We are all in a certain place at a specific moment in time. As you may have guessed I love using images in writing and creating a sense of place. Scenes in fiction have to be set somewhere; not only does setting characterise it can also dramatise a piece of writing. Setting can make your fictional world more convincing for your reader. It gives it life. If the setting is strong enough it sometimes becomes a character in its own right. In The Road To Somewhere, Helen Newall sums up setting in the following: “If narrative is a journey, character being the driver, and plot the vehicle, then setting is the scenery along the way.” And where would we be without scenery? Below are some pictures I’ve taken over the past few years that have sparked ideas. Take a look at what’s around you and whether there is a story hiding, 9 times out of 10 there will be.
I am aware that the concept of time and place is very strong in my writing, not just fiction but poetry too (see Stories And Such). Setting is an important part of my current piece. Cormorano is all about Liverpool. I want the reader to feel as if they have been placed right in the centre of Liverpool, to feel the hope and spirit. Cormorano is just as much about our beloved city as it is about the war. I want the setting to not just create character but enhance the narrative, and be the main connection between me, the writer, and you, my reader. See Current Novel section for more.
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Nicola Williams 