. You nearly touch the fabric on the character’s body. Snapshot by snapshot, she hones in on details that pull you deeper and deeper into the story. Well done, Amber!
Here are a few things I’ve learned about developing a setting that sells:
- Use all five senses in your scene development. Don’t settle for simply what you see. How does it smell? What does an object feel like? What do you hear in the distance? What does the meal taste like?
- Use at least one object in every scene that will put you in that time and place. This brings authenticity and realism to your story. Whether it’s a rolling pin used for making cookies or a pitchfork leaning against the barn, details like this will bring readers into the story.
- Use unique nouns and verbs that will make the scene crystal clear for the reader. Zero in on a close up shot of a scene and make it poignant.
- Set obstacles in the character’s path. What does the character need to overcome? An inward insecurity? An outward flaw? An actual obstacle such as the lack of money to travel or health challenges? What is the biggest challenge in your character’s life? Set those obstacles so clearly into the scene that readers have to find out how they solve their conundrum.
- Make the setting relatable, even if it’s in a different time and place. Everyone has to eat, whether they lived in the fifth century or today; let readers taste the hard bread and simple fare of that day. All of us live somewhere; describe it well. There are sounds of nature in every era; let the reader hear the sound of keening at an 19th-century Irish funeral. Everyone lives in a cultural setting that is unique in its own special way; let readers experience the quirks and lingo of the time and place.
Every reader longs for more. More that will awaken their senses, touch their soul, stir their emotions, and change their heart. They want to be transported into another time and place and learn from the lives of others, even if they are fictional characters who live across the street from them.
Many of us will never go to Ireland or cross the great Atlantic Ocean or live on an island. Most of us haven’t grown up in a family of eleven children in a one-bedroom Irish cottage. I want to let the readers experience those things as I develop my setting scene-by-scene. That’s what will make a setting that sells.
How do you develop your settings? I’d love to know!
Get Smart
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge, Proverbs 23:12.
I’ve always encouraged my children, friends, students, and others to be “lifelong learners.” Whether you’re my 92-year-old Mom, a young mother, or a new or seasoned writer, I encourage you to never stop learning and growing in your spiritual, personal, and creative life.
This week I’m teaching three writing workshops at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I love imparting what I know about writing to those who sacrifice their time and money so they can continue to learn all they can about the craft of writing. I respect each and every one of them, and I always learn something in the process of teaching. I want to apply my heart to instruction, even when it comes out of my own mouth.
It truly is a daunting task to “apply your heart to instruction.” This is especially true in today’s word-saturated society where you have to continually sift out the good from the bad, the truth from a lie, the imposter from the real, even in the Christian world. In the past several years of mentoring, coaching, critiquing, and editing Christian writers’ work, I’ve found that unbiblical views too often creep into writing more and more as the years go by.
So as I teach on the importance of having a biblical view of the world and of writing, I’ve learned that consciously applying discernment becomes key to knowing the difference between biblical truth and all the rest of the untruths and half-truths out there. I urge not only writers but everyone to be on guard and stand against the lies of the world, whatever they may be.
To do so, God’s word must be our plumb line, for only then will our speaking, writing, and interacting with others bring life and make a difference in our world. Whether you’re teaching your children, writing the next great American novel, or sharing your heart with a friend, truth matters, and applying your ears to “words of knowledge” is so important.
Discern carefully between what God says about things and what the world tries to promote. Reject the things that pull you away from truth. Edit out words that don’t agree with the Bible. Fight the good fight of continuing to apply your heart to God’s instruction and listen for godly knowledge. Then your lifelong learning will bear fruit that will last through eternity.
How do you apply your heart to instruction? I’d love to know!
Fruit-filled Mamas
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” Galatians 5:22-23.
This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day, and I’ve seen fruits of the Spirit in the lives of several Moms whom I’d like to celebrate. Join with me, will you?
Love. I’ve been blessed with a mom who has loved all her children through thick and thin, in good times and in hard times, in sorrow and in celebration. She’s nearly 93 years old, but her zest for life and her depth of love continue to be a great gift and example to me.
Joy. My daughter is the wonderful mother of three little girls. The joy I see in her eyes and hear in her voice are priceless, precious gifts to them and to me. She’s an incredible Mom, I take joy in her mothering, and I am so very proud of her.
Peace. I’ve known Carrie for over a dozen years, and she’s always been an example of godly peace and trusting God with her children. They’ve lived around the globe and now, as a grandma, she continues to be an example of peace and trusting God with her children and grandchildren.
Patience. I’ve know my friend Pam for over 30 years. She’s been a second mom to my daughter and an incredible mom to her three very unique girls. I’ve seen her patiently pray, teach, help, love, and care for all her children and others besides, and I’m so grateful she’s in my life as well as my daughter’s life.
Kindness. In today’s busy world, it’s all-too-rare to see kindness in action, but my friend Kara is full of it. She exudes kindness and love, and it’s awesome to be a part of young mothers’ lives and see the next generation being raised with the fruits of the Spirit.
Goodness. My sweet friend Becky was full of goodness from the day I met her more than fifteen years ago. And now, as a Mom, goodness permeates her parenting and fills the atmosphere around her, and all are blessed because of it, especially her boys.
