Make them sense they’re really there.
This past week in Colorado Springs, we expected an inch of snow. We got six.
So I enjoyed a trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Mild temperatures, gentle breezes, tropical scents, and great fishing. Even better, I didn’t had to leave my house. I traveled through the pages of a well-crafted novel.
His setting, in effect, becomes a key character.
It helps that the author had once made his living as a Florida fishing guide. Professional success hinged on his ability to observe details in nature. So in his novels, his protagonist also notices them. His setting, in effect, becomes a key character.
Wherever you set your novels, you can do the same.
What are the sensory details your protagonist is wired to notice? Include those sights, but also the sounds, scents, textures, and flavors particular to your novel’s setting. Blended with a compelling story, those details will engage and transport your readers.
