Category Archives: creating setting

COMING SOON ~ Book Two of the Peace in the Mountains collection

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Connie Stevens

BUILDING BOOK TWO FROM BOOK ONE When you discover the book you just purchased is actually part of a series and the book in your hands is Book Two, do you set it aside so you can read Book One … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian highlands, Breath of Water, creating characters, creating setting, fictional characters, historical fiction, JOURNEY OF PEACE, new release | Leave a comment

SETTING — Is it a place you want to visit?

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Connie Stevens

Have you ever been so pulled into a story that you felt you’ve “been there” before? You’ve walked down that street, you’ve inhaled the fragrance of baking bread from bakery at the corner, you’ve heard the rumble of the train … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, Breath of Water, creating characters, creating setting, Description, new release, setting as a character, setting details, settings | Leave a comment

THE ART OF DESCRIPTION

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Connie Stevens

Authors have debated for years over how much description to insert in a scene. Description is a lot like seasoning in a stew. If the stew lacks seasoning, it’s bland and uninteresting. But if you shake too much seasoning into … Continue reading →

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SETTING DETAILS — Where am I?

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Connie Stevens

There is an expression used in fiction writing–“talking heads.” It means a character is speaking, his lines of dialogue are there, but the reader has no idea what this character looks like. Is he tall, short, fat, skinny, does he … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, conflicting emotions, creating setting, fictional characters, historic details, readers, Relatable characters, secondary characters, setting details, settings | Leave a comment

WHEN RESEARCH GETS IN THE WAY

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Connie Stevens

Have you ever read a book and found a glaring error? I’m not talking about a misspelled word or a grammar mistake. How does it make you feel as a reader if the author has obviously not done her research … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, cemeteries, creating setting, fictional characters, historic details, historical fiction, readers, Research, Research for fiction, settings, unexpected plot twists | Leave a comment

NEW AND OLD

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Connie Stevens

As excited as I am when a new book releases, I am every bit as excited when my publisher releases some of my previous books as a three-in-one repack. Okay, I’m just a little over-the-moon giddy! New: In October, the … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, Brides of Georgia, conflicting emotions, creating characters, creating setting, fictional characters, Harbinger of Healing, historic details, historical fiction, New releases, north Georgia fiction, novella collection, Trail of Tears, War Between The States | Leave a comment

RESEARCH BOOKS–oh my!

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Connie Stevens

In my last post I offered some suggestions for research sources, so in keeping with the research theme, I’d like to focus the spotlight a little tighter. While some of the best information can be gleaned from speaking directly with … Continue reading →

Posted in character's occupations, creating setting, historic details, historical fiction, Research books, Research for fiction, writing tools | Leave a comment

NAVIGATING THE RESEARCH JOURNEY

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Connie Stevens

When you’re a writer, research is part of the job. But here is the thing: some writers would rather have root canal surgery than endure what they consider the drudgery of research. I, on the other hand, am one of … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, character's occupations, creating setting, historic details, historical fiction, Research for fiction, World War I, writing tools | Leave a comment

SECONDARY CHARACTERS–Who are they?

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Connie Stevens

When writers brainstorm a story, their focus is usually on the main characters—who are they, what are their goals and motivations, what makes them tick, where are they going, and how are they going to get there? But more often … Continue reading →

Posted in backdrop for characters, character photos, creating characters, creating setting, fictional characters, historical fiction, minor characters, names of fictional characters, point of view, secondary characters | Leave a comment

SETTING–a character in itself

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Connie Stevens

One of the questions writers get asked the most—after “How do you come up with your story ideas?”—is, how does an author decide where to place a story. Recently, an email from my agent prompted me to consider that question … Continue reading →

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