Convincing Setting

[nagarjuna]

I have a question about setting. I am working on a novel which is set in a sort of semi-dystopian post-apocalyptic world, in which the main character and his family are essentially outcasts wandering in the wilderness. The world itself is under the thumb of a very powerful theocracy. The story involves the two settings (the outcasts, and the world) coming together in pretty violent conflict.

The only problem is it doesn't work. Wherever a part of the story is set, I can't seem to include enough background detail, character quirks, or back story to make the setting convincing. It feels like a play where the actors are good and there's a lot of dialogue, but the set is minimalistic. How do I breathe some life into a story like this?

[Mercy]

Personally, I would just concentrate on finishing the story first, then going back and adding details. Thinking about what mood your characters in, what's about to happen, etc, get help with the description of the setting.

[Majyk]

Sometimes when I really get going, I forget about anything except dialogue (or action, if I'm doing an action scene). It's bad of me (I hate it when I do that), but I know I'll just go back and add movement, description, and anything else I forgot in later. So I agree with Mercy. I would just focus on finishing and stuff, then when you read it back, add in things you forgot.

[Andy]

nagarjuna,

I sort of write the same way. I barely describe anything during my first draft, and focus almost exclusively on characters and dialogue, and the objects they interact with. It works for me, though, because I often find I want to change parts of the story, and if I spent a lot of effort describing things, then those descriptions might end up getting tossed. By the time of the second draft, the backstory is usually better, and descriptions less likely to be thrown out, so the time wasn't wasted.

For background details, try to think about:
- the weather and how it affects characters. It could affect the plot a lot. IE, heavy rain could be good for escapes.
- what the landscape's like, and how your characters will take advantage of it. A city: dark alleys. A forest: animals to hunt, and rivers to drink from, etc.

For backstories:
- I do a lot of writing in the past. Some days I just brainstorm things that happen long before my main story ever happens. You could try treating them as though they're not part of your main story at all, with a clean slate. And then see if you can tweak it to make it relevant to your real story. One of my characters is a runaway slave from a foreign land. Seems lame and irrelevant at first. Clean slate. But later the place he ran away from allies itself with the real bad guys, and his knowledge of the place plays a key role in defeating it. ;)

For character quirks: Use real life. I've got a character who snores loudly and talks in his sleep. See what habits your friends have, and then change them a little. If you know someone who's obsessed with Twilight, think about making a character who's absolutely obsessed with old tales and stories.

Good luck.

[nagarjuna]

- I do a lot of writing in the past. Some days I just brainstorm things that happen long before my main story ever happens. You could try treating them as though they're not part of your main story at all, with a clean slate. And then see if you can tweak it to make it relevant to your real story. One of my characters is a runaway slave from a foreign land. Seems lame and irrelevant at first. Clean slate. But later the place he ran away from allies itself with the real bad guys, and his knowledge of the place plays a key role in defeating it. ;)

My story is very much like this. The first book (of three) consists of about four different stories, seemingly unrelated--only one of which involves the protagonist at all. It seems awkward, but maybe it will pull itself together in the long run. I hope so; like you said, I'll just write the first draft through and compensate later.

Good luck.

Thank you.

[Bowie20049]

Isn't the protagonist just the main main character of a story? So like if we write about the devil, he's the protagonist while let's just say God, is the antagonist?

[Andy]

Isn't the protagonist just the main main character of a story? So like if we write about the devil, he's the protagonist while let's just say God, is the antagonist?
Yes.