What elements make an engrossing story? A tight, well-crafted plot certainly helps. So does an engaging main character. But there’s more to storytelling than what happened and to whom. Where a story takes place (and how it’s presented) can make a world of difference in a reader’s level of interest. Where would Harry Potter be without Hogwarts? Alice without Wonderland? In other words: don’t underestimate the power of setting!
From selecting a suitable spot to tell your story to choosing the right words to make it pop, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to setting your scene.
What Is a Setting in Fiction?
In storytelling, setting refers to three different things: the geographical region, the time period that the tale occurs, and the individual places or locations within that geographical region (like a character’s home, favorite hangout, or workplace).
A setting doesn’t even need to be real to be effective. Many well-loved locales in fiction come entirely from the mind of the author, such as those in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea. Authors may also blend both real and fictitious—or enhanced—settings in order to ground the story in familiarity for the reader. (Harry Potter, again, is a prime example!)
Because it acts as the backdrop for the plot, a setting can greatly enhance (or hinder) a story’s atmosphere, so choosing wisely is key. You may have even noticed patterns in the settings of books that you’ve already read. Many romance novels take place in idyllic little towns with tight-knit communities. Spy thrillers are usually set in big cities full of shadowy corners. This isn’t a coincidence!
While there is no “right” place to set every story, there are some things to consider when selecting a time and place.
Is the Setting Suitable for the Story?
A “suitable” setting is exactly what it sounds like: a location that fits the story. For some authors, this is an easy choice to make, but for others—especially those crafting entire worlds from scratch—the quest for the perfect setting can be more elusive. Infrastructure, environment, and culture can change drastically from era to era and from one location to the next, and these factors can heavily impact the story around it. For instance, it’s hard to imagine Charles Dickens’s winter classic A Christmas Carol set in sunny, seaside Australia; or Ernest Cline’s pop-culture-laden Ready Player One if it took place during the Renaissance. It just wouldn’t be the same!
To narrow down the field when selecting a setting, ask yourself the following:
- Are there plot elements that would only work in a specific time or location, such as essential inventions or discoveries, rare or exotic artifacts, or a specific culture? Does the rest of the story fit within the same timeline or region?
- Does the setting help the character(s) succeed, or present obstacles for them to overcome? In what ways does it help or hinder?
- What relationship do the characters have with the setting? Is it familiar and comfortable to them? What makes it enjoyable? If not, what about it is bothersome or unpleasant?
- When featuring a character’s home or work, how has that character’s presence affected the space they occupy? This may also come up if the character in question has a direct impact on the larger setting overall!
Once you’ve answered these questions for yourself, you’re ready to get down to the real work: writing it out.
Make Your Setting Come Alive
Now that you’ve picked the best era and place for your story, it’s time to breathe life into it. Unfortunately for us writers, there’s a lot more to a setting than stating what furniture is in the same room as the character, which means it can take a considerable amount of thought. Depicting a setting offers the reader a way to “see” a story play out in the same way that props, lighting, and location affect the realism and feel of a film.
Use Evocative Language
If describing a setting in a novel is the same as setting the scene in a film, then the individual words you choose act as the lighting and camera angles that lend the right “vibe” to the moment. You wouldn’t shoot a gritty cop drama with the gauzy lens and bright lighting of a soap opera—just like you wouldn’t use the same language to write a romance as you would for horror!
The language used to describe a setting may also change based on the relationship the character or narrator has with that space. If it is a comfortable setting that becomes uncomfortable, or an unfamiliar place that grows familiar over time, the language should shift as well. For this reason, you’re unlikely to find an author at work without their trusty thesaurus.
Rely on the Five Senses
There’s more to a setting than what the narrator can see, so don’t feel stuck to drafting paragraphs about wall clocks and seascapes. Sound, touch, taste, and smell all lend important sensory cues to the tale. That isn’t to say that your characters should navigate the plot by licking doorways and smelling each person they meet. Simply incorporating more “tangible” descriptions can help draw your reader in.
If you find yourself repeating the same descriptive lines, ask yourself if there are other senses that would offer the same information in a new way.
Stay on Task (and Plot!)
So, you’ve chosen the setting, picked the best language, and used all your senses to make it come alive. Now all you have to do is incorporate the plot without losing it. Sometimes we get so caught up in painting a vivid picture that we overshadow the story. When introducing a new setting, keep descriptions concise without sacrificing style. You don’t want your reader lost in the weeds of your characters’ interior decoration when they ought to be focusing on the story playing out! You can always revisit a setting if there’s more to say about it.
However, it can be just as important to offer a brief setting refresher if a location hasn’t been featured recently, something within it has changed, or characters themselves have shifted.
If you ever find yourself struggling to make your settings stand out, consider visiting new locations to stimulate your mind, drawing a map of the world that your story takes place in, or even honing your skills by narrating the things you see in everyday life. No matter where (or when) your story is set, there’s always something worth noting.
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