tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post3404815766979268457..comments2023-11-30T07:21:38.040-08:00Comments on Writers in Residence: Story Telling—Yet More Thoughts on Setting by M.M. GornellBonnieShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12642142065722406733noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-68371030803077266562015-05-01T17:55:14.666-07:002015-05-01T17:55:14.666-07:00I might be a tad envious she's in London... (s...I might be a tad envious she's in London... (smile) Thanks for the note, Gayle.M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-40948070869645616732015-05-01T14:17:46.096-07:002015-05-01T14:17:46.096-07:00Madeline, Rosemary tried to post a comment from Lo...Madeline, Rosemary tried to post a comment from London, but couldn't get it to work. She will post when she gets back to the States.GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-48739102748220046202015-04-30T18:51:07.838-07:002015-04-30T18:51:07.838-07:00A Bird's Eye View of Murder (love the color of...A Bird's Eye View of Murder (love the color of the cover) has been sitting on the table by my reading chair waiting for the perfect time far too long. I need a Frankie Chandler fix--need some smiling, and you always do that for me. So the "thank you" is right back at you!<br />M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-11087976467673261042015-04-30T10:50:34.703-07:002015-04-30T10:50:34.703-07:00I have always been amazed by the settings in your ...I have always been amazed by the settings in your books. How they take on the aspect of another character. Thank you for may great reads!Jacqueline Vickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17066655287551999883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-82839650511267496372015-04-30T06:32:18.915-07:002015-04-30T06:32:18.915-07:00That's a good point, Miko. Setting needs to be...That's a good point, Miko. Setting needs to be there for a reason, and that reason dictates the length and type of description. In my case, I've found my editors are an excellent source for"quality versus quantity." Easy to get lost in jungle!M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-41592188205193603212015-04-30T06:02:44.618-07:002015-04-30T06:02:44.618-07:00Your excellent blog post added to the conversation...Your excellent blog post added to the conversation about settings. Ironically, I just beta-read a short story filled with beautiful, evocative descriptions of a tropical paradise. I felt like I was there, and yet in this case the author's settings overwhelmed the story - her character's arc, as well as the reader, got lost in the jungle, so to speak. So I'll add the caveat: it's all about balance. Focus on quality, not quantity.Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-52788360795746836632015-04-29T17:36:37.956-07:002015-04-29T17:36:37.956-07:00Thank you, Paul! Your kind words are much apprecia...Thank you, Paul! Your kind words are much appreciated. I think I learn a little more each book, about writing, about myself, and what I want to convey. In Rhodes, there's a "dreamsycle(sp) orange" sunset which while I was writing, took me back to childhood and waiting for the Good Humor (sp) truck--boy am I dating myself! I was in Barstow today,.. Thank you so much for stopping by!M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-30323668285228499362015-04-29T15:06:13.439-07:002015-04-29T15:06:13.439-07:00Madeline, you do know of whence you speak. Just fi...Madeline, you do know of whence you speak. Just finished A Counsel of Ravens and it brought back so many memories of my high school days in Barstow. The sunsets were glorious. Well done. Paul mindprinterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874142522106185186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-37102855910898057632015-04-29T10:42:49.835-07:002015-04-29T10:42:49.835-07:00That is so true, Marja. I can see pictures and de...That is so true, Marja. I can see pictures and details of my writing in my own mind, but maybe for my readers it is blurry, like binoculars with Vaseline smeared on the lens, or a hall of mirrors. or worse, a blind man stumbling along without his white cane.Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-32411031151403073332015-04-29T10:30:18.969-07:002015-04-29T10:30:18.969-07:00You know the first time I drove through this area,...You know the first time I drove through this area, Patricia, before we moved here from Puget Sound, I thought it was sooooo ugly! Funny, that.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-4346012133792289262015-04-29T10:26:32.247-07:002015-04-29T10:26:32.247-07:00Madeline,
