Like a magpie, I’ve been collecting images for the setting of my new story.
Setting (the place and time of the story) is one of the first aspects that authors and illustrators discuss when they are starting work on a project together. You as author ‘know’ the story, you’ve set the scene in your head, and it’s as real to you as any other place on (or off) the planet.
Setting is both the representation of the story world and the essence of that world, too. Each story’s setting is bound up with the language you use to tell it. The illustrator interprets your characters and their surroundings in response to the words you use: stark and spare or detailed and decorative.
Once your story is published, the ‘reader’ (dual audience: child and adult) will subconsciously respond to the setting before the book is even open. Children ‘read’ images before they learn to read words and will absorb huge amounts of information from even tiny details. Adults too are influenced by the style and tone of the illustrations, as well as the words. Their understanding of the story world, made up from word and image working together, influences the way they read the story aloud to the child.
How to explore setting in picture books even if you can’t draw
It can be frustrating working out your story across twelve or thirteen spreads if you have no skill as an artist. But do think of the pictures as you tell your story. This is for you alone (the illustrator will want to be free to bring their own imagination to the collaboration). Look for a variety of scenes (think close-up or long-shot). Keep your story moving visually.
For background, you might enjoy keeping collections of words, photos, downloaded images, even song suggestions. These may help with word selection (when every word counts). Make maps and diagrams of your story world. You might try writing in situ. Go to the place where your story is set (or somewhere similar in feeling to the world of your story). Scribble notes about the colours, sights, sounds and smells that surround you. How does all this change or inform your next draft?
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