Use setting to enhance mood from "summary" of Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition by Renni Browne,Dave King
One way to make your setting work harder is to use it to enhance the mood of your scene. The setting can influence the way your characters feel, and it can also influence the way your readers feel. For example, if your scene takes place in a cramped, stuffy room, your characters might feel claustrophobic, trapped, or on edge. Your readers might start to feel the same way. On the other hand, if your characters are in a wide-open field, they might feel free, relaxed, or at peace. Your readers might feel those things too. When you use setting to enhance mood, you're using the environment to help set the emotional tone of your scene. This can be a subtle way to convey emotion without explicitly stating it. Instead of telling your readers that a character is scared, you can show them by describing the dark, creaky house the character is exploring. Instead of telling your readers that a character is happy, you can show them by describing the sunny, bustling market the character is walking through. It's important to remember that the setting doesn't just exist in the background of your story. It's an active part of your scene, affecting your characters and your readers in real-time. By paying attention to the details of your setting, you can create a richer, more immersive reading experience for your audience. So next time you're editing a scene, take a look at your setting and ask yourself: How can I use this to enhance the mood? By doing so, you can elevate the emotional impact of your writing and draw your readers even further into your story.
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