By F.C. Malby @fcmalby
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Sociologist, geographers,
historians, writers, artists, and anthropologists have all been interested in
the idea of ‘A Sense of Place’ for a long time. Why? Because this gives a place
it’s character and identity, it gives people a sense of belonging in a place
and an affinity with the locality. Some places can also feel uncomfortable.
historians, writers, artists, and anthropologists have all been interested in
the idea of ‘A Sense of Place’ for a long time. Why? Because this gives a place
it’s character and identity, it gives people a sense of belonging in a place
and an affinity with the locality. Some places can also feel uncomfortable.
So why does this matter with
our writing? A good book can often give the reader a strong sense of why the
characters feel attached to a place or a dislike of a location. When you can
understand a person’s connection to a place, it is easier to understand how
they respond and behave.
our writing? A good book can often give the reader a strong sense of why the
characters feel attached to a place or a dislike of a location. When you can
understand a person’s connection to a place, it is easier to understand how
they respond and behave.
Wordsworth described places
in his poetry in a way that was almost magical. I am reading Orpan Pamuk’s
‘Istanbul – Memories of a City.’ He received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature
for ‘Snow,’ and his descriptions are vivid and inspirational. I love to travel
and this fuels a need to write about a particular setting and get ‘under the
skin’ of a place, to think about what makes a location so appealing.
in his poetry in a way that was almost magical. I am reading Orpan Pamuk’s
‘Istanbul – Memories of a City.’ He received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature
for ‘Snow,’ and his descriptions are vivid and inspirational. I love to travel
and this fuels a need to write about a particular setting and get ‘under the
skin’ of a place, to think about what makes a location so appealing.
A few tips on building a Sense of Place into you
Writing:
Writing:
Description
– describe the buildings, the feel of the air, what you see on the streets.
– describe the buildings, the feel of the air, what you see on the streets.
Detail
– use images to add detail into your scenes – from photographs, online images,
or go there and make some notes.
– use images to add detail into your scenes – from photographs, online images,
or go there and make some notes.
Geography
– find maps and use Google Earth to look at the area. Is it wooded, on a cliff,
on a river, compacted or isolated?
– find maps and use Google Earth to look at the area. Is it wooded, on a cliff,
on a river, compacted or isolated?
Character
– think about why your character might feel an attachment to a place – do they
have family there or did they spend a childhood in a particular place? To find
out what makes your character tick, it is important to look at how they react
in a particular setting.
– think about why your character might feel an attachment to a place – do they
have family there or did they spend a childhood in a particular place? To find
out what makes your character tick, it is important to look at how they react
in a particular setting.
Identity
– The connection a child has with a place has been described as a ‘primal
landscape,’ and psychologists say that this affects the decisions a person will
make later in life. If you feed this into your characters it will add kick to
your story.
– The connection a child has with a place has been described as a ‘primal
landscape,’ and psychologists say that this affects the decisions a person will
make later in life. If you feed this into your characters it will add kick to
your story.
How have you created a Sense
of Place with you writing?
of Place with you writing?
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| F.C. Malby |
F.C. Malby is a short story
author and a novelist. Her debut novel, ‘Take Me to the Castle,’ is released
this week on Amazon in paperback and on kindle. The book is set in Prague and
Letovice, in the Czech Republic, during the fall of communism.
author and a novelist. Her debut novel, ‘Take Me to the Castle,’ is released
this week on Amazon in paperback and on kindle. The book is set in Prague and
Letovice, in the Czech Republic, during the fall of communism.
You can find F.C.Malby on:
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for hosting today. I really enjoyed putting the post together. The idea of a Sense of Place is so important for writers good books.
Elizabeth – Thank you for hosting F.C.
F.C. – You’re so right that a sense of place adds much to a story. And it goes beyond mere physical description. You can even weave it into the way characters act, dress and think (e.g. characters wear different shoes in the woods from the shoes they wear to a party). Thanks for your ideas.
Margot, that’s a good point. Clothing gives the reader some clues about the characters. I’m imagining some dark woods!
F.C.–Thanks so much for guest posting today. And thanks for your tips. I especially like your point about adding details to make a place real, and having characters identify with a location to help readers relate to it, too. Great tips!
I totally agree with you. When I am reading I need to be transported to the world of the novel to understand the characters fully and react with empathy or otherwise. People might like to read my last post on the subject too, where a place can even be more like a character. Thanks for the post.
That’s the joy of a great novel, you feel that you are there with the characters when you can feel the setting. Can you add a link to your post? I’d like to read it. Thanks, Diana.
We moved to Colorado after over 30 years in Florida. I think being a ‘newcomer’ helps when describing a place, because nothing is taken for granted. Shortly after we moved, I knew I had to write a book set in my new home territory, because I saw everything with fresh eyes.
Terry
Terry’s Place
I got better at that by my second book. (I think.) I learned to engage all five senses more often.
Yes, it’s really important to engage in the sensory details. Readers often enjoy books with details of taste and scent. Think ‘Chocolat,’ you can almost taste the creations in the writing.
Hi Terry, Colorado is absolutely beautiful in the winter (and a fantastic place for skiing and snowboarding). I wrote my book when we moved to central Europe. You are right that a new place can be inspirational for your writing. I would be really interested to hear about your book.
Thank you for your kind wishes, Stephen. What kind of book are you writing? Google Earth is brilliant.
Thank you for your kind wishes, Stephen. What kind of book are you writing? Google Earth is brilliant.
It’s great to meet F.C. and best wishes for her success!
I use Google Earth often. Amazing how you can zoom in on an establishment you want to sue in your book and get really fine details you would not know without personally visiting the place.