I love the way you use setting in your n...Madeline,<br />I love the way you use setting in your novels. When I'm reading, I feel as if I'm there - in the Mojave Desert. But, since I'm really not, I hope to travel there some day. Patricia Gligor's Writers Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801554698484928100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-9317479615355814522015-04-29T10:18:56.538-07:002015-04-29T10:18:56.538-07:00I recently read How Now Purple Cow and I can still...I recently read How Now Purple Cow and I can still that house and the stairs (don't want to give anything away) and the restaurant. So not to worry, you certainly took me there. Your comment, though, did hit on a thought I've often remind myself. A reader can't see the picture inside my head, and need a few hints to develop there own setting picture. It's hard...<br /><br />Hope to see you again sometime soon.M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-75718637962166875592015-04-29T10:13:41.530-07:002015-04-29T10:13:41.530-07:00Marilyn, starting to think about the PSWA Conferen...Marilyn, starting to think about the PSWA Conference in July, and already getting excited, especially to see you. It's been awhile. Yes, I'll bring copies to the conference, and there will be a signed one for you, for sure! M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-3765251134161247962015-04-29T10:11:54.271-07:002015-04-29T10:11:54.271-07:00I know we're kindred spirits when it comes to ...I know we're kindred spirits when it comes to setting/location Gayle. And that 's what I love about your Johnny Casino Casebook series, I feel like I'm there, in that milieu--Hollywood and LA. You clearly "get" setting, and like what Bonnie said earlier, you "practice what you preach."M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-20869202416025857872015-04-29T10:01:00.140-07:002015-04-29T10:01:00.140-07:00I am overwhelmed, Jackie, that you got up at 1:30 ...I am overwhelmed, Jackie, that you got up at 1:30 and finished my book. But what's buoyed me up the most is that you retained "pictures" from the book. I've done that with several books I've read, and they've stayed with me over the years. One was Fire Horses by R.J. Haig--and I can still see those horses. I'm so flattered you "saw" Shine, and retained the image. Thank you!!<br /><br />(and yeah, you're right, "smelling the roses" could be smelling a garbage pit!)M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-58563609134529340392015-04-29T09:53:40.391-07:002015-04-29T09:53:40.391-07:00Bonnie, you can't know how good it makes me fe...Bonnie, you can't know how good it makes me feel that you appreciated the sunsets. One of my editors thought I over indulged in those descriptions, and she may be right--but just one comment like yours is so gratifying... Thank you, for your kind words!M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-28813069576340107862015-04-29T09:50:08.258-07:002015-04-29T09:50:08.258-07:00Excellent post, Madeline, and you make me feel lik...Excellent post, Madeline, and you make me feel like I've cheated on the settings in some stories. I need to pay more attention and remember that the reader can't see what I see without establishing the setting. Thank you!<br />Marja McGrawMarjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09528164359512905392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-8599526141727007132015-04-29T09:30:21.932-07:002015-04-29T09:30:21.932-07:00I have got to read that latest book of yours! Soun...I have got to read that latest book of yours! Sounds wonderful. Hope you'll have it at PSWA conference.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-57155756035106546802015-04-29T08:47:56.302-07:002015-04-29T08:47:56.302-07:00Just like Emily Dickinson wrote: "There is no...Just like Emily Dickinson wrote: "There is no frigate like a book to take us Lands away." Your thoughts on setting are spot-on, Madeline, especially when you said the writer must allow the reader to "feel your protagonist's world." Excellent advice.GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-7293847662235334892015-04-29T08:06:16.002-07:002015-04-29T08:06:16.002-07:00No wonder you write the desert so well, Madeline, ...No wonder you write the desert so well, Madeline, with that vision from your kitchen window every day! I finished RHODES last night - actually I put it down just before the last section at about 10:00, then awoke at 1:30 am to read the rest! The desert, town, castle (with its amazing, evocative rooms), and that fateful stretch of highway (as well as the Lookout) are still clear in my mind. I tend to skip over setting in my writing in favor of plot, but you have taught me to slow down, look around (smell the roses or garbage pit, if you will) and consider them a character. Thanks!Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-70661201131409407242015-04-29T07:13:57.678-07:002015-04-29T07:13:57.678-07:00Madeline, you clearly "practice what you prea...Madeline, you clearly "practice what you preach." I've just begun reading RHODES THE MOJAVE-STONE" and the visuals you give us of the desert, especially that breathtaking sunset, made me feel like I was there along with the character. And her appreciation of that sunset made me appreciate HER more and gave insight to her character as well.BonnieShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12642142065722406733noreply@blogger.com