How do you add atmosphere?

ink wench · Jan 25, 2007

Hi all, what do you do to give your story atmosphere or mood, etc.? Here's my problem... I wanted my WIP to have a certain feel to it, mainly rather dark and dangerous. I tried doing this several ways
1) By making it part of the story. My characters tend to have well-founded fears of ghosts, malevolent or mischievous fairies, and the plot itself is dark.
2) By choosing apropriate verbs or adjetives.
3) By adopting a specific voice, which is something I've never consciously done before.

It worked, sort of, some of the time. There are scenes though that just didn't seem to lend themselves to that sort of 'treatment' and the feel doesn't come off as very consistent. I assumed from the beginning that I would need to smooth it out during the edits (my first drafts are very bare bones anyway), but it's far more difficult than I'd thought it would be.

So, I guess my question is, what else am I missing? How do you create mood and how do you sustain it even through the 'different' scenes (e.g. inserting humor in a tragedy, or a love scene in a horror, that sort of thing)? Thanks!

jerrymouse · Jan 25, 2007

use all your senses when you write. see, hear, feel and smell the things around your characters.
to get the right mood choose things that are associated with what ever mood you are trying to counjure. wet gravel vrs silk pyjamas

jodiodi · Jan 25, 2007

What jerrymouse said.

I write what my characters tell me and I know everything they feel, see, hear, smell, taste and think. Just put yourself in their place and experience it then write it down.

You seem to have a good handle on the mechanics of it from your OP.

Good luck.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 25, 2007

Atmosphere

I think mood and tone are two of the more important aspects of good writing, and two of the most neglected. I've read a ton of books on the subject, I've even taken classes on it, but I'm darned if I can really say how to do it.

Mood and tone come from setting, word choice, sentence rhythm, and description, but for me, it's a feel as you go sort of thing. You have to see the story and the setting. Mood and tone are atmosphere, and they invoke the emotion of the story. For me, it boils down to setting and description, more than anything else, but it's all in the details.

Cath · Jan 25, 2007

I agree with James. For me, word choice and sentence structure are essential tools for creating mood. Not just the meaning of the words, but how they look on the page and how they sound (aloud and in your head). Think Under Milk Wood for a great way of using words to evoke mood (and yes, I know it's a play, but I still think it holds true).

farfromfearless · Jan 25, 2007

A Barry White album, a bottle of red wine and some candles.

CaroGirl · Jan 25, 2007

I agree that atmosphere is in the details. And in the senses. Imagine it, feel it, and write it.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 25, 2007

Cath said:
Think Under Milk Wood for a great way of using words to evoke mood (and yes, I know it's a play, but I still think it holds true).

Um, yes, good example. I also think many horror novels and gothic novels are pretty good examples. For an old and free one, I think Bram Stoker's Dracula does a pretty fair job of setting mood and tone.

ink wench · Jan 25, 2007

use all your senses when you write. see, hear, feel and smell the things around your characters.
to get the right mood choose things that are associated with what ever mood you are trying to counjure. wet gravel vrs silk pyjamas

Yup, I try to do that, but it's worth looking at the problem areas with a more critical eye to this. Thanks.

Mood and tone come from setting, word choice, sentence rhythm, and description, but for me, it's a feel as you go sort of thing. You have to see the story and the setting.

True. I wonder if that's part of my problem. I get very into my MC's head when I write, and it's in the scenes where she's not feeling oppressed that I have trouble maintaining the overall mood. Of course, since it's all from the MC's point of view (3rd, limited) maybe that makes sense then? When she's happy, the story seems lighter? Maybe I need to concentrate on sentence rhythm and voice, which seems less intrusive, more in these scenes.

I'll try to take a look at Under Milk Wood. I do have a copy of Dracula, so I'll consult that for sure. Thanks for the ideas everyone!

SpookyWriter · Jan 25, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
I think mood and tone are two of the more important aspects of good writing, and two of the most neglected. I've read a ton of books on the subject, I've even taken classes on it, but I'm darned if I can really say how to do it.

Mood and tone come from setting, word choice, sentence rhythm, and description, but for me, it's a feel as you go sort of thing. You have to see the story and the setting. Mood and tone are atmosphere, and they invoke the emotion of the story. For me, it boils down to setting and description, more than anything else, but it's all in the details.

Very good points. I agree. But I do also think the writer needs to be in a similar mood to express themselves into the narrative or description. Like the ambiance of a good horror story. How do other people imagine atmosphere when they are in a somewhat sterile environment?

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

I wouldn't know how to consciously and purposefully create a mood for a story. I don't think it'd matter how many times I said "I am going to write this story creepy," if it's a creepy story, it comes out creepy. Otherwise, it's something else.

