Today’s Writing Muse: The Swamp

Swamps make such great settings. The plants look odd. (Seriously, look at those tree roots!) The potential for gross out moments escalates with murky water and the who-knows-whats-in-it muck under the water. Quite a few of the inhabitants bite.

You may have an idea for a great setting, such as a swamp, but you may lack a story. If this occurs, ask yourself a few questions to stimulate creativity:

Why is my character here? If your setting is a swamp, your character needs a pretty good reason to be there. She may be hunting crawfish. He may be trying to get rid of a body. Someone may have lost a bet.
How is my character going to get out of here? Is a boat available? (You can always break the motor, you know.) Will she have to wade back?
What obstacles stand in my character’s way? Swamps give you so many options to choose from: alligators, lack of compass, mosquitoes, poisonous snakes.

Notice that these questions focus on things that can create conflict. Conflict is the essence of a story. Focusing on questions that lead to conflict can help you think up a good story based on a cool setting.

There’s your muse! Go!

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Related articles

Today’s Writing Muse: Dangerous Trees (mbweston.com)
Today’s Writing Muse: Nature’s Claw (mbweston.com)