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Writing Vivid Settings: Professional Techniques for Fiction Authors (Writer's Craft Book 10) Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 386 ratings

Do you want your readers to feel like they're really there—in the place where the story happens?

Whether you want to enrich stark prose with atmospheric detail, add vibrancy to a dull piece or curb waffling descriptions, this guide can help. Learn how to make your settings intense, realistic, and intriguing.

This is the tenth book in Rayne Hall's acclaimed Writer's Craft series.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rayne Hall is the author of over fifty books in several genres, published under several pen names in several languages. She is the editor of the 'Ten Tales' short story anthologies.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00R0C3058
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rayne Hall (December 27, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 27, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 921 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 103 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 386 ratings

About the author

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Rayne Hall
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Rayne Hall MA is the author of over 100 books, mostly Dark Fantasy and Gothic Horror, e.g. The Bride’s Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories. She is also the acclaimed editor of Gothic, Fantasy and Horror anthologies (e.g. Among the Headstones: Creepy Tales from the Graveyard) and author of the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for advanced-level writers, including and the bestselling Writer’s Craft series e.g. Writing Gothic Fiction Writing Scary Scenes, Writing Vivid Settings, Writing Vivid Dialogue, Writing Vivid Characters, Writing Deep Point of View.

Born and raised in Germany, Rayne Hall has lived in China, Mongolia, Nepal and Britain. Now she resides in a village in Bulgaria, where men perform the annual demon dance, ghosts and sirens beckon, and abandoned decaying houses hold memories of a glorious past.

Her lucky black rescue cat Sulu often accompanies her when she explores spooky derelict buildings. He delights in walking across shattered roof tiles, scratching charred timbers and sniffing at long-abandoned hearths. He even senses the presence of ghosts… but that’s another story.

Rayne has worked as an investigative journalist, development aid worker, museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, belly dancer, magazine editor, publishing manager and more, and now writes full time.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
386 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides helpful content and advice for writing. They appreciate the practical guidance and examples provided by the author. The book is described as a great read with a straightforward approach. Readers find it informative and insightful, covering different aspects of setting and description. Many consider it a valuable purchase and well worth the price.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

51 customers mention "Advice"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the advice helpful. They say it provides a good reference and explanation for how to keep writing. The book series is incredibly helpful for novice writers, providing practical tips and examples of what to do and what not to do. Readers appreciate the well-thought-out examples and the organized, concise style.

"...I also love that there were examples. It really helps me when someone explains why you do something and give an example of it...." Read more

"...what to do, what not to do, assignments for practice, and examples and book excerpts to give an idea how professional writers do it...." Read more

"...Lots of examples and functional exercises." Read more

"...Plus, she gives examples. I love that. I wish she’d write a book that show how to describe people. I’d love it if she’d write a book about themes...." Read more

40 customers mention "Writing advice"40 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for improving writing. They appreciate the practical advice and guidelines on setting for each type of scene. The author makes it simple to follow, making it a must-read for writers. The text is filled with good examples from the author's notebooks.

"...point you could think of, with what to do, what not to do, assignments for practice, and examples and book excerpts to give an idea how professional..." Read more

"...Would be excellent for a newer writer or someone who especially struggles with setting. Lots of examples and functional exercises." Read more

"...This is a valuable book that every serious writer should keep handy when writing a description. Highly recommend it." Read more

"...The author makes it so simple that even a child could follow her direction...." Read more

32 customers mention "Readability"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They appreciate its concise and straightforward approach. The book is a valuable resource for authors and editors. However, some readers felt the formatting was inconsistent after a few chapters.

"This by far is one of the best books I’ve read about creating a story...." Read more

"This was a really quick read, and reminded me of some important details to remember when writing settings...." Read more

"...It is a good writing resource and a quick read, too!" Read more

"...It's an excellent book I highly recommend...." Read more

20 customers mention "Information quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's helpful information on setting and description. They find it insightful and useful for improving their depiction of settings and time. The book provides a broader explanation of how to keep moving forward.

"...This was so helpful on explaining different parts of a setting and when you should use them. I also love that there were examples...." Read more

"...This book goes beyond the five senses. It touches on every descriptive point you could think of, with what to do, what not to do, assignments for..." Read more

"...The chapters I found most useful were on smells, sound, light, detail for realism and the active verbs...." Read more

"...But other than that, I found this useful for improving my depiction of setting." Read more

12 customers mention "Value for money"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it's a valuable book that every serious writer should keep handy.

"...This is a valuable book that every serious writer should keep handy when writing a description. Highly recommend it." Read more

"This book was really helpful! Definitely worth a read. I appreciated the hands-on applications and the homework assignments that she included...." Read more

"...Just the facts ma’am. Loved it. Recommend it. Well worth the price!" Read more

"...If you can overlook that, it's a worthwhile purchase to add to your writer's toolkit." Read more

4 customers mention "Sturdiness"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They find it well-written with precise instructions on setting, leveling, and unusual ways to bring items. The book arrived quickly and in good condition.

