by Bethany Jett, @BetJett

I host a weekly online show called Writers Chat and yesterday’s topic was how to create setting in our stories. The tips were so great I had to share with our Blue Ridge community. Creating great scenes is not only for fiction writers. Whether you’re writing a novel, an article, or devotion, we have to develop our skills in drawing in our readers. One way we can do that is to make our reader feel like they are right in the middle of the story.

11 Ways to Create a Sense of Place

1. Food

Each region is known for stereotypical foods…for a reason. If your character lives in the South, there is a good chance that Sunday dinner is fried chicken, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. A character from California is probably snacking on avocados or something organic. My mom recently got back from a trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada and lobster is a main element in their cuisine.

You don’t have to be extremely stereotypical with the cuisine in your books, but it is important to know the “rules” regarding food and drink. For example, sweet tea in the South is some of the best tea you’ll ever drink, unless you live “not in the South” and iced tea comes unsweetened…a shocker if you’re expecting it full of sugar!

Sprinkling in some local or common food novelties adds authenticity and allows your readers from that region to be nodding along with you as they read.

2. Dialect

There’s always a caution with overusing dialect. If words are intentionally misspelled to create the rhythm of the voice, it can distract the reader from what is being said. I can’t remember the name of the book, but there was a story that I wanted to read so badly but every other sentence took me forever to sound out. I had no idea what the character was saying. It would have been so much easier if one or two phrases had been spotlighted.

A great way to include dialect is to use popular words or phrases. Some places in the Northeast use the term “Hon.” Coastal phrases include “dude” and “bro.” Your word choice is also dependent upon the age of your character. Yes, teens say “like” alllllll the time. Casual conversations call for contractions. A tenured professor may never use one. Simple tweaks to the word choices can really develop a style of speech for your characters.

3. Do your Research

If you don’t live in the area or can’t visit the place that is the setting of your story, there are some great ways to find out information. Google is your friend. Type in the state, country, or city you’re writing about and add keywords like “events, nightlife, tourism, things to do” etc. A lot of places have Buzzfeed articles or Top Ten Things to Do in _______. My favorite are the “25 Things Only a Floridian Would Know” (or fill in the blank with any location).

You can also find someone (or a group of people) who live in the area and interview them. Facebook is a great place to find people sorted by location and you can even create a Facebook group based on the setting of your story. One of our own Blue Ridge Conference members, the awesome Molly Jo Realy, has done just that and has built a strong community of people who are dedicated to finding fun facts and taking great pictures of New Orleans. It’s a FAN-tastic idea and a great way to foster excitement. If you have a love for café and beignet, join the NOLA Swarm Facebook group.

Be sure to catch our next two installments on how to deepen your writing by creating a sense of place.

[reminder]How do you create the setting in your stories?[/reminder]

Bethany Jett is an award-winning author of The Cinderella Rule, speaker, ghostwriter, and founder of JETTsetter Ink, a consulting and editing company. She has written for numerous publications, created the My Moments Planner, Serious Writer Companion, and is the founder of Serious Writer Academy and the Build Your Brand Program. Her newest work, Through the Eyes of Hope releases January 2017.

Bethany is a military wife and all-boys-mama who is addicted to suspense novels and all things girly. She writes on living a brilliant life at BethanyJett.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest,  Instagram (new profile), and Twitter.