Guest post by Brenda Foster Love
As an Author,
crafting a story takes more than colorful words, metaphors, and memorable
characters. There are elements that must stand out so the reader takes on the
role of heroin, vixen, or fussy house wife. There are many important high-lights
to a story, but one stands out more than most. Readers want to be “where it’s at.”
They want to be part of the action, drama, or suspense. If you’re from L.A.
what do you know about the street culture of Philly? Growing up in rural Kansas
offers little in dressing up a girl from Harlem. The back roads of Alabama have
nothing to convey about the mean streets of Detroit.
How do you describe a city’s sky-line
if all you've known are the smoky mountains of the Carolinas? Southern fried
steak is all American, but describing how aunt Honey prepared it inside her
country kitchen will certainly contrast to how Mrs. Millie cooks steak at her
Manhattan loft.
There is a community of readers
outside your door where local color promotes author/reader relationships and
sustainability as you continue to churn out stories among the people who
surround you. On the flip side, for people who only get to experience other
worlds through reading books, as an author, research your setting thoroughly so
you may take them there.
Give readers some local color and it
will be returned to you ten-fold. I think local color is the best marketing
approach for books and authors. Also, think about local color the next time you
experience writer’s block. Peeping out the window gets a story flowing. Even if
it’s just about butterflies!
Outside your door lies a world of fiction.
Brenda Foster has written three full length novels. A Beautiful Life is her first novella. She currently resides in sunny Jacksonville, Florida with her saucy husband, feisty Macaw bird, and moody Shi Tzu. She's always at work on her next heart-pounding story.
http://brendalfoster.webs.com/
Brenda Foster has written three full length novels. A Beautiful Life is her first novella. She currently resides in sunny Jacksonville, Florida with her saucy husband, feisty Macaw bird, and moody Shi Tzu. She's always at work on her next heart-pounding story. http://brendalfoster.webs.com/
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Kimberly T. Matthews
"I knew exactly how many condoms were left in his gym bag, in a little black box, wrapped in gold foil. Seven. Each time I randomly checked for no other reason besides I knew they existed, there'd always been seven. So I was taken aback that morning when I went to do his laundry, peeked in the box and only found three..."
Lisa from - "Lisa's Dress"
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5 comments:
I agree that local color adds much to a story. I also think readers like to learn something when they read fiction. A story set in Florida could teach this western Canadian a lot about that corner of the world.
Hi emandyves. Florida offers plenty of local color with its thick History and Romantic past. There's a gazillion things to write about, but my favorite is love stories!
Excellent points. I like adding local color to my work. I write dark and contemporary fantasy but it still works.
Seems interesting, Sonia. Especially dark fantasy! ;)
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