Writing about scenes that you haven't been to.

Exir · Mar 26, 2008

I am writing a scene in my story of a lake lined with Maple trees. The problem is, I've never been to such a lake before, but my mind strongly desires for the scene to be set in such an environment. I do have a clear picture of the place, but the problem is, I'm afraid my mind's eye might play tricks on me. For example, what if I make the character walk right into a tree? Or right into the middle of the lake? Or if the position of the little boat in the middle of the lake suddenly changes midscene?

Should I look at a picture, and describe it? Or should I actually draw it myself? (I'm a poor artist, though). What should I do? Do some research?

dpaterso · Mar 26, 2008

Hard to take your questions seriously, Exir.

Don't make your character walk into a tree.

Don't make your character walk into the lake.

Take control of your writing. You are the puppet master, not the puppet.

Google search results for: lake shore

-Derek

Mr Flibble · Mar 26, 2008

You don't have to be a great artist just to plan it out, if that's going to help you work out where everything is

A wibbly line round the edge of the lake, X's for trees, whathave you. As long as you are clear where things are. It's not like they are going to put it in the front of the book ala Tolkien.

Mumut · Mar 26, 2008

Use Google Earth. It's not all that clear for close-up viewing but could give you a look at the real thing. I've done that for a town which really fits my needs as far as location, castle, river etc so now I've used the camera feature to see the streets, houses and surrounding countryside.

JJ Cooper · Mar 26, 2008

It's not about what you see, more what the readers see. Keep the description to a minimum. Let your readers use their own imagination.

JJ

Phaeal · Mar 26, 2008

Pet peeve warning: When I read maple trees lined the lake, I see a lake basin full of maple trees from the lowest depths to the rim, like a purse lined with silk. The trees would surround the lake, or possibly line up around it, or crowd down around it, or fill it with the yellow and red fire of their foliage (in fall.)

The right two or three sentences, with good strong verbs, would probably be enough to set the lake scene for you. Your character won't walk into a tree unless he's that kind of person, and he's not likely to walk out to the middle of the lake unless he's Jesus or Chance the Gardener.

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 26, 2008

Maple? Looks more like a sycamore to me.

Mklangelo · Mar 26, 2008

I think the only tree being walked into was all of you who didn't know you were being had...

Siddow · Mar 26, 2008

Use willows.

Problem solved.

Your character would feel the wisp of the overhanging branches before they a)walked into a tree or b)walked into the lake.

dpaterso · Mar 26, 2008

Mklangelo said:
I think the only tree being walked into was all of you who didn't know you were being had...

What makes you say that? The thread was posted in Story Research forum before being moved to Basic Writing Questions, which seemed more suitable. It's a little early for an April 1 joke.

-Derek

Bufty · Mar 26, 2008

Being had? Us? Surely not. Oh, naughty Exir - naughty!

Mind you, on re-reading all his posts...

Mklangelo said:
I think the only tree being walked into was all of you who didn't know you were being had...

aka eraser · Mar 26, 2008

Here's a pic from the lake my family's cottage is on. I'm afraid there's oak, birch, pine, fir and poplars mixed in among the maples but what the heck - it's a nice photo.

Exir · Mar 27, 2008

Thanks eraser

Thanks everyone for their replies. I think the question seems a bit silly now, looking back, but I think that as long as the reader can imagine the place, it doesn't matter if my mind's image is entire correct

Thanks eraser for that picture - that's what it should look like

Phaeal · Mar 27, 2008

Notice in Eraser's picture how the foliage sets the lake on fire -- this is a wonderful sight every year.

Writing about scenes that you haven't been to.

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

JJ Cooper

.

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Mklangelo

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

aka eraser

Fish Whisperer

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.