We’re all drawn to certain places. If you had the power to get somewhere — anywhere — where would you go right now? For your twist, focus on building a setting description.
If you could zoom through space in the speed of light, what place would you go to right now?
The spaces we inhabit have an influence on our mood, our behavior, and even the way we move and interact with others. Enter a busy train station, and you immediately quicken your step. Step into a majestic cathedral, and you lower your voice and automatically look up. Return to your own room, and your body relaxes.
A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his own image.
— Joan Didion
Today, choose a place to which you’d like to be transported if you could — and tell us the backstory. How does this specific location affect you? Is it somewhere you’ve been, luring you with the power of nostalgia, or a place you’re aching to explore for the first time?
Today’s twist: organize your post around the description of a setting.
Giving your readers a clear sense of the space where your story unfolds will help them plunge deeper into your writing. Whether it’s a room, a house, a town, or something entirely different (a cave? a spaceship?), provide concrete details to set this place apart — and to create a more immersive reading experience.
You can go the hyperrealist route (think the opening four paragraphs of Gustave Flaubert’s A Simple Soul, a masterclass of telling detail). Or focus on how a specific space makes the people in it feel and behave, like blogger Julie Riso did in this visceral recounting of her hike through an Estonian bog.
Need a helping hand? Head to The Commons.
Editors’ Note: you’ll get much more helpful feedback from your co-bloggers here and in The Commons if you ask specific questions. Questions like “What do you think of my blog?” or “Is this post good?” are difficult for people to respond to because they’re so broad; often, you’ll get an equally broad response (“It’s good!”), which doesn’t help you grow.
Instead, think about the particular things you’re interested in knowing, like:
- Does my post feel too long? How could I make it more focused?
- If you were interested in dogs/gardening/baseball/spelunking/your blog topic, would you find this post interesting? Will it help me reach other dogs/gardeners/baseball fans/spelunkers?
- Does the introduction of this post intrigue you? Is the ending of my short story powerful enough?
- Did I clearly explain how to make lasagna/run a marathon/groom a dog? What was unclear?
If you have more than one question, that’s fine, although we recommend focusing on one or two questions per post to avoid overwhelming folks. You’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of you, so there’s plenty of time to ask about different things.
https://writing101june2014endeavours.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/aroomwithaview/
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I signed up for Writing 101 the first day it was announced, but I can’t access the Commons. It shows me a protected blog page marked private. Can you give me access? Thanks.
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I’ve sent you an invitation to the Commons. If you don’t see it in your email, take a peek into your spam filter.
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ditto
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@Wendy — I see that you’ve been given access to the Commons. Log in here with your usual WP.com username and password:
https://writing101june2014.wordpress.com//wp-admin
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http://thoughtsofajunkiemisfit.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/room-with-a-view/
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Hey there! I joined a bit too late (yesterday) and I was wondering if I can still participate?
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I’ve sent you an invitation to the Commons.
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This is the 2nd day and I want to join in on this, how do I do this?
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I’ve just found this. May I join?
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Please send me an invite to the commons as well. I don’t seem to be able to find it.
Thanks.
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@TheCowboysLady — You’ve been added to the Commons.
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I don’t think it’s too late to start. It’s the effort that counts.
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queenisis82 — I’ve just sent you an invitation to the Commons.
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Bowman — you can still sign up! The sign-up form can be found here:
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/2014/05/16/writing-101-registration/
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I joined late too I think you just catch up but I don’t really know for sure
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Can I still join in on the fun?
I am hoping you say yes, because I have posted Day 1 and 2 to my blog.
Writing 101 Day 1 http://wp.me/piF35-eO
Writing 101 Day 2 http://wp.me/piF35-eR
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Yes — absolutely. Sign up here: https://wordpress.com/dailypost/2014/05/16/writing-101-registration/#signup
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This is a nice initiative.. Perhaps I could re-ignite my flair for writing.
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Hello, well here’s my attempt
http://caseylove1985.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/ocean-view/
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Beautifully done. I visited your page and I loved the imagery.
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http://aimanpeer.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/an-escaping-place/
check this out…. my 101 day two post
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Beautiful, short and simple. I think you nailed it!
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Is there a way to save a draft and not post it to my blog but still be able to share it here for feedback?I don’t want to publish my day 2 but would like some people to see it and find out what they think.
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The only way to do that would be to allow other users access to your blog where they can read your drafts. Here’s a bit of information about user roles:
https://wordpress.com/support/user-roles/
You might also consider publishing your posts, but protecting them with a password that you share with only those you wish to see your posts:
https://wordpress.com/support/posts/post-visibility/#password-protect-a-post
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You could publish it without publicizing it (announcement to facebook, google, etc). And remember to add the tag #wwwriting101. After a couple of days, if you feel it is not good enough for your blog, you can delete the post, or edit and polish it. That’s the approach I’m taking.
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Is #wwwriting101 the official tag, or is that of your own creation? I may have skimmed the instructions. 😉
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@WolfhoundJesse we’re using “writing101” as the tag for the course.
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Okay, and I have one more question: Do I have to check the box by “Notify me of follow-up comments via email” in order to catch replies here (and on the next days’ posts)? I didn’t get a notification in reader (or a WordPress notification if that’s what it’s called). I came back and searched the page.
