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What Members Thought
This is short read. I read a lot of book about the writing craft. There is not quite one out there like this one. Definitely worth adding to your library.
It takes great writing skill to make a setting/place feel real and dynamic, so that it "comes alive" for the reader.
This book provides tons of information on how to incorporate the setting into the story, so that it becomes an integral part of the characters' experience.
This is a reference guide that any writer can turn to again and again, for various writing projects, and as the need arises.
A handy resource! ...more
This book provides tons of information on how to incorporate the setting into the story, so that it becomes an integral part of the characters' experience.
This is a reference guide that any writer can turn to again and again, for various writing projects, and as the need arises.
A handy resource! ...more
Mar 28, 2015
J. Dorner
rated it
it was amazing
· (Review from the author)
Shelves:
book-on-writing,
books-i-am-published-in
I wrote it, so of course I love it!
Preparing To Write Settings That Feel Like Characters by J. Lenni Dorner takes a new and innovative approach to creating fictional settings. The old saying is that you can’t judge a book by its cover, or, as some put it, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But what reader/writer among you doesn’t. I did! The first thought that crossed my mind was, how could a setting feel like a character? For me, settings were the places where the story took place, places where the characters interacted. I
...more
Actual rating 4.5
This was an IWSG Book Club read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because it didn't waste my time. The Setting Character Sketch introduced is a simple and practical approach to writing better settings. I agreed with every insight shared within these pages to some degree and know I will return to this book as a reference guide quite often. My only complaint is that I wanted more of it. It was a very short read and lacked the one thing I always look for in a "how-to" or "se ...more
This was an IWSG Book Club read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because it didn't waste my time. The Setting Character Sketch introduced is a simple and practical approach to writing better settings. I agreed with every insight shared within these pages to some degree and know I will return to this book as a reference guide quite often. My only complaint is that I wanted more of it. It was a very short read and lacked the one thing I always look for in a "how-to" or "se ...more
I was intrigued with the idea of treating a setting like a character. I wondered how to do it. This useful guide outlines a worksheet and then takes you through all the various opportunities you have to populate it, showing that a boring old place has its own unique style and presence.
As I read, I constantly thought of my Viridian System series, checking that I had considered or included elements of Dorner’s ideas. I don’t think I’ve done too badly, but I’d class my attempts as world-building. I ...more
As I read, I constantly thought of my Viridian System series, checking that I had considered or included elements of Dorner’s ideas. I don’t think I’ve done too badly, but I’d class my attempts as world-building. I ...more
“If the main character can achieve the same outcome in any place, the setting is not important.”
The character sketch sheet provided for settings is much the same as what one would fill out for any traditional character – and it opened my eyes to some things one glosses over as unimportant to the story, but extremely important to the “character”.
The author expounds on each point, showing the reader how they can easily make their setting vital to the story and the main character.
Concise and to the ...more
The character sketch sheet provided for settings is much the same as what one would fill out for any traditional character – and it opened my eyes to some things one glosses over as unimportant to the story, but extremely important to the “character”.
The author expounds on each point, showing the reader how they can easily make their setting vital to the story and the main character.
Concise and to the ...more
An excellent dive into world-building, this book is a good place to get started really rounding out the edges of any setting, real or speculative. Seeing the setting as characters is a new twist on world-building and I really appreciated it.
Excellent easy advice
This is a super handy guide. It is easy to create a setting in my mind and even to write about events happening in that setting, but to truly have an amazing story the setting needs to become something more. This is especially true for sci fi, which is my passion. This books contains great advice for doing just that.
This is a super handy guide. It is easy to create a setting in my mind and even to write about events happening in that setting, but to truly have an amazing story the setting needs to become something more. This is especially true for sci fi, which is my passion. This books contains great advice for doing just that.
Short but informative
This book was very helpful in informing me on how to world build. I do feel better prepared to write settings that feel like characters after reading this book.
This book was very helpful in informing me on how to world build. I do feel better prepared to write settings that feel like characters after reading this book.
Aug 20, 2015
Denise Covey
marked it as to-read
Nov 27, 2020
Amanda Rose
marked it as to-read
Dec 16, 2020
Diane Burton
marked it as to-read
Jan 04, 2021
Susan Oloier
marked it as to-read
Jan 18, 2021
Anstice Brown
marked it as to-read
Feb 01, 2021
Mary Aalgaard
is currently reading it