"...of how to engage readers on a sensory level, do's and don'ts, and solid tips for unusual ways to bring readers into your world and breathe life into..." Read more

"Arrived quickly in good condition. Haven't read through but on first glance I can see it will be helpful for the intended use." Read more

"Solid little book with the right info!..." Read more

"This is a strong, precise, well-written book on setting!..." Read more

Make a bland setting into a vibrant setting!
4 out of 5 stars
Make a bland setting into a vibrant setting!
Having trouble with Setting? I sure was. This book gave me so many ideas about things to put into Setting my first one i wrote after reading it was three chapters long! oops! A little cutting here, a wee bit of editing there, and bam i had a real setting! Thank you for this.Chris.P.S. Photo 1: my first setting. Photo 2: my setting slightly better. Photo 3: my setting after reading this book.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2022
    This by far is one of the best books I’ve read about creating a story. This will definitely one of my go to books when I need help with any kind of setting.

    It only took me reading a few pages to realize that I needed to own this book for good.

    This was so helpful on explaining different parts of a setting and when you should use them. I also love that there were examples. It really helps me when someone explains why you do something and give an example of it.

    Im excited to read the other books in this series.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
    I found Rayne Hall's "Writing Vivid Settings" on my search for description help, world building. The generous preview looked promising, and I was not disappointed. This book goes beyond the five senses. It touches on every descriptive point you could think of, with what to do, what not to do, assignments for practice, and examples and book excerpts to give an idea how professional writers do it. I love the idea of a settings description bank and have started one already. What a great idea.
    There is a wealth of information here. "Writing Vivid Settings" is the hidden treasure box full of diamonds that I've been looking for. Couldn't have hit it any better. This book should be in every writer's and aspiring writer's toolbox.
    Another plus/plus is that it's also available as a paperback, not only as an e-book. That was one of the barriers I came across, looking for a book on descriptions.
    I look forward to exploring more of Rayne Hall's textbooks in the future.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2023
    This was a really quick read, and reminded me of some important details to remember when writing settings. Would be excellent for a newer writer or someone who especially struggles with setting. Lots of examples and functional exercises.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2024
    Often, as writers we either go overboard with descriptions or avoid them altogether. In Writing Vivid Settings, Rayne Hall shows how and when to use them. This is a valuable book that every serious writer should keep handy when writing a description. Highly recommend it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2015
    Solid advice I haven’t written a review in a while, but I felt a strong need to write this one. I have many problems that I have with my writing. One is poor eyesight, but I have beta readers who help me with my revision, another is writing description. This book has cut that problem out for me. I have plenty of writing books, and some of the authors do a decent job of explaining, but I can think of only one other author that goes into details about how to describe something with such clarity. The author makes it so simple that even a child could follow her direction. She tells you exactly when to use the description to spice up your writing, and how to use it. Plus, she gives examples. I love that. I wish she’d write a book that show how to describe people. I’d love it if she’d write a book about themes. There are plenty of craft books on dialogues, characters, and outline, but I can’t find too much information on Themes and how to use them.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2022
    Easy to follow and doesn't read like a boring old textbook. A lot of good tips and tricks I was made aware of. Ones that I can actually apply and use in my own way. It made me aware of my own novice mistakes. A good source of helpful teachings and reference book for writers at any level.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2023
    This book was really helpful! Definitely worth a read. I appreciated the hands-on applications and the homework assignments that she included. It is a good writing resource and a quick read, too!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2021
    I just finished reading Writing Vivid Settings and found it so useful! I’m in the process of revising a fantasy novel and I think my next round of revision will so much better because of the techniques I picked up this book.

    The chapters I found most useful were on smells, sound, light, detail for realism and the active verbs. I also picked up some helpful tips for my opening scene and climax scenes. I’m looking forward to reading more of the writing craft books in this series.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Ana Paula Souza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 8, 2022
    This book was recommended by the writer Claudia Lemes. It's a great study book and it's helping me a lot. Now all you have to do is do the exercises.
  • Jennifer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful writing book
    Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2022
    Very informative on how to create better descriptions for settings, transporting readers immediately into your scenes
  • Wendy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2024
    I am slowly collecting this series of books all of which are very good. However Vivid Settings has proved particularly useful to me. It is simply written and gives excellent examples of how to write a good story. I have recommended it to my creative writing group.
  • Tina Müller (www.buchnotizen.de)
    5.0 out of 5 stars Writers Must-have
    Reviewed in Germany on October 1, 2018
    Wonderful, helpful, lovely, very well written ... must have for writers!!!! The ideas are really powerful and helped me coming in a magical writing flow ;-)
  • Alan
    2.0 out of 5 stars Barely average
    Reviewed in France on August 30, 2018
    Somehow disappointed by this book. Not so many examples of vivid settings. Too much verbiage about things writers already know.

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