Review: Excellent how-to
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 28, 2012
I have long been a proponent for using specific details in writing setting. My initial plotting process relies on researching where my story occurs. Once I have that, I can move forward. After reading Writing Active Setting, I learned the reasons why these specifics are so important to draw a reader into a story--how characterization is deepened, subtext added, and point of view enhanced. The line-by-line analyses of published works are easy to follow and provided great explanations for what the author hoped to achieve. The assignments proved helpful in demonstrating the craft techniques of how a writer can flesh out the setting details to go from skimpy first draft to layered final draft. This book is a must read for writers wishing to hone their craft on creating rich settings.