SpookyWriter · Jan 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
I wouldn't know how to consciously and purposefully create a mood for a story. I don't think it'd matter how many times I said "I am going to write this story creepy," if it's a creepy story, it comes out creepy. Otherwise, it's something else.

How do you create atmosphere or mood for a creepy story when you live in a state where it never rains? See, I find mood and atmosphere from where I'm at for the moment -- like living in London and writing horror is so easy -- and find it difficult to draw a curtain around a creepy scene when it's sunny outside and 68 degrees in January. Errr...

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

SpookyWriter said:
How do you create atmosphere or mood for a creepy story when you live in a state where it never rains? See, I find mood and atmosphere from where I'm at for the moment -- like living in London and writing horror is so easy -- and find it difficult to draw a curtain around a creepy scene when it's sunny outside and 68 degrees in January. Errr...

To use creepy as an example, I can physically be sitting in my nearby park, with geese on the lake and bright sunshine and green grass (obviously not at THIS time of year)....but mentally, I'm rain and London pea-soup fog, and dirty cobblestones, and menace.

It's what being a writer's all about. I dont' have to have weather, music, or anything else to write. Hell, when I've written some disturbing scenes, my wife is next to me watching Deal or No Deal, or some such. It's all in my head.

jodiodi · Jan 25, 2007

SpookyWriter said:
How do you create atmosphere or mood for a creepy story when you live in a state where it never rains? See, I find mood and atmosphere from where I'm at for the moment -- like living in London and writing horror is so easy -- and find it difficult to draw a curtain around a creepy scene when it's sunny outside and 68 degrees in January. Errr...

Sometimes bright, sunshine-filled settings can be intensely creepy. There is something delightfully frightening about things appearing 'normal and happy' on the surface, but somehow not quite 'right'.

For example, using PeeDee's park, sunshine, geese on the lake and green grass, one chan have that setting but have the mc notice the little girl off to the side of the lake washing something in the water and the balloon she's holding is smeared with blood. Then she turns and looks at the MC and laughs, her mouth full of several rows of long, sharp, fang-like teeth. That would be creepy to me. (I know, it's a heavy-handed example, but you get my point, I hope.)

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

Thank you.

I'll just go ahead and sleep with the lights on tonight.

SpookyWriter · Jan 25, 2007

jodiodi said:
Sometimes bright, sunshine-filled settings can be intensely creepy. There is something delightfully frightening about things appearing 'normal and happy' on the surface, but somehow not quite 'right'.

For example, using PeeDee's park, sunshine, geese on the lake and green grass, one chan have that setting but have the mc notice the little girl off to the side of the lake washing something in the water and the balloon she's holding is smeared with blood. Then she turns and looks at the MC and laughs, her mouth full of several rows of long, sharp, fang-like teeth. That would be creepy to me. (I know, it's a heavy-handed example, but you get my point, I hope.)

Sounds like IT. But drawing on a creepy horror scene with a lake (not a lot of them in Phoenix) and ambiance or atmosphere helps if you don't live in the desert. I can write creepy horror stories in the right setting and under the right situations with nature playing a helping role.

But life in a sterile environment doesn't add mood or atmosphere to my horror stories. I need nature to help get me into the real creepy stuff.

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

SpookyWriter said:
Sounds like IT. But drawing on a creepy horror scene with a lake (not a lot of them in Phoenix) and ambiance or atmosphere helps if you don't live in the desert. I can write creepy horror stories in the right setting and under the right situations with nature playing a helping role.

But life in a sterile environment doesn't add mood or atmosphere to my horror stories. I need nature to help get me into the real creepy stuff.

I would hate to have to rely on my surroundings to let me write creepy, happy, tense, or anything else. Last night, I wrote six pages of a short story that had some deeply disturbing stuff in it...and I wrote it while sitting comfortably in my bookstore with the forums open and some light music going in the background.

If nothing else, I think this thread is making me more grateful for being able to do that...

SpookyWriter · Jan 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
I would hate to have to rely on my surroundings to let me write creepy, happy, tense, or anything else. Last night, I wrote six pages of a short story that had some deeply disturbing stuff in it...and I wrote it while sitting comfortably in my bookstore with the forums open and some light music going in the background.

If nothing else, I think this thread is making me more grateful for being able to do that...

