Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Mon, Jun 14 2010
(How) are you going to eat that?
We live near several communities that express the state of the economy in very different ways. One community has been hard-hit by the downturn, with many residents being farm workers or laborers. We live not far from another community that includes residents with a better-than-modest income, including many who drive luxury cars and shop at upscale stores. One can't help but notice the contrast. One group turns heavily toward inexpensive fast food and dollar/discount stores, while the other group chooses more boutiques and upscale restaurants. Don't misunderstand me. There's plenty of crossover and many wealthy people got that way partly by shopping for bargains. But the nuances show up when you spend a whole day shopping in one or the other of these communities.
I started thinking about the little things that make a setting stand out in a novel or short story. A character might be able to order from a taco stand with ease, choosing deftly from an array of salsas and condiments that would confuse a person accustomed to formal wait service. On the other hand, a character who rarely ventures outside the world of wine stewards and napkins that have been refolded when you return from the rest room might have to watch the locals eat before he or she could navigate the likes of a hot dog cart. A well-traveled character might be equally at home with picnics or high tea. And what about a character who has rarely been exposed to any sort of food outside home at all? How would he or she handle a trip to a soup-and-salad bar? A few words about the way characters are approaching food is a subtle way to let readers have a hint of characters' history without interrupting the flow of the story.
posted at: 15:59 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
We live near several communities that express the state of the economy in very different ways. One community has been hard-hit by the downturn, with many residents being farm workers or laborers. We live not far from another community that includes residents with a better-than-modest income, including many who drive luxury cars and shop at upscale stores. One can't help but notice the contrast. One group turns heavily toward inexpensive fast food and dollar/discount stores, while the other group chooses more boutiques and upscale restaurants. Don't misunderstand me. There's plenty of crossover and many wealthy people got that way partly by shopping for bargains. But the nuances show up when you spend a whole day shopping in one or the other of these communities.
I started thinking about the little things that make a setting stand out in a novel or short story. A character might be able to order from a taco stand with ease, choosing deftly from an array of salsas and condiments that would confuse a person accustomed to formal wait service. On the other hand, a character who rarely ventures outside the world of wine stewards and napkins that have been refolded when you return from the rest room might have to watch the locals eat before he or she could navigate the likes of a hot dog cart. A well-traveled character might be equally at home with picnics or high tea. And what about a character who has rarely been exposed to any sort of food outside home at all? How would he or she handle a trip to a soup-and-salad bar? A few words about the way characters are approaching food is a subtle way to let readers have a hint of characters' history without interrupting the flow of the story.
posted at: 15:59 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
