SIGHTS
A cracked or pitted windshield, a dusty dashboard, broken window cranks, muddy floor mats, a missing radio knob, a cassette player, air conditioning or heat that doesn’t always work, dusty vents, trash on the floor (hamburger wrappers, soda cups, coffee takeout cups, chocolate bar wrappers, doughnuts boxes), a squashed tissue box on the dash, folded and torn maps, a glove box that won’t open or lock, worn or ripped patches in the seats with padding showing through, a metal coffee thermos, a backseat covered with debris (tools, gear, junk, newspapers), wedge-shaped mini windows by the side mirrors that tilt to open, a memento hanging from the rearview mirror that says something about the owner (a garter belt, a rosary or religious emblem, a tree-shaped air freshener, baby shoes, dog tags), a missing hood ornament, dirty running boards, rust spots on the frame, a rust ring or patch over the gas tank cover, scratches and scuffs, rusted wheel wells, bald or mismatched tires, an uneven bumper, a sliding back window, a gun rack, a loose tailgate, various items in the truck bed (road salt, sandbags, ropes, hay bales, tools, a load of wood or lumber), a broken tail light, a rusty muffler sputtering dark gray smoke, a crooked or snapped-off radio antenna, ash trays filled with cigarette butts or crumpled gum wrappers, a cigarette lighter, spills and stains on the seats, mud scuffs on the interior door, a missing mud flap
SOUNDS
A rumbling or sputtering engine, a tinny rattle caused from a loose heat shield, grinding gears, squeaking brakes, backfires, a scraping whine as the starter tries to catch, a chugging or hiccupping motor, the sound of a standard gear dropping heavily into place, the squeak of the clutch being engaged, creaky springs in the seats, items in the trunk sliding around or jumping as the truck hits a rut, the rattle of empty containers being displaced as the truck hits a sharp corner, country or rock music playing, the driver humming or singing, the slurp of a drink through a straw, smacking the dash in hopes of getting the truck to run, swearing, the squeaky rub of the window as it’s cranked down or up, doors slamming shut, the hood creaking open, rattling noises from loose knobs or handles, wind rushing in through the open windows
SMELLS
Exhaust, oil and grease, old food, dust, rust, dirt, crumbling foam padding, smelly feet, old spills (soured milk, pop, coffee), hot leather and vinyl, cigarettes, air fresheners, sweat, body odor
TASTES
Cold coffee, water, gum, cigarettes, takeout food, gas station food (beef jerky, chocolate bars, chips, a hot dog, peanuts), pop, energy drinks or energy shots
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Swiping the windshield with a hand in an effort to clear the fog, a rough and cracked dash, exerting pressure to turn the window crank, tepid air blowing from the broken air conditioner, trash crumpling under one’s feet, carefully holding a beverage cup between one’s thighs because there is no cup holder, the smooth knob of the stick shift, a bouncing seat, the resistance of the emergency break, spinning the radio or volume knob, shouldering the door to get it to open from the inside, pulling the door handle hard to shut the door all the way, the jerk of motion as the truck starts, a jarring ride over washboard roads, gravel and rocks crunching under the tires, pressing hard on soft brakes, the ridges of the steering wheel under one’s hands, tapping the steering wheel to the beat of a song, feeling the truck’s vibration as it idles, hot sun on one’s arms, a breeze from the window, hanging an arm out of the open window, adjusting a mirror, hitting the horn with the flat of one’s hand, dust in the throat from the air outside, sweating heavily thanks to a broken air conditioner, sweaty legs sticking to the vinyl seats
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Breaking down in an undesirable location
Being embarrassed by the way one’s truck sounds or smells
Being denied access to certain places, like a gated community, because of the vehicle one drives
Arriving windblown and sweaty when one wants to make a good impression
Junk bouncing out of the bed and damaging someone’s property
Pieces falling off the truck and causing an accident
A passenger falling out of the truck bed
Needing to make a long trip and doubting the truck’s reliability
Being crammed into the cab with too many passengers over the course of a long trip
Having to drive slowly and carefully when one is in a hurry
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
A cash-poor teen or person down on his luck, construction workers, farmers, hitchhikers, one’s friends
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Rural Volume: Country road, farm, farmer’s market, garage, landfill, orchard, quarry, ranch, rodeo
Urban Volume: Bar, convenience store, gas station, mechanic’s shop, small town street, truck stop
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
People spend so much time in their vehicles that they become an extension of their personalities. The kind of car a person drives, its general condition, how plain or upgraded it is, the contents and decorative flourishes—all of these things reveal something about the character. As with any setting, make your character’s vehicle do double duty: it should serve as a location for events to happen, but it can also reveal a great deal about who your character is.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
Cool air as good as any air conditioner poured through the windows and sent my pine tree air freshener into a tornado spin. Potholes along the dirt road jarred my teeth and seriously messed up my rendition of “Ring of Fire,” but I refused to let that ruin my good mood. Besides, the springy patched seat softened the blows. I grinned and turned up the radio. This truck would probably outlive me.
Techniques and Devices Used: Multisensory descriptions
Resulting Effects: Reinforcing emotion