Thanks for your help!
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Hi @WolfhoundJesse, yes, you need to check the box next to “Notify me of follow-up comments via email” to get an email notification of a new comment on the thread.
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It sounds like one of my favourite tasks 🙂
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Slightly late but here it is my day two post: http://byswav.com/2014/06/03/the-journey/ I will appreciate the feedback based on the grammar aspect of writing 🙂 Thanks
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http://shadowwolfsllife.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/my-calm-zone-writing-101-day-two/
this is the first story i’ve written in a long while that i’ve shown anyone, do you think it’s too long or wordy? Please leave comments over on the blog. Thanks.
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http://askinnygirlinside.com/2012/10/26/post-surgery/
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http://abearablelife.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/the-view-on-top-of-melanies-mountain/
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Hi this is the first time I am participating in this. I want to know if anyone can guess where this takes place?
http://roboman20000.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/writing-101-day-2-challenge/
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I think it is still in draft mode, you may have to go back in and hit publish again, sometimes it gets stuck there.
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Dang you where right. I have no Idea how to work this site! Thanks a lot.
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It happens to me all the time, no worries!
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http://imanikingblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/just-a-view/
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Your piece portrays a very vivid description of an experience that clearly still holds a special place for you, even after 16 years. Great stuff 😀
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I loved this question, I know who a place can make a never leaving impression on you. It’s the combination of the place itself, the people you were with, the time but mostly what you felt during your stay there. I took this opportunity to write of my most memorable place or rather moment when I was in Africa.
love Hadewych
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I’m never sure about the length of my posts..should I prolong it?
http://www.ukorganicblog.com/inspired-costa-rica/
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I enjoyed the factual tone of your post – there’s a place for short and to-the-point (I’m lazy and pressed for time, so my posts are mostly short too :)). But the descriptive part above the picture is lovely and if you wanted to, maybe you could flesh it out a bit.
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http://riyafernandez.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/behind-the-fog/
I’m doing this for the first time despite. Hope it goes well. Thanks for the initiative !
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The beach … always the beach … http://patblumer.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/beach-therapy/
There was a problem, however, with this blog post. Categories and tags don’t show up! Wonder why?
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Not all themes show categories and tags near the post. You might want to experiment by trying new themes to see others that will show them. I wish I had a list of those themes that show categories and tags to give you.
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That was a little more difficult than I had thought.
http://pizzasandthat.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/room-with-a-memory/
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http://aminaahmedsblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/if-i-could-be-anywhere-right-now/
here’s mine. a bit of a cheesy piece :p
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http://helenchen.ws/2014/06/03/writing-101-day-two-a-room-with-a-view/
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http://angloswiss-chronicles.com/2014/06/03/writing-101-day-two-a-room-with-a-view-or-just-a-view/
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I don’t know how to link it, but today’s assignment on my blog is called Room with a View… Day 2. Maybe by day 10 I’ll grasp the concept of linking… Enjoy. I know I sure did.
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If it helps, you can just paste the entire URL into the comment you’re making and it’ll automatically turn it into a clickable link!
http://ashkej.wordpress.com/the-ubiquitous-about-me-page/
If you want to have the link ‘hidden’ behind your own words that are clickable then you have to put in a nifty bit of code. If you click below and look at the reply from mlopezart then that should help! 🙂
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-directly-hyperlink
Dom
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Just click the title of your post and then copy the web address with Strg. + C, then insert it here with Strg + V. That’s all. Loved your island, it sounds like a peaceful place. 🙂
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This was a difficult one. I’ve never attempted something like this. I’ve tried to build the setting into my post – the setting is to give the reader an idea of what makes me happy. Hopefully you should be able to conjure an image of me and my happy place after reading. Please read and let me know if I’ve managed to do that?
http://humpingheart.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/be-your-own-soulmate/
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It’s cute … and I also liked the one about being your own soul mate.
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I wanted to do something a little different with this one … Let me know if it works … !
DayTwo: (A Room With) A View
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Although this is labeled fiction, it is something I can relate to on a very personal level. I suspect many bloggers would feel the same way. The one room that came to mind when I saw this prompt is one that I have not visited in many, many years now.
http://shailajav.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/a-room-with-a-view-writing-101-day-2/
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I loved it, one of my favorite places!
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Thank you for reading, Jennifer!
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You have a vivid writing style, and a love the name of your blog.
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Oh thank you so much for that Liz! Such a lovely compliment!
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http://thethingsiyell.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/a-room-with-a-view-cumberland-island-georgia/
Here’s my effort – let me know what you think – too short? Not descriptive enough? Too many cliches? Too silly? Tell me.
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I chose a memory. Take a look.
http://sorayajan.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/my-mothers-yellow-lap/#wpl-likebox
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Burnt butter and grace!
http://shazzameena.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/writing-101-day-2-a-room-with-a-view/
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https://buddycushmanart.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=137&action=edit&message=1
Day two writing – “Old Pine Trail” http://www.buddycushmanart.com
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Sorry, that top link is wrong. Just my regular blog link below it. Technology dunce are us.
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