IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: SETTING AS CHARACTER

From Anne Rice’s haunted, gothic mansions to Fitzgerald’s desolate valley of ashes, the setting of a story can be just as iconic and vibrant as the characters in it. In the hands of a savvy writer, the setting of a story should take on a life of its own, one that not only immerses readers in the world but that also adds to the ambience and increases the conflict. Join Constance Adler, whose novel Sight Unseen begins in a lush New Orleans garden on the eve of the infamous May 8, 1995 flood; Ery Shin, author of Spring on the Peninsula, a poignant meditation on modern life in Seoul; and Adrian Van Young, author of the Midnight Self, which transports the reader from harrowing outer space to twisting labyrinths as they reveal the key to building grounded worlds and lively locations. In this discussion, suitable for aspiring and experienced writers alike, we’ll dig deep into the craft of setting, finding fresh insights as well as strategies for getting the most out of this essential narrative tool. Moderated by Allison Alsup, author of Foreign Seed.