The Writing Process: The Importance of Place

Writers & Artists present a series of masterclasses on the writing
process, in aid of Book Aid International and World Book Day.

In this session, bestselling author Helen Walsh will be discussing how to bring your setting to life. Through instruction, reflection and practical tips, she’ll show you how to bring your reader into the world you're creating.

Whether your novel is set in the past, in another world or in the present day, setting is a crucial part of your story. It will determine how your characters act, how they speak and what they do. Helen, an award-winning author with extensive experience of teaching creative writing, will share her advice on everything from writing a world that your readers will feel a part of, to making sure your characters are products of the world you build around them, and ensuring they interact with it in an authentic way.

When a reader opens the pages of your book, you want them to dive in headfirst. Learn how to weave in just enough (but not too much) description, backstory and sense of place into your manuscript, so that they can see, hear and smell the world you’ve crafted for them as they read.