Do you happen to live in the mid-west or east? Hmmm...I can do dallas dearly, but Phoenix for my horror (atmosphere) of my current wip(s) isn't cutting it. Try to imagine what a tree (forrest) looks like for a story when you're living in a desert. Difficult at best. What does pine smell like? Hmmm...

ink wench · Jan 25, 2007

For example, using PeeDee's park, sunshine, geese on the lake and green grass, one chan have that setting but have the mc notice the little girl off to the side of the lake washing something in the water and the balloon she's holding is smeared with blood. Then she turns and looks at the MC and laughs, her mouth full of several rows of long, sharp, fang-like teeth. That would be creepy to me. (I know, it's a heavy-handed example, but you get my point, I hope.)

Bwahahaha! Love it. Creepiness in the mundane, like evil in the mundane, is the creepiest of them all, imo.

Spooky, I can totally see how surroundings can help build a mood for your writing. I'm kinda the opposite though. I write best when I'm in a cheery place (mentally and physically) no matter what I'm trying to write.

I wouldn't know how to consciously and purposefully create a mood for a story. I don't think it'd matter how many times I said "I am going to write this story creepy," if it's a creepy story, it comes out creepy. Otherwise, it's something else.

Ah, but that's what's giving me problems. It is dark, but it's not all dark. Even tragedy has some humor. The dark parts are dark, the not-so-dark parts thus seem to stick out in a bad way to me.

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

ink wench said:
Ah, but that's what's giving me problems. It is dark, but it's not all dark. Even tragedy has some humor. The dark parts are dark, the not-so-dark parts thus seem to stick out in a bad way to me.

Not at all. Not EVERY dark situation is devoid of humor, nor should it be. Evne if it's not slapstick humor, nothing is tense and violent and dark every single second. There is laughter in war, in the trenches.

There's a story from World War II about a group of men in the trenches, and a shell landed near them. And one man shouted, "I've lost my leg..!" and one of his companions shouted back, "No you haven't, it's over here!"

And they all laughed. Sometimes, it's laugh or bust.

Which, again, is not to say you have to have slapstick humor. But you haven't GOT to have every moment be grim and black.

Saundra Julian · Jan 25, 2007

IMHO, I don't have to be in a creepy setting to write creepy scenes. It should all come from your imagination! Ever had a nightmare? There are no external factors in dreams, are there?

Ink wench,
You don’t want the dark parts to dominate every page of the book. Readers need a break from tense, scary scenes. You must allow them to relax occasionally, then “hit” them with more horror or dark scenes.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 25, 2007

I have some pictures on my wall of different environments. Forests. Mountains. Oceans. Glaciers. They help me visualize a place. I don't have to actually BE at the place.

And I hope that we're not talking about clichés when we discuss atmosphere. We're not making it rain at every funeral, are we? Not having it sun-shiney and warm at every outdoor kid's party. Sometimes the wrong atmosphere can make the story corny.

SpookyWriter · Jan 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
Not at all. Not EVERY dark situation is devoid of humor, nor should it be. Evne if it's not slapstick humor, nothing is tense and violent and dark every single second. There is laughter in war, in the trenches.

There's a story from World War II about a group of men in the trenches, and a shell landed near them. And one man shouted, "I've lost my leg..!" and one of his companions shouted back, "No you haven't, it's over here!"

And they all laughed. Sometimes, it's laugh or bust.

Which, again, is not to say you have to have slapstick humor. But you haven't GOT to have every moment be grim and black.

Dang, Pete. I admire you more and more, daily, for such insightful posts. Who are you? Really.

jodiodi · Jan 25, 2007

I can write pretty much anything anywhere. I have some tales that are very gothic and spooky and I've never in my life been snowbound in a deserted yet perfectly preserved castle keep where shadows whisper to one of the characters and flit around the ceiling near the door leading to the dungeons or a dark shadow-shape like that of a man watches a character from mirrors. I think I wrote that story in the summer time in Alaska when it was daylight 20+ hours out of 24 and the temperature was in the 90s with no AC.

I can see how the writer's setting may help get one in the mood to write certain things, but it's never been necessary for me.

Now game playing is another thing entirely. I can creep myself out playing one of the Silent Hill or Fatal Frame games at home, alone except for the dogs, with the lights out, on the big flat-screen with surroundsound ... I love it!

Carrie in PA · Jan 25, 2007

I do the bulk of my writing in my obscenely cheerful room with bright orange and pink walls and my gorgeous new curtains that are orange with multi-colored butterflies. I have my favorite pictures all around me, which are also pretty darn cheerful.

When I'm writing, I don't see any of that. I can be floating in the ocean on an old ship, or trapped in a cave in a thunderstorm, or crossing the desert with the sand stinging my face and my throat dry, or on a front porch in the deep South. I just kind of go inside to that *place* and I can taste the sea or feel the rumbles of thunder or feel the sand or hear the creak of the old rocking chair...

Dunno. I can't explain how I get there, I'm just glad that I do.

How do you add atmosphere?

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