Dancing Word Writing Workshop

with Lena Nelson Dooley

May 19, 2009

 

 

Hosted by Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat transcript has been edited for clarity

Anne McDonald: okies, let's get started. I'm going to open in prayer, go over protocol, and then introduce our guest.

Lord, thank You for loving us so much. Thanks for the opportunities we have to be Your hands and feet in this broken world. Please minister to each workshop participant tonight. Help each of us learn more about the craft of writing. Be with those who are in the path of violent weather. Please protect them, and draw them closer to You. Please be with our special guest as well. Bless her socks off. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Protocol reminder: when the floor is open to questions, please raise your hand by typing ? for questions, ! for comments and wait to be called on in turn... 

To keep us from stepping on each others' toes, please type ga when you have finished "speaking." GA = go ahead.  

Tonight, I'm excited to introduce our professor...Lena Nelson Dooley. Lena, could you give us a brief background on how you got started? 

* Annie leads the applause 

Lena Nelson Dooley: The Lord told me to become a professional writer in 1984. I finished writing my first novel in 1985. It didn't sell until 1992. My second novel came out in 2002. Since then I've had 18 book releases.  

Anne McDonald: Lena, how did you first get interested in writing? You work in a bookstore?  

Lena Nelson Dooley: I've always written things. I didn't know everyone didn't write until I was grown and married. 

Lukedamouse: What does your writing space look like?  

Lena Nelson Dooley: After my daughters married and left home, I turned one of their bedrooms into an office. It has two desks, one with a credenza. I have 2 - 4 drawer file cabinets and 1 - 2 drawer file cabinet. I also have book cases and cabinets, and some stacks of things.  

Anne McDonald: Let’s get the workshop started. Lena, I'm turning the floor over to you. 

*Annie focuses the spotlight on Lena and takes a seat 

Lena Nelson Dooley: Okay. What I'll do is keep adding information to the chat. I'll let you know when I'm ready for questions. I host a critique group in my home and have for over 20 years. You’d be surprised to see how many people bring a very good story, filled with emotion and conflict, but completely bareof setting. That’s what I call “talking heads, bare stage.”

What is setting? It’s the description of the place surrounding characters. Many elements make up setting.Time is part of the setting. In a contemporary novel, the time is present day, and in a historical novel, it denotes the time period. In the book, it could be winter, summer, autumn, or spring, or the book could span all the seasons. Each of these elements adds to the fabric of the story. 

Place should be revealed early in each scene. Does the scene take place indoors or out? There are a lot of varying settings that paint your book. Another important element is the weather. And weather can add to the tone of the book. Some authors use the setting almost as another character in the book. One that comes to mind immediately is my friend Colleen Coble. Study her work to see how she uses these elements. 

Why do we need setting? It anchors the reader in a time and place. It enhances the story whether a dark mystery, a tender love story, a family tragedy, or a myriad of other scenarios. How should you use setting?

 

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