Help writing atmosphere and setting

[akitsukino]

I just made it to chapter 10 on my novel and I am a bit worried. There’s a lot I like, but I’m really worried if I captured the atmosphere right. I was going for spooky and magical. I think I skimmed it but I wonder if I could go deeper. I looked at pictures of the building I was trying to describe, both real and recreated (Pinterest is my friend!)

I always have trouble finding the right way to describe my settings. I want to go all out and give it these beautiful prose descriptions, but I don’t want them to be too lengthy. I love detailed descriptions in fantasy books because I can get more sucked in that way. That being said, even I can start to check out if there’s too much.

Even more so, I have trouble figuring out how to describe some of this stuff.

ex.) “She walked past the... (googles) railing and through the .... uh... (googles) elevated walkway (?) and under the ... um... I don’t know... Victorian-ish archway with those really cool spiraly brass accents.”

I don’t know much about architecture so it can be hard to research at times.

Either way here’s the chapter.

The Puzzleworlds :: Chapter 10 | Tapas

(This is the tenth chapter so I guess spoilers?)

If any one could take a look at this and tell me what you think I could change or leave the same I’d really appreciate it.

[Penni]

if the details are critical then don't worry too much about making them lengthy, as long as the reader has the general picture they can fill in the rest for themselves (and sometimes that's the fun part).

I'm also currently reading chapter. 3 as we speak

[Hexigate]

Describing the visuals is one thing, but I think it'll do you a big favor for atmosphere if you describe the sound as well.

If the setting is meant to be unsettling and spooky, try showing how silent it is.

Also, the term "magic" carries a happy connotation, since we immediately connect "magic" with spells by wizards that look cool and exciting. If you want that unsettling tone, maybe substitute "magic" with a more ambiguous description. Ambiguity is horrifying.

[Katy-L-Wood]

You're giving us a framework, but you need to add some details to that framework. Give us all five senses. Do the books smell old? Is the room musty? What's the lighting like? Do the character's footsteps echo or are they muffled by carpet? Is there a taste to the air? Is the wood of the railing weathered or new? Is the area clean or dusty? Things like that are what will ground your setting and make it real for your readers. You don't need much, but a little will go a long way.

[akitsukino]

This was really good advice! Thanks!