O. S. King

• Do you think being queer means that interpreting environments becomes more antagonistic rather than fluid as most spaces are not constructed through the queer lens? Does it matter?
• What is scene setting? Do you think your story and genre has more to say about how you describe a scene?
• Whose perspective is this, why do they perceive the environment as it is, why does it matter? How is it affecting the protagonist? What kinds of problems are created by the lack of setting a scene?

Writing exercise – pick one!

• Pick a character from a film, book or TV series and write them walking into Brighton train station having just come off a train.
• Write a paragraph using the five senses, body language, and the internal thoughts of the viewpoint character to describe a cafe or chosen venue.
• Have your character write a fun or quirky list of things that they imagined happened in the new apartment they moved into.
• Write a scene where your main character is in a setting they have difficulty comprehending.

• Developing a scene
• Starting a strong scene in a novel can be crucial to capturing the reader’s attention and keeping them engaged. Here are some tips:
• Start with action: use action that immediately draws the reader in – physical, emotional, or even a piece of dialogue. Starting with action can create an immediate sense of tension and urgency.
• Set the scene: by providing details about the setting, the characters, and the overall atmosphere. Use sensory details to tactically create a vivid image. Do you want your reader to feel they are there in the midst of everything or as an observer?
• Create conflict: sometimes conflict between the character and their environment can ramp up the overall tension in your writing.
• Use vivid language: that engages the reader’s senses and emotions.
• End with a hook (depending on genre): have your characters changed in how they perceive their environment? Most times our interpretation of an environment varies when it is novel compared to something we are used to.

Happy Writing!