: Let's Make A Scene
Ern Carne offers advice to fledgling writers on how to set a scene in a story.
A big problem for many beginner writers is to set the scene where their character is involved in action. Mostly they fall between being too sparse with their description -"Mary entered a large room" - to writing a full page of narrative describing the colour of the wallpaper, the number of chairs, the number of pictures and paintings and the fact that no-one has turned the calendar page over since the end of the month.
All of this can stop the action of your story and invites the readers to skip and skim until they find the action again.
The ideal way to bring your readers into the setting is to describe the very obvious detail of the area in away that will engage them. Small details of the settings should be shown through the reaction of your character.
Suppose,for example,your character, Rosslyn, is a secretary for a courier company. She has a small office at the back of the old brick factory where the business is established. Her office has the only sink and coffee making facilities for the whole staff.
When the boss asked Rosslyn to call on Robbin and Theevin,the biggest law firm in town, and ask for their business, she felt apprehensive. They were situated on the 17th floor of the latest high-rise building in the city.
Rosslyn is in for a cultural shock,we know that,but we must let the readers feel Rosslyn’s uncertainties. Don’t just tell them it was a better office than hers.
For example…as she got out of the lift, Rosslyn checked for office No.5. Right in front of her were gleaming glass and chrome doors. The names of Robbin and Theevin were picked out in solid gold leaf paint.
As she approached, the huge doors silently swung open. There was no-one at reception but as she moved forward a smooth male voice announced, "Marilyn will be with you shortly. Help yourself to a tea or coffee from the dispenser on your right.''
Rosslyn stared at the gurgling stainless steel monster. How different to my office, she thought. When I’m away from reception they stick a piece of cardboard on the counter with the message "If no-one present, ring bell.''
As she moved towards the coffee machine Rosslyn marvelled how her feet sank into the plush blue carpet. The broad sweep of carpet, she reckoned, must stretch to the 20th floor.
Dawdling around the wall paintings towards a new leather armchair she paused to admire a Tom Roberts landscape, highlighted with its own spotlight. As she sank down into the chair, the smell of new leather mingled with the fragrance of flowers arranged into an eye-catching display in a huge blue porcelain vase on the polished table beside the chair.
Implanting the setting in the minds of the reader in small chunks like this does not upset the action. They can imagine the scene as the story evolves.
Of course, different characters will perceive the same surroundings in different ways. For example, if Rosslyn worked in the same building in the office of an interior designer she may well query whether the bright yellow leather chair clashed with the plush blue carpet.
If you use a setting to reveal the mood of your character, you will also increase a mood in your reader. What we see is often influenced by how we are feeling at the time. Decide your character’s mood before you write the scene. It will help you.
