Hello, friends!

Setting is an important quality in writing. It’s the background of the story. Without it, the characters would just stand against a white canvas or a greenscreen. Details about the setting are what make the characters’ lives believable and attainable. It seems basic, I know. It’s one of the primary necessities you learn in school as a kid. But how can you make your own settings? How do you make them believable, especially when they’re particularly fantastical?

Decide where and when your story takes place.

You think this is so stupidly obvious that it doesn’t merit mentioning. But here I am, mentioning it. When you write, you of all people have to know when and where everything is happening. If you have this vague, “oh, sometime in the 1920s, maybe in New York,” that is not enough. Especially if you’re writing historical fiction. Be decisive about where and when your setting is so you can write educated details. If you’re creating your own fictional world, then buddy, do you have a wild ride ahead of you. You’re going to have to go into the intense realm of world-building, which is a conversation for another day.

Get a clear image of where your characters are.

Your characters are going to be moving around a lot. I hope. Otherwise, they’ve got a pretty boring life. For specific scenes, they’re going to be in specific places. Envision where they are and describe it as you go. Remember things like weather and color can be used for symbolism. An overcast day in the dark forest could mean something ominous and foreboding. Don’t always spill all the details of your scene’s setting at once. Sprinkle them out as you go, bringing new things to a character’s attention as you go along and as it makes sense for them to mention.

Double-check your details.

Please do not talk about sports cars that go a hundred miles an hour if you’re in the Model T era. Be absolutely careful that what happens and what you describe in the story is appropriate to your setting. This is why it’s essential to decide where and when your story takes place. Once you know that, you know what items and slang are appropriate for your time and place.

Don’t skimp.

Readers want to know what’s happening! They may not need a chapter dedicated to the sewer system (looking at you, Victor Hugo), but don’t leave them in the dark about where they are and what they’re looking at. Otherwise, you might as well not even have a setting and you can revert back to the blank canvas idea. Don’t skimp on those details!

Remember setting’s purpose.

Describing setting is not your number one priority. I know, I know, this sounds contradictory. But setting is a tool. It propels the story, just like characters do. It serves as a supplement, giving extra details: foreshadowing, mood, tone. It’s not the main purpose but it has a purpose. Use it wisely to tell your story without making it the main focus.

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So those are some setting tips for you. What settings do you like to write? How do you keep the reader present in the story? Tell me all about where your characters spend their time! Any other questions, requests, or suggestions are also welcome below. If you learned something new, gimme a like, and don’t forget to follow for more writing talk. If you want to look for me elsewhere on the Interwebs, my social media is on my About page.

Thanks for reading!

The light was going: some cloud cover arriving, as if summoned by drama.
― China Miéville