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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Set the Scene in Six Sentences - Sunday






One of the finest aspects of fiction writing is the ability to set the scene.  Characters act and react, but they don't do so in a vacuum.  In their world, they meet, fall in love, solve problems, sometimes horrendous problems.  Maybe it's a small town, maybe the big city, the green, humid jungle, dust-dry desert, a mountainous region.  On the sea.  Under the sea.  In space! 

Setting the scene is also done by using character dialogue to paint a picture of loveliness, danger, evil, trepidation, excitement, awe...

Give us six sentences that set the scene.  Set the Scene in Six Sentences - Sunday is a new opportunity on the Exquisite Quills! Blog to tout your talent.  How have you set the scene in your books?  How have you put the reader into the life of your characters?

Every Sunday, the blog will be open to six-sentence scene-setting.  Just post your six sentences, your name, and one link in the comment box.  We can't wait to read you!

Pass the word!  Open to all!

 

6 comments:

Rose Anderson said...

Six from Loving Leonardo - book 1 in a Victorian polyamorous love story with a touch of reader-interactive art history. Setting the Stage: Nicolas and Ellie invite Luca to discuss Leonardo da Vinci and realize they have more than one interest in common.
...............................................
I believe we were all aware of a sexual tension growing in the intellectual-rich loam. There were little things at play now: the way Ellie moistened her lips and looked at us with eyes that lingered from one to the other. The way Luca's irises had darkened from snow shadow to moon shadow as he looked upon her. The way I'd catch myself with a reminder to breathe as my eye was drawn to these small distinctions. Like da Vinci's sfumato, our mutual attraction hung in the air, and I was struck by the notion that the smoky quality depicted in his art was desire. Desire like this.
..............................................
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LS3H6Q
http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

Rosemary Gemmell said...

This is from my Victorian novella, Mischief at Mulberry Manor by Romy Gemmell.

All thoughts of sleep banished, Maryanne climbed from the high bed and gathered a woollen shawl around her nightgown. Pushing aside any fear or reservations about being abroad in her aunt’s house in the middle of the night, she lit the remains of the tallow candle and carefully opened her door.

At first, the corridor appeared empty in the dim light and Maryanne sighed in relief. No doubt the talk of ghosts played on her mind and woke her from a dream. She had no sooner decided to return to her room when a movement caught the corner of her eye and she quickly turned back to the length of corridor.

She stared as a man turned from the door of Emily and Charlotte’s room and silently moved towards a door at the furthest end of the corridor.

http://tinyurl.com/q3h8zqe

Kaye Spencer said...

This six-sentence-scene is from my western romance (novella) 'The Comanchero's Bride', which is on my website as a complimentary pdf download. I'm reworking this story as a full-length novel and plan to Indie-publish it.


This scene is a continuation from the scene I shared last Sunday (Oct 13). The H&h are on horseback and on the run from the villain, riding through the throes of a prairie blizzard. They have made it to a dugout where they have protection from the storm.

***

Mingo put his arm around Isabel's waist, dragged her to her feet, and staggered with her the few yards to the earthen dugout. They had to duck through a low overhang then go down several steps to the door, but once they were inside there was more than enough ceiling height for them to stand straight.

The familiar aroma of musty, stale dust and the rank smell of weeks-old cold wood smoke hit Mingo’s nose. Surrounded by absolute darkness, relief washed over him as he absorbed the sudden remarkable calm. It was an eerie stillness after enduring so many hours of relentless wind and snow. His skin prickled, and his scalp tingled with the temperature change.

Rita said...

First Six Sentences Setting the Scene of Under Fire, a Romantic Suspense with a military heroine.

“We have a visual on the boat.” Coast Guard Lt. Commander Olivia Carver’s gloved fingers tightened around the helicopter’s control stick and she increased airspeed. The chase was on.
Olivia’s heartbeat matched the tempo of the rotors. Sweat bonded her flight suit to her body and trickled between her breasts. Counter-narcotics had become her reason for existing and she was damn good at it.

Amazon http://tinyurl.com/ln6o7zy

Unknown said...

This scene is from my newest novella, Autumn Masquerade by Gemma Juliana.

Anna arrived at Judith’s palatial mansion in the most exclusive neighborhood of San Francisco. The woman lived like a queen of a European country during the Renaissance. Tonight it would feel even more so, with everyone dressed up in costumes and period pieces.

She reached out to ring the doorbell. Just before she touched it the tall imposing double doors opened silently. A butler bowed and welcomed her, gesturing her toward Judith’s private office.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00G0KY77Q

Jenna Galicki said...

Six sentences from my contemporary romance, Jealousy. In this modern day Will & Grace meets Sex & the City, two best friends struggle to find love.
***
Justin lay on the cold, hard operating table with his arms outstretched. He looked like he
was being crucified. A large round light blared down on him, like a giant sun. A nurse methodically attached an IV to his right arm and another strapped a blood pressure cuff to his left. A third nurse hooked him up to an EKG machine, and yet another nurse counted out surgical instruments and placed them on a tray. The light reflected off of the highly polished implements like a mirror, and temporarily blinded him.
****
Amazon: http://amzn.to/H1gRx2