Faithfulness. Three years ago my dear friend Kimberly adopted twins from Africa, and her faithfulness to her biological and adopted children is a witness of God’s fruit in her life. How I love to watch her mother with all the love and faithfulness she has within her.
Gentleness. Though I don’t get to see her often, my friend Johanna reminds me of a gentle mom. She devotes her life to her three children, and when they speak to her, she gives them her full attention, gently loving them in the moment.
Self-control. All of these moms show a measure of self-control that is so rare in today’s world. Whether it’s working through the cultural challenges of living overseas, aging gracefully, or training up a little one in the way he or she should go, these moms show me that spirit-filled motherhood is a beautiful gift our world…and to me!
Who would you add to this list? I’d love to know!
Sweet Words
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103
I recently had the privilege of doing several workshops for the Evangelical Press Association Convention. One of those workshops was a discussion about applying a biblical worldview to your writing and editing. In two weeks, I’ll be giving the same workshop at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference.
It’s true! God’s word is sweet, even when we read words of conviction or correction. Through His word we find understanding, wisdom, and truth. And once you get a taste for those sweet words and let them become a part of you, “from the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks,” Luke 6:45b. Or writes.
Yet in today’s secular world, unbiblical views can creep into our thinking and writing far too easily. In the past year I’ve edited both articles and books from Christian authors who had obvious unbiblical views. I’m sure they weren’t trying to mislead anyone or send their readers away from God’s truth; it’s just that the world’s views snuck into their thinking and writing without them even noticing it. When I discussed their faulty thinking and and writing, and then showed the scriptural truth of it, these authors were embarrassed, even appalled that they didn’t see their errors.
We are simply bombarded from every direction with unbiblical views. Yesterday as I walked through the airport on my way home I saw several marketing messages that were decidedly unbiblical. On Facebook, folks are posting “send healing energies to Nepal” and other new age ideas every day, many from Christian sources. And on TV and in movies? Well, you get all kinds of unbiblical messages.
The point is, as believers, we not only need to be vigilant to consciously reject the unbiblical worldviews that come our way, but we also need to fill our minds and hearts with His sweet words. Only then will you taste and see that the Lord is good and then speak and write words that lead to eternal life.
What unbiblical worldview have you seen creep into your world lately? I’d love to know.
Jesus with Skin On
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25.
Yeah, we’ve heard this before, probably this past weekend. We hear about the resurrection every Easter. We put on our Sunday best, and we celebrate. We have a nice dinner with family and friends, and we probably pop a few chocolate Easter eggs or Peeps into our mouth as an added bonus.
But do you show the truth of the resurrection?
Of course! You wouldn’t be reading my blogs if you didn’t. Yet how many sat in your church this past weekend and really didn’t believe it? Or like me, how many times have you sat on an airplane and chatted with a stranger who needs to believe or be shown the truth?
How can you “show” the resurrection truth to those who are yet to believe?
As I flew home this past Sunday, chatting with my seatmate, I was reminded how to do that well. In fiction writing, one of the basic rules is “show, don’t tell”. You make sure the characters walk it out and talk it out instead of just describing the scene. You use sensory words and emotions to drive action and cause the reader to engage in the story. You get them involved and make them want to be a part it.
As Christians, we must do the same. We show others what the Christian life is like. We don’t just tell them about the Gospel. We walk it out and talk it out instead of just describe what it’s like to be a Christ follower. We show our emotions and help them to sense the beauty and sweetness and vision of living the Christian life. And we live in such a way that they want to engage and become a part of the action.
I’m grateful that my journey of writing has taught me this truth in a new and powerful way, and I tried to apply this simple principle to that conversation on the plane. She seemed intrigued with the joy and kindness I showed her, and she said she’d think about our discussion some more. I tried my best to “show” and not just tell her about the resurrection life. I tried to be Jesus with skin on.
What about you? How has God taught you about “being Jesus with skin on”? I’d love to know!
The Step Between: Our Resurrection Day
In this past month, a 51-year-old neighbor headed to heaven only nineteen days after being diagnosed with cancer. Another neighbor and friend headed to Miami for a cruise, ended up in the hospital, and was diagnosed with cancer. My 92-year-old mom went to the hospital with pneumonia; I am here with her now as I write this.
Life is fragile, and the step between earth and eternity is a small one. Thankfully, all three of these dear people are believers and are—or will one day be—in heaven. Mom and I have been talking about that a lot this week, and I’m so glad her faith is sure. That makes dealing with the step between a little bit easier.
Sunday is Easter, the day we will celebrate Christ’s resurrection. We will recall His short walk on this earth and the amazing things He said and did during that time. We will remember His terrible suffering and the forgiveness He so freely gave. And we will worship Him and the glorious reality that He rose from the dead to save us all.
I am grateful my mom is still here on this earth, but seeing her struggle with daily tasks reminds me that, one day, she will be free of the earthly shackles that now bind her. She will be able to soar and sing freely, and she will worship and witness the beauty of heaven, thanks to resurrection Sunday.
The reality is that if we give our lives to God and trust in Him, we will all experience resurrection from the dead, and what a day that will be! As I see my loved ones suffer and struggle here on this earth, I find comfort in knowing they are in God’s care.
So on this Easter weekend, remember that we are all just a step between this earth and eternity. But as we trust in Him, we have the hope of heaven and our eternity will be glorious!
Happy Resurrection Sunday!